iWorld
Disney+ Hotstar’s ‘Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story’ sets viewership record
Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar’s espionage thriller “Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story” is trending number one on the streaming platform. The show has broken the highest first-day viewership record on the platform as subscribers tuned in to catch the spy drama on 12 November as part of the Disney+ Day celebration.
Directed by Neeraj Pandey and starring Kay Kay Menon, the spy thriller delves deep into the aftermath of the 2001 Parliament Attack. The show has witnessed the highest viewership and the highest watch time for any show launched on Disney+ Hotstar to date and has managed to thrill viewers across the country and even scored an incredible IMDb rating of 9.4 from fans and critics alike in addition to a 4.9/5 rating on Google.
“We are thrilled with the appreciation received for our show Special Ops’ new season,” said the president and head content of Disney+ Hotstar and HSM entertainment network, Star and Disney India Gaurav Banerjee. “The show’s launch day success is a testament to the team’s continued perseverance and commitment to telling stories that are path-breaking and rise above the convention. Special Ops is a franchise that’s seeping into popular culture in India with the latest season being a bigger hit than the first one.”
“To see your hard work and a role that is so close to you, trend at number one to become the most-watched show on a launch day is a magical feeling,” said actor Kay Kay Menon.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
