MAM
Sameer Nair elevated to Star India COO
The man who is widely regarded as the creative brain behind the rise of Star Plus to its pre-eminent position in India’s channel stakes – Sameer Nair, executive V-P, head of content & communication, Star India – has just had a whole lot more added to his plate. Effective today, Nair is the chief operating officer (COO) of the Rupert Murdoch-promoted numero uno Indian cable and satellite TV network.
One immediate change that Nair’s promotion makes in the executive scheme of things is that Tarun Katial, V-P, programming Star Plus, Star Movies and Star World, will be devoting all his energies now to Star Plus. The new COO revealed that the next two months would be see some additional reorganisation.
Nair joined Star in 1994 in charge of Star Movies. Thereafter he moved on to lead movie acquisitions and headed the on-air promotion and presentation department. In 1999, Nair took over as the programming head of Star Plus and soon became the executive vice-president, programming for the whole network.
While Nair shares with Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea the credit for the phenomenal success of Kaun Banega Crorepati and making Star Plus the No 1 channel, the responsibility of getting Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan to host KBC was entirely his.
Born and brought up in Mumbai, Nair started his career with UDI Yellow Pages in Mumbai where he spent two years. He then moved on to spend another four years at Goldwire, an advertising agency in Chennai. Nair also worked as an independent ad filmmaker in Chennai for a year and a half.
Brands
Malaika Arora launches Maejoy accessories brand with Myntra partnership
New label debuts with 250 plus handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery.
MUMBAI: When style meets sparkle, a new brand is ready to take centre stage. Actor and entrepreneur Malaika Arora has launched a lifestyle accessories label called Maejoy, developed in collaboration with Exceed Entertainment and Myntra Jabong India Private Limited (MJIPL), the B2B wholesale arm of Myntra. The brand enters the market with a debut collection of more than 250 styles spanning handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery, two categories that continue to define everyday personal style for modern consumers.
The handbag lineup includes crossbody bags, structured shoulder bags, bucket bags, totes, backpacks, clutches and workwear inspired designs. The pieces are crafted using materials such as synthetic leather, raffia, braids, satin, rhinestones and metallic finishes.
Alongside the bags, Maejoy has introduced a jewellery range featuring lab grown diamond rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and tennis bracelets. The pieces are set in 925 sterling silver bases with gold, silver and rose gold tones, and include diamonds certified by IGI and GCI.
Positioned as a premium yet accessible accessories label, Maejoy is built around the philosophy “The Joy of Being Me”, aiming to blend aspirational fashion with everyday usability. The brand’s positioning centres on three pillars: authenticity, empowerment and accessibility.
Arora described the venture as a natural extension of her long association with fashion and personal style.
“Maejoy is a labour of love. Throughout my career, whether on screen, in business or through personal style, I have always believed fashion should feel empowering yet effortless. The Joy of Being Me celebrates individuality while making global fashion trends more accessible,” she said.
MJIPL, CXO and head of house of brands Suman Saha said the brand brings together Arora’s style perspective with a strong opportunity in the accessible premium accessories segment.
“Maejoy combines Malaika Arora’s distinctive style sensibility with fashion forward designs that we believe will resonate strongly with consumers looking for elevated yet wearable accessories,” he said.
Exceed Entertainment CEO Afsar Zaidi added that building celebrity led brands requires balancing authenticity with market viability.
“Malaika commands respect both as a fashion icon and a businesswoman. Bringing her creative vision together with Myntra’s brand building expertise creates a strong foundation for Maejoy,” he said.
The collection is available exclusively on Myntra through its website and mobile app, making the brand accessible to millions of shoppers across India as it steps into the competitive lifestyle accessories space.
