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ALT Digital Media Entertainment names Nachiket Pantvaidya as CEO
MUMBAI: In a bid to strengthen its team, Balaji Telefilms’ ALT Digital Media Entertainment has named Nachiket Pantvaidya as CEO.
ALT Digital was announced earlier this year as part of the group’s strategic intent to extend its creative expertise to the digital domain by developing on-demand, original, edgy and contemporary content for digital audiences globally.
At ALT Digital, Pantvaidya will have P&L responsibility of the company’s operations spanning content, marketing, distribution and revenues as the company gears up to launch its services in 2016.
Balaji Telefilms joint managing director Ekta Kapoor said, “We are pleased to welcome Nachiket to the Balaji family. These are exciting times as Balaji takes a leap onto the digital landscape with ALT Digital – a significant milestone in our growth story. We are most excited as Nachiket brings along not only a rich expanse of industry experience but also new energy and dynamic execution skills to lead our new venture and build a strong and valuable B2C brand.”
Balaji Telefilms group chief executive officer Sameer Nair added, “Nachiket shares our passion for entertainment, has extensive operational experience and brings with him an excellent understanding of the entertainment ecosystem as well as the transformation it is rapidly undergoing. I am confident that supported by a team that is amongst the best in the industry, ALT Digital is on course towards creating its own differentiated position as a leading digital entertainment content creator and distributor in India for global audiences. We look forward to working together, bringing our individual & collective strengths and expertise to the business and creating greater value for our shareholders.”
It may be recalled that in an earlier stint with Balaji Telefilms, Pantvaidya was CEO for the company’s TV content business. Prior to that, he has been with companies like Sony Entertainment Television and Star Plus as business head. He also held several roles in the Star TV network, including head of Star Pravah and managing director of Fox Television Studios. An IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus, he has also held key management roles in BBC and Disney.
Pantvaidya said, “I am delighted to be leading ALT Digital at a time when a tremendous mobile, video and e-commerce revolution is underway and media consumption across the globe is increasingly taking place in digital formats. The increase in the number of devices capable of supporting digital media along with increasing Internet access speed has provided consumers with an option to access the media content of choice – be it information, entertainment or social activity anytime, and anywhere. Against this backdrop, the opportunity to leverage Balaji Telefilms’ creative sensibilities as India’s leading production studio, to a new digital arena is most exciting. We will move from a conventional “one size fits all” approach to a more evolved and targeted approach to marketing and creating unique and differentiated content.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
