MAM
Saha takes centre stage as JioStar signs industry heavyweight for SVP role
MUMBAI: If career graphs had box-office openings, Krishnendu Saha’s newest move would be a first-day, first-show sell-out, as the seasoned media strategist steps into his new role as senior vice president at JioStar. The appointment marks a significant talent win for the company, bringing on board one of the industry’s most analytically grounded and regionally fluent leaders.
Saha joins JioStar after a standout two-year stint as business head of Colours Bangla Cluster, Jalsha Movies, Star Kiran, and head of Marketing, Strategy and Insights for Star Jalsha at Disney Star (Nov 2023–Nov 2025). In this role, he steered multi-genre, multi-market portfolios, shaping content strategy, platform positioning and regional growth across West Bengal and Odisha.
Before Disney Star, Saha spent 1 year and 7 months at Viacom18 as senior director, marketing and content/business strategy for Colours Bangla and Colours Bangla Cinema, a phase defined by sharp regional consumer decoding, content optimisation, and brand strengthening across the Bangla cluster.
His earlier milestone-rich journey includes over two years at Sun TV Network, where he led marketing, research & strategy for Sun Bangla, the company’s first foray beyond the South. He also played a central role in establishing the network’s footprint in Maharashtra with the successful launch of Sun Marathi.
Saha’s understanding of regional dynamics runs deep. Between 2019 and 2020, as assistant vice president of research & strategy for Zee’s regional HSM & premium cluster, he helped craft the business plan for Zee Punjabi, the network’s maiden GEC in the region, and Zee Ganga Biskope, a Bhojpuri movie channel. His work spanned consumer insights, content calibration, and strategic planning across brands like Zee Marathi, Zee Yuva, Zee Talkies, Zee Bangla, Zee Bangla Cinema, Zee Sarthak and the premium English cluster.
His longest-running association was with Star India, where he spent nearly five years driving strategy for Star Jalsha, Jalsha Movies, and later Star Plus, contributing to long-term growth roadmaps, programming direction, communication strategy and consumer insights. From analysing show health and audience behaviour to shaping full-channel strategies, his analytical depth became his signature.
Saha’s professional foundation, however, predates media beginning as a senior software engineer in Samsung R&D’s graphics team before pivoting into management through an MBA from FMS Delhi. His academic background includes an M.Tech and B.Tech from IIT Bombay, where he graduated with top-tier SPI scores (9.8 and 10.0) and held leadership roles in NSS and departmental bodies.
Across Disney Star, Viacom18, Sun Network, Zee, and Star, one thread runs consistently through his career, a reputation for data-backed decision-making, regional mastery, and brand-building.
At JioStar, Saha steps into a pivotal leadership position at a time when the network is sharpening its regional strategy and scaling its entertainment footprint. With his track record of launching channels, shaping clusters, decoding diverse markets, and driving business transformation, the appointment signals a clear intent: JioStar is doubling down on expertise to power its next phase of growth.
For an industry where talent is often the true differentiator, this is a move worth watching and perhaps a sign that the next big plot twist in regional broadcasting is just getting written.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
