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Star to put HLL ads back on air
MUMBAI: A day after the other big broadcasters like Zee and Sony did it, Star India too, followed suit. Star India said that though no signed deal was in place yet with Hindustan Lever, all clients had agreed to pay the contentious 5 per cent service tax on ad billings.
Star India ad sales head Raj Nayak said: “All clients have agreed to pay and will be on air as soon as we can put them on.” Referring to HLL, Nayak said: “Star does not have a signed deal with HLL and will negotiate with them to pay service tax when a new deal is done. We stand firm that we will follow the IBF-ISA-3AAAs-of-I agreement to air only spots of clients who pay service tax.”
A Star India spokesperson had been quoted yesterday as saying that all the advertisers had agreed to the pay the 5 per cent service tax, except for HLL, Colgate and Pepsi, with whom negotiations were still going on. Well, these negotiations appear to have resulted in Star getting Colgate and Pepsi to bend but not so HLL, which has been consistent in its stand that it follows the Indian Society of Advertisers’ line that advertisers are willing to accept billing requirements which show service tax separately so long as the total cost payable remains within the agreed rate. For HLL, “the agreed rate” has meant that the service tax be kept out of the ambit of its negotiations.
Not surprising really considering that at Rs 1.5 billion, HLL’s annual TV ad spend is streets ahead of any other advertiser. By blacking out HLL, Star TV was losing Rs 2 million every day, reports said.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
