Brands
Ekant Babani joins Shekhar Suman Film Academy as partner and COO
Industry veteran to shape training, operations at Shekhar Suman Film Academy
MUMBAI: Shekhar Suman Film Academy has appointed Ekant Babani as partner and chief operating officer, bringing over 25 years of experience across film, television and digital media into its leadership team.
The move comes as the academy, founded by Shekhar Suman, positions itself as a new-age training ground for actors and storytellers. Babani will play a key role in shaping the academy’s structure, from designing industry-relevant programmes to ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.
Working closely with Suman, Babani is expected to translate the academy’s creative vision into a practical and immersive learning experience. His mandate includes building a system that balances artistic ambition with professional rigour.
Babani’s career spans multiple facets of the entertainment industry. Starting on the creative side with ad films and feature projects, he went on to create award-winning short films such as Mudra and Anonymous. He later moved into non-fiction, directing lifestyle and adventure shows for global platforms.
He also founded Alligator Media Productions, delivering content for platforms including ZEE5 and brands like Kellogg’s India. His portfolio includes series like Damaged and Skyfire, along with a feature film that travelled to multiple international festivals.
In addition to his creative work, Babani has held leadership roles at organisations such as EndemolShine India, Tangerine Digital Entertainment and Travelxp, contributing to content strategy and platform growth.
Speaking on the role, Ekant Babani said, “The idea is not just to build an academy, but to create a space that genuinely prepares people for what the industry demands today.”
As SSFA opens registrations for its inaugural batch, the appointment signals a clear push towards building a training ecosystem that is grounded in real-world industry experience while staying future-ready.
Brands
Magellanic Cloud names Syed Ameeruddin CEO of e-surveillance arm
Keeping a sharper eye on the future, Magellanic Cloud is putting a seasoned watcher in charge.
MUMBAI – Magellanic Cloud Ltd. has elevated Syed Ameeruddin as Chief Executive Officer of its e-surveillance business, bringing its iVIS and Provigil operations under a unified leadership to accelerate growth in intelligent monitoring and infrastructure solutions.
Ameeruddin, a nearly two-decade veteran of the company, steps into the role after leading the e-surveillance vertical. His career trajectory—from Business Development Manager to the top of the vertical—reflects a steady climb built on operational depth, client engagement, and strategic execution across multiple subsidiaries.
Over the years, he has played a central role in expanding the company’s footprint, strengthening client relationships, and streamlining operations. He has also been instrumental in integrating acquisitions, helping align new businesses with Magellanic Cloud’s long-term strategy while stabilising performance across diverse domains.
More recently, Ameeruddin has contributed to securing key mandates spanning railways, the National Highways Authority of India, and the BFSI sector—wins that have bolstered the company’s order book and deepened its presence in critical infrastructure.
Commenting on the move, Joseph Sudheer Thumma said Ameeruddin’s leadership has been “pivotal in shaping the e-surveillance business,” citing his ability to drive growth, build teams, and deliver strategic wins as key to the company’s journey. His elevation, Thumma added, is expected to further accelerate expansion in AI-driven surveillance and infrastructure solutions.
The transition comes as demand surges for AI-enabled monitoring, centralised command systems, and large-scale deployments across mission-critical environments. Magellanic Cloud’s e-surveillance segment—anchored by iVIS and Provigil—has emerged as a significant growth engine, delivering projects across banking, transport, highways, and public infrastructure.
In his new role, Ameeruddin will focus on scaling platform capabilities, expanding deployments in complex environments, and developing integrated solutions that enhance real-time intelligence and operational resilience. He will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer of the company alongside his new responsibilities.
With this leadership shift, Magellanic Cloud is doubling down on its ambition to stay ahead in India’s rapidly evolving surveillance ecosystem—where seeing, increasingly, is not just believing, but predicting.
