iWorld
Celebs share what drew them to romance audio series this Valentine’s Day
Mumbai: While romance has always been a popular genre, Audible India’s 2023 wrap highlighted that romance and fiction stole the spotlight as one of the top three favourite genres among Indian listeners this year. This Valentine’s Day, let’s take a peek at some of the most popular titles on the service and hear what their celebrity narrators have to say about them. Get ready to be swept away by passion, drama, and love stories that captivate both hearts and minds only on Audible!
Written by: Malavika Asthana, Gaurav Singh, Shruti Tiwari; Starring: Varun Sharma, Sanya Malhotra
Set in Delhi, this Audible Original follows the journey of Prashant, a young doctor from a progressive family running a sex clinic in Delhi, as he navigates the challenges of finding love. With a blend of humour, romance, and a hint of taboo, this podcast starring Sanya Malhotra and Varun Sharma, offers a refreshing take on relationships. Why wait? Dive into it right away!
Sanya Malhotra said, “In ‘Sasural Wonder Phool’, my character Ashima gets married to a sex therapist (the inimitable Varun Sharma) who runs a sex clinic with his entire family. Need I say more? The show is bizarre, hilarious, incredibly entertaining and so different from anything I have ever done before – I just know my fans are going to love it! This has been my first brush with audio and I am hooked – I can’t wait to do more!”
Little Things: Jab Dhruv Met Kavya
Written by: Pocket Aces; Starring: Dhruv Sehgal, Mithila Palkar
This is an Audible Original podcast series, where Mithila Palkar and Dhruv Sehgal take you on a tale of a beautiful love story that is defined by the little moments of serendipity. From a chance movie date that ignited the spark to shared bhaji outings that added flavour to their love story, you get to follow the timeline of their lovely moments that transformed an awkward, sensitive guy and a girl-next-door into a love-struck duo. So what are you waiting for? Here’s your cue to tune into this epic podcast.
Mithila Palkar said, “This is a really sweet special story about how Dhruv and Kavya met, and I know fans are going to enjoy listening to it.”
Written by: Jaya Misra; Starring: Sriti Jha, Shabir Ahluwalia
If you’re seeking to experience a rollercoaster journey of emotions this V-Day, Darmiyaan is definitely the ideal choice. It is an Audible Original podcast narrated by the popular duo Sriti Jha and Shabir Ahluwalia! Sakshi Dewan (Sriti Jha) is undergoing a troubled marriage, wary of the truths that her husband kept from her. The distraught Sakshi encounters Ridhaan (Shabir Ahluwalia), a young man who motivates her to discover her genuine purpose and helps her in living life on her terms. Nothing less than an epic romantic saga, tune in to Audible to discover if Sakshi will take an opportunity with the newfound connection with Ridhaan and take a chance at love.
Ekta Kapoor said, “Conceptualizing entertainment content in audio has been an experience of a lifetime and has helped me push the creative envelope further than ever before. “‘Darmiyaan’ (and first audio show!) has everything Balaji fans love – love, unbelievable scandals, shocking twists and much, much more. I’m sure listeners are going to love it, and become audiophiles for life!”
Permanent Roommates: He Said, She Said
Written by: The Viral Fever; Starring: Sumeet Vyas, Nidhi Singh
Experience the rollercoaster of love with Permanent Roommates: He Said, She Said, a beautiful 20-episode series perfect for this Valentine’s Day! Follow the journey of Mikesh and Tanya as they navigate the highs and lows of living together, from house-hunting woes to the complexities of marriage, showing you a glimpse into the realities of modern relationships. Tune in for a charming exploration of everyday life and love that’s sure to resonate with couples celebrating the season of romance.
Sumeet Vyas stated, “I was ecstatic when I got the call that we would be doing something new with Permanent Roommates. Mikesh and Tanya are both very close to my heart and it’s amazing to be able to portray them in a new format. Audio is such a powerful tool for storytelling and I’m so excited for everyone who has loved and supported Permanent Roommates to experience new moments in such a relatable and engaging way.”
The Last Girl to Fall in Love (English and Hindi)
Written by: Durjoy Datta; Starring: Prateik Babbar, Rasika Dugal (English) and Anupriya Goenka, Akshay Oberoi (Hindi)
The story, set in a world that is a rip-off of the earlier patriarchal system in Durjoy’s previous work, ‘The Last Boy to Fall in Love,’ flips the narrative on the meaning of culture. Women write the rules, while men follow them. In this podcast, you will witness a boy named Amartya who meets a girl named Erika in a world on the brink of extinction due to the Kali virus. Whether their meeting is a coincidence or something else, amidst this chaos, a love story unfolds between them. The question is, can love that blossoms suddenly amidst destruction, along with the strange coincidence of hope and revenge, turn into a complete love story? To find out, listen to it on Audible!
Durjoy Datta said, “Writing for the audio medium has been an incredible experience and it’s surreal to see how characters are brought to life solely through voices and sound. Prateik Babbar, Rasika Dugal, Anupriya Goenka and Akshay Oberoi have narrated the books and have brought my vision to life so beautifully!”
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
