MAM
Saif Ali Khan’s Marvel’s Wastelanders: Star-Lord to stream free on Audible
Mumbai: Audible, a leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, today announced that the Hindi Audible Original podcast series Marvel’s Wastelanders: Star-Lord is now free for all listeners on its service. The podcast series, which has been available for streaming to Audible’s members since 28 June will now be open to all listeners at no additional cost. The move comes in response to immense fan support that the Hindi Audible Original has garnered on its paid tier.
With every artist adding their own flavour to the series, the exceptional ensemble for the Hindi production of Marvel’s Wastelanders: Star-Lord includes Saif Ali Khan as Peter Quill, Vrajesh Hirjee as Rocket, Sushant Divgikr as Cora, Anangsha Biswas as The Collector, Maninee De as Emma Frost and Harjeet Walia as Kraven the Hunter. The Hindi adaptation delivers an immersive audio entertainment experience, artistically directed by leading Indian audio producer, Mantra Mugdh.
“We are thrilled with the incredible response that Marvel’s Wastelanders: Star-Lord has garnered. It stands as one of our most successful releases to date and is a testament to the potential of audio entertainment in India,” said Audible country manager – India Shailesh Sawlani. “It is the love and support of our customers that has compelled us to make the series accessible to a wider audience through its launch on Audible’s free tier. This success demonstrates a shift in the consumption behaviour of the audiences as they seek screen-free engagement. The intimate and immersive nature of the audio medium offers listeners a break from their screens, empowering users to reimagine the story in their own, unique way. We are confident that the larger audiences will shower as much love on Star-Lord as our members have,” he added.
Sharing his excitement, actor Saif Ali Khan said, “Marvel’s Wastelanders: Star-Lord is truly special to me because it’s a series of firsts – my first audio project and my first time playing a Super Hero. With the podcast streaming on Audible’s free tier, I am thrilled that more people will be able to listen to this inspiring story of a fan-favourite character and hope that the listeners will enjoy Star-Lord’s journey as much as I have enjoyed voicing this character.”
Within its first week of launch, Marvel’s Wastelanders: Star-Lord became one of Audible’s strongest releases on its paid tier. On the day of its release, the series trended nationally on Twitter for 24 hours with strong advocacy from fans and creators. In the first three days of the launch, the first episode of the podcast on YouTube garnered 250K views.
Marvel’s Wastelanders: Star-Lord is set in a shadowy alternate future of the Marvel Universe in which the villains have finally won and heroes are nothing but a bad memory. Peter Quill and Rocket are a little slower, and a lot saltier than they were during the glory days of Guardians of the Galaxy. They quickly discover the Earth isn’t what it used to be either when they crash land 30 years after Doctor Doom takes over a barren, desolate wasteland and all the world’s Super Villains seized control, including outlaw Ghost Riders and the bloodthirsty Kraven the Hunter. Discover secrets, experience thrilling action sequences laced with humor, and delve into complex character dynamics as the story unravels across the immersive soundscape of an audio series.
The series comprises of six seasons in total, each focused on a different Marvel Super Hero. The second season, Hawkeye, will debut in September 2023. The six-season audio epic originally launched as an English-language series in June 2021; this is the first season of the exclusive Hindi-language edition of the story.
The Hindi production of Marvel’s Wastelanders: Star-Lord will be accessible to all listeners for unlimited listening on Audible.in, starting 31 August.
MAM
Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia deepens philanthropic push in India ahead of retirement
Entrepreneur backs gurdwara project and education for slum children as he expands charitable footprint in the country
LONDON: Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia is ramping up his philanthropic footprint in India. On a recent visit to the country, the UK-based entrepreneur stepped up support for religious and educational causes, signalling a deeper long-term commitment as he prepares to spend more time in India ahead of retirement.
Ahluwalia reaffirmed support for key social initiatives, including a donation to Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib in Gurugram and continued backing for a school in Faridabad for which he had earlier purchased the land.
The donation will fund the construction of the gurdwara, expected to be completed by mid-2028. Run largely by volunteers, the site will serve as a community hub and continue the Sikh tradition of langar — a community kitchen that provides free meals to all, regardless of faith.
Parallelly, the Faridabad school continues to deliver free, multi-year education to children living in extreme poverty in surrounding slums. The institution is part of the 12 educational facilities run by the Jagriti Sewa Trust, where Ahluwalia serves as chairman. The trust provides underprivileged students with free education as well as skill-development opportunities.
The latest support adds to Ahluwalia’s long record of charitable giving in India. In recent years, it included a £100,000 donation to the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation’s Justice for Every Child campaign, which provides legal and psychological support to vulnerable children and their families.
Through the Ahluwalia Foundation, the businessman regularly backs charities and non-profits in both India and the United Kingdom. The foundation focuses on projects linked to education, migration and the rights of children and women.
Ahluwalia’s philanthropic drive is rooted in personal history. Having fled to the UK as a refugee at the age of 13, he has long supported migrant-focused organisations, including the London-based Migration Museum, while also funding educational initiatives in India such as free schooling programmes in Hyderabad.
Now, as he gradually shifts more of his time to India, Ahluwalia’s charitable ambitions are expanding. Future plans include launching a classic car rally across the country to raise funds for causes he supports.
“Education and faith are very close to my heart,” Ahluwalia said. “For so many Indians, whether they live in India or abroad, a gurdwara or any place of worship is more than somewhere to practise faith. They are places of community and identity.”
Reflecting on the Faridabad visit, Ahluwalia added: “It was very special seeing the work of the Jagriti Sewa Trust firsthand. Knowing that disadvantaged children are receiving a free education — and that I had a small part to play in that — is deeply meaningful. Social status and economic background should not determine a person’s chances of success.”
