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As he turns 75, Chandra is raring to get Z to make a comeback
MUMBAI: Subhash Chandra is not slowing down. As he hits 75 on 30 November, the founder of India’s Zee network is as fired up as he was when he took on state broadcaster Doordarshan in the 1990s. Never mind that the share price languishes below Rs 100. Never mind the setbacks. Chandra is all in.
The proof is everywhere. Zee TV has hit a three-year high in urban market share: 14.7 per cent in Q2FY26. Four new fiction shows command 40 per cent of the top ten slots in pay Hindi general entertainment. “Tumm Se Tumm Tak”, “Vasudha”, “Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan” and “Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile” are drawing eyeballs week after week. Newer launches like “Jagadhatri” and “Lakshmi Niwas” promise more of the same: strong characters, emotional punch, rooted storytelling. Shows like IdeasBaaz, aimed at young startups, are generating buzz on Z5, on its channeols and online.
But television is yesterday’s war. Chandra has his sights on Gen Z. He has taken a majority stake in Bullitt, a vertical video platform. Money is flowing in.. Elder son Punit Goenka runs the network as CEO. Younger son Amit handles digital. The goal? Break even on streaming by FY26. New genres—documentaries, kids content under KidsZ5—are coming.
Chandra has always been a gambler. He has won big. He has lost big. That is what innovators do. But one thing remains constant: his appetite for the fight. Senior managers say they have not seen him this charged in years. The network even rebranded as “Z” to court younger audiences.
Some entrepreneurs retire gracefully. Chandra is still at the helm, steering hard into choppy waters. At 75, he is betting everything—again.
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.
