iWorld
Official Chukyagiri, returns with Season 2 as Official CEOgiri
MUMBAI: After a fantastic debut, Arré’s hit web series, Official Chukyagiri returns with Season 2. This time, however, the tables have turned, and the plot revolves around the elusive CEO of the office, essayed by India’s leading digital star, Sumeet Vyas.
The heartwarming dramedy, setin the corporate world, first launched in September 2016to universal acclaim. It brought to lifea typical office environment, populated by a motley crew of identifiable characters: the wide-eyed intern, the bullying boss, the cocky IT head, the witty yet endearing Janitor Chacha, and the crazy, complex CEO, who, in the first season,existed only as a tough-talking drone.
This world was presented through the perspective of Spandan Chukya, a hopeful intern from a small town, who has cometo Mumbai like lakhs of similar aspirants hoping to make it in the city of dreams… only to realisethat “Yahaan Jagah Milti Nahin, Banani Padti Hai”.Season 2, however,pivots to anotherperspective; that of the CEO, a.k.a, D, a.k.a, the drone and his worldview of corporate life.
Sumeet Vyas, India’s leading digital star, who was revealed as the CEO in the drone, will take centrestage as the star of Season 2. Joining him will be the original hit cast of Season 1 – Aahana Kumra, Gopal Dutt, Sunny Kaushal, and Anand Tiwari – who will have pivotal roles to play, alongside new characters played by Eisha Chopra and Pranay Manchanda.
This season is presented by Digene,a leading over-the-counter antacid,in association with Dabur Red Gel Toothpaste and Bankbazaar.com, theworld’s first neutral online marketplace for instant customised rate quotes on loans and credit cards. Digene, known for its cooling action and presence in various unique Indian and International flavors and multiple formats (gel, tablet, powder and pudina pearls) is a natural fit to a show centered around the lives of corporate professionals. As a dependable solution to acidity, gas, indigestion and other modern ailments that stem from our lifestyles, eating habits, late working hours, it is integral to the lives of hardworking professionals. The central promise of the brand is organically woven with the setting and script of the series.
Season 1was conferred an Official Honoree at the 21st Annual Webby Awards and is one of the most watchedand loved web series in the country.Viewers have engaged with it on Arré and Arré’s multiple channels on YouTube, Facebook, JioTV, Yupp TV, Jio Cinema, SonyLIV, Ola Play, Vodafone Play etc. This new season will also be available across all these platforms, in line with Arré’s unique platform-agnostic model for original content.
Sumeet Vyas said, “I am looking forward to playing a bigger role in the second season of Official ChukyagiriCEOgirifor Arré. I am particularly excited about playing a character like D – someone who is deeply flawed and emotionally complex but also charming and suave. I look forward to the challenge ahead and can’t wait to see how it all turns out.”
Jaideep Singh, Director, Arré,said,“This is a franchise that we plan to spin into multiple seasons, and you will soon see iterations in regional languages as well. For Season 2 of this well-loved series, we’re delighted to partner with Digene, an iconic brand. It is a perfect fit, considering the show is set in a corporate environment, and forms part and parcel of the characters’lifestyles. With support from our sponsors, ensemble cast, and creative collaborators, we are confident that this season will break new ground and help expand the fast-growing audience base of Arré.”
The show is produced for Arré by Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari of Still and Still Moving Pictures who also produced Season 1. Amritpal Singh Bindra said, “After the roaring success of Season 1, we are very excited to continue our working relationship with Arré and take the show a notch higher. This time, the focus has been to create a plot-driven story with the addition of dynamic characters. With double the drama and double the fun, we hope that the audiencetoo will show us double the love.”
This latest original series comes on the back of several successful and award-winning hits from Arré over the last 18 months.These include A.I.SHA My Virtual Girlfriend, The Real High, I Don’t Watch TV, Arré Ho Ja Re-Gender, and Fitoor Mishra Ki CommentArré. While Season 1of A.I.SHA has won 14 awards across prestigious web festivals such as LA Web Festival, South Florida Web Festival, Asia Web Awards, CMO Asia Branding Excellence Awards, and the Washington Roman Pictures Network.TV, Official Chukyagiriwas a Webby Honoree. and Season 2 of A.I.SHA has just won again at the South Florida Web Festival.
iWorld
OpenAI hits back at Elon Musk’s lawsuit ahead of trial
Company calls claims “baseless” and accuses Musk of trying to disrupt a rival.
MUMBAI: When the stakes are measured in billions and egos are involved, even Silicon Valley titans can turn a courtroom into a battlefield. OpenAI has issued a sharp public response to Elon Musk’s ongoing lawsuit, accusing the billionaire of filing the case to harass a competitor rather than address genuine concerns. In a strongly worded statement shared on its official X account, OpenAI described Musk’s allegations as “baseless” and suggested the lawsuit is an attempt to disrupt the company as the case heads toward trial later this month in Oakland, California.
The response comes after Musk’s legal team recently amended the complaint, proposing that any damages potentially exceeding $150 billion should go to OpenAI’s nonprofit entity rather than to Musk personally. OpenAI questioned the timing and motive behind this change, calling it a late-stage attempt to “pretend to change his tune” on the nonprofit structure.
The company further labelled the lawsuit a “harassment campaign”, arguing that Musk’s actions are driven by personal rivalry, ego, and a desire for greater control and financial upside.
At the heart of the dispute is Musk’s claim that OpenAI has abandoned its original nonprofit mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. A co-founder who left in 2018, Musk is seeking governance changes, including the removal of CEO Sam Altman from the nonprofit board, and the return of certain financial gains linked to Altman and President Greg Brockman.
OpenAI has firmly rejected these allegations, maintaining that its current hybrid structure, a public-benefit corporation overseen by a nonprofit parent remains true to its long-term goals. The company has also previously accused Musk of anti-competitive behaviour aimed at weakening its leadership.
As the case prepares for a jury trial, this public exchange highlights the deepening rift between two of the most influential figures in the AI revolution and raises broader questions about governance, mission, and power in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence.
In the high-stakes game of AI, it seems the real drama isn’t just inside the models, it’s playing out in courtrooms too.
