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Anil Lale returns to Viacom18 as head of business & legal affairs
MUMBAI: It can be termed as return of the prodigal. Anil Lale takes charge at Viacom18 as senior vice-president and head of business & legal affairs this September. He will report to group general counsel Sujeet Jain.
This is Lale’s second stint with Viacom18 where he is returning to head the business legal function across its various verticals.
“Apart from litigations, I will oversee the group’s overall business and legal proceedings that include contract negotiations as well,” Lale told Indiantelevision, confirming his appointment at Viacom18.
His previous stint as group general counsel at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) saw him setting up a new and vibrant legal team and streamlining the legal functions. Within a span of two years, the legal team at Zee was recognised as the best in-house bunch of lawyers in media by Legal Era that also heaped recognition and awarded it for so.
Lale had left Zee mid-July this year, as reported by indiantelevision.com.
This would be a homecoming of sorts for Lale who had worked at Viacom18 from 2009 to 2014.
Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd. is one of India’s fastest growing entertainment networks and a house of brands that offers multi-platform, multi-generational and multicultural brand experiences. A joint venture of Viacom Inc and the Network18 Group (controlled by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd via subsidiaries), Viacom18 businesses connects with people on-air, online, on ground, in shop and through its cinema.
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.
