MAM
Amrita Pandey of Disney joins Junglee Pictures and Times Studios Originals as the CEO
The Times Group has been focussed on building a strong domain in Scripted Content. While the success of Junglee Pictures has already made a significant impact in Feature Film Entertainment, Times Studios Originals had also been set up with a clear intent to develop Digital Video Content of relevance to all streaming platforms.
The Times Group has now announced the consolidation of these two businesses under unified leadership. They have appointed Amrita Pandey as CEO of both Junglee Pictures & Times Studios Originals.
Amrita is an experienced movie industry professional and M&E leader, with a career spanning over 16 years at UTV and The Walt Disney Company. Across her career, she has managed the Studio P&L of the then largest Indian Studio (UTV, then Disney) and has been an integral part of creative and greenlighting decisions. She has set up and run the content distribution business for the company, managed theatrical marketing & distribution and built strong relationships within the creative community.
She has worked on over 200 movies across languages, including iconic films like Rang De Basanti, Jodhaa Akbar, Barfi, Life in a Metro, Rowdy Rathore, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, No One Killed Jessica, Kai Po Che, Chennai Express, Kaminey, PK, Haider, ABCD, Dangal and many more. Her team set box office benchmarks not just in India but also in markets like China, North America and Korea.
Alongside her Studio role, Amrita also led the Content & Channels Distribution role for the South East Asia and India regions for Disney. She was responsible for driving digital and streaming service partnerships, including Disney’s first content deals in the region with Netflix, Amazon, Jio and Hotstar.
Brands
Maharashtra panel orders Lodha to refund Rs 5 crore to homebuyers
Consumer court flags unfair practices in long-running property dispute case
MUMBAI: In a sharp rebuke to one of India’s biggest real estate players, the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Macrotech Developers to refund nearly Rs 5 crore to a senior citizen couple, Uttam and Anindita Chatterjee. The ruling, delivered on March 13, 2026, calls out the developer for “deficiency in service” and “unfair trade practices”, bringing closure to a dispute that has stretched over a decade.
The case traces back to 2015, when the couple booked a 3-BHK flat at World Towers in Lower Parel for Rs 12.22 crore, with possession promised within a year. What followed was a series of changes that complicated matters. After deciding to exit the project, they were persuaded to shift to a 4-BHK in another development priced at Rs 8 crore, with delivery scheduled for 2018. However, within months, the price was allegedly increased to Rs 10 crore. After demonetisation reshaped the market, similar flats were reportedly being offered at lower prices, but the couple were not given the benefit.
Despite paying over Rs 2.83 crore, the couple neither received possession nor clarity. Instead, in 2018, the developer unilaterally cancelled the booking, retained part of the amount as earnest money, and argued that the buyers were investors rather than consumers. The commission rejected this claim, observing that casual references to “investment” do not take away consumer rights when the purchase intent is residential.
The bench also held that the developer could not penalise buyers for payment delays while failing to meet its own delivery commitments. It noted the lack of formal documentation for revised terms and termed the prolonged retention of funds without delivering a home as exploitative.
As part of its order, the commission directed the developer to refund Rs 2.83 crore paid by the couple, along with interest at 10 per cent per annum, amounting to around Rs 2.12 crore. In addition, Rs 1 lakh has been awarded for mental agony and Rs 50,000 towards litigation costs, taking the total payout to over Rs 5 crore. The developer has been asked to comply within two months.
For now, the ruling serves as a reminder that in real estate, shifting terms and delayed promises can carry a significant cost.
