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Shubhankar Mishra exits NDTV amid rising digital fame
Journalist and YouTuber with 78 lakh subscribers reportedly steps down from consulting editor role.
MUMBAI: Shubhankar Mishra just traded the news desk for a bigger spotlight because when your Youtube following outnumbers most TV channels, even NDTV starts feeling like a warm-up act. The journalist and digital star has reportedly stepped down from his role as consulting editor at NDTV, fuelling fresh buzz around his fast-growing independent career. Mishra, widely recognised for his sharp takes on politics, geopolitics, entertainment, lifestyle, and cricket, commands a massive online audience: 78 lakh subscribers on YouTube and 15.3 million followers on Instagram.
He first gained prominence anchoring at TV9 Bharatvarsh before moving to Aaj Tak, where he announced his exit in 2023 via X (formerly Twitter). His career began in regional news with stints at India News Haryana and India News Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand (October 2015–September 2017), followed by Zee Media (November 2017–December 2018).
Mishra’s shift from traditional television to digital content has been meteoric. His podcast-style videos and commentary resonate strongly with younger viewers, blending in-depth analysis with accessible storytelling. The reported departure from NDTV comes as his personal platforms continue to surge, positioning him as one of India’s most influential independent voices in news and current affairs.
In a media landscape where screens are multiplying and attention is the real currency, Mishra’s journey from newsroom to Youtube stardom shows that sometimes the best scoop is building your own stage, one subscriber at a time.
MAM
Lego brings Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé, Vinicius together
Campaign clocks 314 million views ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 buzz.
MUMBAI: Four legends, one frame and not a single tackle in sight. Lego has pulled off a crossover few thought possible, uniting Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior in a single campaign ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 only this time, they’re building dreams brick by brick.
Titled “Everyone wants a piece”, the campaign features the quartet assembling a Lego version of the World Cup trophy, before placing miniature versions of themselves atop it, a playful nod to football’s ultimate prize. Shared widely across social media, the ad carries a pointed disclaimer: it is not AI-generated, a subtle but telling signal in an era where even reality is often questioned.
The numbers tell their own story. The campaign has already crossed 314 million views on Instagram across the players’ accounts, with fans hailing it as a rare, almost nostalgic moment particularly for the reunion of Messi and Ronaldo, whose last shared campaign ahead of the 2022 World Cup became one of the platform’s most-liked posts.
Beyond the film, Lego is extending the play with exclusive, player-themed sets tied to each of the four stars, part of a broader football-led programme designed to ride the global momentum building towards 2026. The idea, as echoed by the players themselves, leans into the parallels between football and play experimentation, creativity, failure, and triumph.
Messi described the sets as a way to bring on-pitch moments into an imaginative, hands-on world, while Ronaldo called the transformation into a Lego figure a rare honour, blending sport with storytelling. Vinícius, meanwhile, struck a more personal note, recalling childhood moments of building with Lego and framing creativity as a universal language that transcends borders.
The timing is no accident. With the 2026 World Cup set to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and featuring an expanded 48-team format, global anticipation is already building. Argentina, led by Messi, will enter as defending champions, adding another layer of intrigue.
For Lego, the campaign does more than celebrate football, it taps into its mythology. Because when icons become figurines and rivalries turn into play, the beautiful game finds a new kind of pitch. one built, quite literally, by hand.
