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Weekend Unwind with: NOFILTR.GROUP’s Krunal Kanabar
Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind—a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of business executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
In this week’s session, we have NOFILTR.GROUP head of strategy & IP Krunal Kanabar.
Without further ado here it goes…
Your mantra for life
Life’s my playground, I’m the mischief maestro
A book you are currently reading or plan to read
I’m more of a visual person, so I often find inspiration in documentaries and visual content. Currently, I’m exploring the world of culinary arts through engaging cooking shows.
Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
Consistency is key. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, I made sure to maintain my fitness routine with daily home workouts and a commitment to achieving 10,000 steps every day.
Your comfort food
I’m a clean eater, but when it comes to comfort, a well-prepared Smoothie bowl always does the trick for me.
A quote or philosophy that keeps you going when the chips are down
Life’s a grand stage, and I’m the headliner. Spotlight, please! Let’s make every moment a standing ovation.
Your guilty pleasure
Occasionally, I indulge in a guilty pleasure – a decadent dark chocolate treat. It’s all about balance, after all!
The last time you tried something new
I love embracing new experiences. Recently, I tried my hand at Surfing and can’t wait to get back to it.
A life lesson you learned the hard way
I’ve learned that failure is not the opposite of success; it’s a part of it. Each setback has been a stepping stone towards personal and professional growth.
What gets you excited about life
The thrill of trying new things, meeting new people
What’s on top of your bucket list
Wingsuit base jumping is the adrenaline-pumping adventure at the pinnacle of my bucket list.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be
I’d tell my younger self: ‘Trust yourself. Whatever you’re doing is correct, and you’re on the right path in life.”
One thing you would most like to change about the world
I’m driven by a vision of a sustainable future. If I could change one thing, it would be to inspire a global shift towards sustainable living.
An activity that keeps you motivated and charged during tough times
Engaging in sports and outdoor activities has always been my go-to during challenging times.
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down
When life gets me down, I lace up my shoes for a walk. With each step, I escape into a world where everything aligns with my dreams, and the simple act of imagining turns the clouds into sunshine.
Your go-to stress buster
A long, energizing workout session paired with some time spent in nature is my ultimate stress buster.
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Paramount set to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in $81 billion deal
Shareholders back merger, combined entity could reshape streaming and studios.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… consolidation, Hollywood’s latest blockbuster might be happening off-screen. Shareholders of Warner Bros. Discovery have voted in favour of selling the company to Paramount in a deal valued at $81 billion rising to nearly $111 billion including debt setting the stage for one of the biggest shake-ups in modern media. The proposed merger, still subject to regulatory approvals, would bring together a vast portfolio spanning HBO Max, CNN, and franchises such as Harry Potter under the same umbrella as Paramount’s own heavyweights, including Top Gun and CBS.
At the heart of the deal is streaming scale. Executives have indicated plans to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ into a single platform, potentially creating a stronger challenger to giants like Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video. Current market data suggests HBO Max holds around 12 per cent of US on-demand subscriptions, compared to Paramount+’s 3 per cent, together still trailing Netflix’s 19 per cent and Disney’s combined 27 per cent via Disney+ and Hulu.
Paramount CEO David Ellison has signalled that while platforms may merge, HBO’s creative identity will remain intact, stating the brand should “stay HBO” even within a broader ecosystem.
Beyond streaming, the deal would redraw the map for film production. Combining two of Hollywood’s oldest studios Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., the new entity aims to scale output to over 30 films annually, while maintaining a 45-day theatrical window. Warner Bros. currently commands around 21 per cent of the US box office, compared to Paramount’s 6 per cent, underscoring the strategic weight of the acquisition.
But scale comes with scrutiny. Critics warn that fewer players could mean reduced consumer choice, rising subscription costs, and potential job cuts as the combined company looks to streamline overlapping operations while managing billions in debt.
The news business, too, faces a reset. CNN would join forces at least structurally with Paramount-owned CBS, raising questions about editorial independence and positioning. The merger has already drawn political attention in the United States, particularly given perceived ties between the Ellison family and Donald Trump, though the company maintains that newsroom autonomy will be preserved.
If approved, the deal would mark another milestone in Hollywood’s consolidation wave shrinking the industry’s traditional “big six” studios to a “big four”, with Paramount joining Disney, Universal, and Sony at the top table.
In an industry built on storytelling, this merger may well become its most consequential plot twist yet.
