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Star India’s Preeti Puri Sharma steps down as vice president PR
MUMBAI: Star India’s Preeti Puri Sharma has put in her papers, Indiantelevision.com has learnt. Friday will be her last day at the company, wrapping up a six-year association.
At Star India, Sharma was responsible for the development and delivery of strategic communication plans, managing the external voice of the company with the media and driving publicity to support the organisation’s products and services across lines of businesses.
During her stint at Star India, Sharma played a key role in the successful launches of channels as well as Hotstar, the company’s streaming service, across digital and traditional media.
Sharma has over 18 years of experience giving her in-depth insight into the process of brand building and positioning. She has worked with media and entertainment conglomerates in various capacities. In her earlier stint at Reliance BIG Pictures (2008 – 2010), she set up the corporate communications and public relations division, led the communications strategy for the roll-out of the company’s partnership with leading Hollywood studios and film production houses and also drove PR for more than a dozen Indian movies.
She had a similar role and responsibility at UTV Software Communications (2006 – 2008), where she set up the corporate communications and PR division and spearheaded five business verticals – motion pictures, gaming, interactive, broadcast and TV content production. She also successfully handled the listing of UTV’s motion picture business at the London Stock Exchange.
Sharma has spent over seven years in PR agencies, managing more than 100 brands from manufacturing to consumer products to services.
In her last agency role as a senior account director at Edelman India, she handled the complete mandate for TATA Consumer Products.
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.
