MAM
&TV’s Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain wins 5 awards at the 18th ITA Awards
&TV’s Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai team has done it yet again! The show bagged not one or two, but five metals in all at the 18th Indian Television Academy Awards. Along with winning the ‘Best Comedy Show’ award, they scored a double whammy with both Rohitashv Gour and Aasif Sheikh bagging the Best Actor in Comedy award. They have entertained audiences through their unique characters – Rohitashv who pretends to be a big garment businessman is a kaccha-baniyan seller, while Vibhuti who pretends to be a hot shot insurance agent with a beautiful wife is a ‘nalla’ in reality! Rewarded for playing the sweet and innocent Angoori Bhabhi, Shubhangi Atre Poorey took home the Best Actress in Comedy award. It was an extremely proud moment for the director of the show, Shashank Bali who bagged the most coveted trophy of Best Director. Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain has won several awards in the last two editions of the ITA awards and struck a hattrick this time around as well as it took home top honours for the third time in a row!
Speaking about this achievement, Vishnu Shankar, Head &TV said, “We are both, humbled and proud that Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain has received such an overwhelming response from the audience and that too consistently for three years. Very rarely do we see characters on Indian television reaching such heights and having such a positive impact on viewers, coupled with an equally different plot. We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to back such a game-changing show and I’m sure it’s on its way to reaching many more milestones. Heartiest congratulations to the entire team for all the dedicated work that they passionately put in to give this show the rightful success that it deserves.”
Commenting on the show’s consistent success, Producer Binaifer Kohli said, “Every bit of appreciation & award is always a big moment for us and we are thankful to all our beloved viewers who have tremendously supported us and "Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain" for all these years. It takes a lot to be unconventional and create stories that are out of the box and extremely different from the usual. &TV has been a great partner, rather we are one family, in this lovely journey! As we move forward, we promise to make our viewers laugh more and keep the entertainment alive.”
Delighted at yet another win, actress Shubhangi Atre a.k.a Angoori Bhabhi said, “No amount of victories can dilute the winning moment that each of us have when we are greatly applauded for our hard work and efforts for Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain. I am extremely honoured by the love our viewers have showered upon us and I hope they continue do so with each milestone. Angoori Bhabhi is extremely dear to me and her approach to life has taught me a lot of things too. She is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable and vivacious characters that I have played until now.”
Adding to the joy, actor Aasif Sheikh a.k.a Vibhuti Narayan Mishra shared, “It’s truly an overwhelming feeling to see the consistent adulation and support that has come by in the last three years. Every bit of appreciation is an inspiration for us to stay true to our characters. From being inspired by Vibhuti to actually living his life, it’s a long journey and I hope the love for him keeps coming. Rohitashv is a fabulous actor and it’s an honour to share this victorious moment with him. It may be yet another win for us on Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain, but the feeling is always just like it’s the first.”
Launched in 2015, Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain is a rib-tickling comedy that takes viewers through the lively lanes of Kanpur, portraying the naïve follies of the two couples – The Mishras’ and The Tiwaris’ who are neighbours. It humorously depicts the human tendency of being smitten with the neighbor’s wife and celebrates the universal phenomenon of married couples for whom the grass is greener on the other side. It’s said that laughter is the best medicine and nothing better than Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain to give you a generous dose of it! In a span of 3 years, the comedy caper has created a national hysteria, making a special place for itself in the hearts of the audiences.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
