iWorld
Rajneel Kumar joins ZEE5 as Business Head – Expansion Projects & Head of Products
Mumbai, September 19th, 2018: ZEE5 India, India’s largest platform for multi-language content, today announced the appointment of Rajneel Kumar as the Business Head –Expansion Projects & Head of Productsfor the digital Business of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.
At ZEE5, Kumar has been tasked with leading the charge on the Product Function as also building on the Expansion Projects on the platform.A championof the cause of Digital innovation across industries, Kumar comes with a robust body of experience spanning almost two decades across Digital, Telecom and Media and Entertainment sectors.
Prior to joining ZEE5 India, Kumar has worked with industry leaders including Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd., Balaji Telefilms, Mobile2Win Pvt. Ltd and so on, while also testing entrepreneurial waters.
Commenting on the new appointment,Tarun Katial,CEO – ZEE5 India said, “This is a very exciting juncture of our journey at ZEE5 India, and we are thrilled to have Rajneel join us to strengthen the team. He brings invaluable insights that will be instrumental in shaping our journey towards achieving leadership position in the entertainment space.”
Speaking about his role, Rajneel Kumar, Expansion Projects& Live Head of Productsshared, “The ZEE Group has always inspired me in my journey as a media professional, and it is indeed humbling to be chosen to lead the Product Function as also Expansion Projects for ZEE5. The platform has been rolling out an interesting repertoire of multi-language content and I am sure this is going to be an interesting journey ahead.”
Kumar has been championing the cause of digital innovation and growth through his participation in industry forums such as IAMAI, DMAi, etc. and speaking at major Indian & International forums such as IBC, MWC, NAB, etc. In his personal time, Kumar is a passionate biker and also supports multiple causes and organizations through his continual contribution to the Give India Foundation.
iWorld
Zeel to invest up to Rs 116 crore in PhantomFX for AVGC push
Strategic deal targets VFX, animation and gaming to scale global IP play.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… and now a lot more action behind the scenes Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. is doubling down on the magic that happens after the shoot, betting big on visual effects and animation to power its next growth chapter. The company has approved a strategic investment of up to Rs 116 crore in Phantom Digital Effects Ltd., marking a decisive push into the fast-growing Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) segment. The investment will be made through compulsorily convertible debentures in one or more tranches, subject to shareholder approvals.
The move signals a clear shift in Zeel’s playbook from just telling stories to engineering how they look, feel and travel across platforms. With PhantomFX’s global footprint spanning key markets such as the US and UK, the partnership is expected to significantly enhance ZEEL’s ability to create high-impact, visually rich content across OTT originals, animation, gaming and mythology-led formats.
At the heart of the collaboration lies a blend of storytelling muscle and technological precision. Zeel plans to tap into PhantomFX’s AI-integrated production workflows, proprietary pipelines and post-production expertise to improve efficiency and scale across projects. The two companies will also jointly develop original intellectual properties for OTT, gaming and licensing, expanding monetisation avenues beyond traditional formats.
The partnership is structured as non-exclusive, allowing PhantomFX to retain operational independence while continuing to serve its global clientele. For Zeel, however, the alliance offers a steady pipeline of creative and technical capabilities, enabling it to strengthen its omni-channel strategy and build globally relevant content assets.
PhantomFX brings with it an impressive pedigree. Its network includes award-winning studios such as Tippett Studio known for Academy Award-winning work on Jurassic Park and Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi and Milk Visual Effects, which has bagged both an Oscar and a BAFTA for Ex Machina.
The investment comes at a time when the AVGC space is rapidly expanding, driven by demand for immersive, effects-heavy storytelling and cross-platform content experiences. For Zeel, this isn’t just a deal, it’s a visual upgrade to its global ambitions, where pixels, pipelines and IP could define the next blockbuster moment.
