Neeraj Roy inducted into IAA India Chapter Hall of Fame

MUMBAI: From ringtones to streaming, Neeraj Roy has seen India’s digital entertainment story play out in fast-forward. The founder and CEO of Hungama Digital Media Entertainment has now added another milestone to that journey, entering the IAA India Chapter’s Hall of Fame.

Roy was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter at the IAA Leadership Awards 2026 in Mumbai on August 8. The honour recognises industry leaders whose vision and contributions have had a lasting impact on media, marketing, advertising and communications.

The recognition comes as Roy marks more than two decades at the forefront of India’s digital entertainment evolution. He founded Hungama in 1999, when internet adoption in India was still at an early stage, and has since steered the company through multiple shifts in consumer behaviour and technology.

What began in the era of ringtones and digital downloads expanded into music, video, gaming and streaming. Along the way, Roy built partnerships with more than 300 telcos and 260 telecom and OTT platforms, while working with over 460 brands through more than 8,000 ePromos.

Hungama also established India’s first content partnership with Apple for iTunes and developed one of the country’s early platforms for independent artists, helping widen the reach of Indian digital entertainment.

Today, Hungama reaches more than 200 million users across over 60 languages, connecting audiences with content from more than 1,600 studios, labels and creators globally. The company has also won more than 260 global awards for innovation.

Roy’s industry recognition extends beyond Hungama. He has been named among the world’s ‘Top Ten mobiThinkers’ and the ’50 Most Influential People in Mobile Entertainment’, besides receiving the Sun Microsystems-The Economic Times Young Leader Award.

On receiving the honour, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment’s founder and CEO Neeraj Roy said, “I am truly honoured and a little overwhelmed to receive this recognition from the IAA. Over the last two decades, I have been fortunate to witness and be part of multiple waves of transformation in our industry.”

Roy said the industry had moved through several major transitions, from the early internet and brands to music, gaming and video, but curiosity had remained a constant throughout his journey.

Looking ahead, Roy sees artificial intelligence as the next major shift for entertainment. He believes AI could enable hyper-personalised storytelling and open new possibilities for creators and audiences.

That focus is also shaping Hungama’s next phase, with Roy looking towards AI-powered storytelling, creator-led innovation and immersive entertainment. After helping build India’s digital entertainment ecosystem from its early days, his latest challenge is to figure out what comes next.