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Deepak Segal replaces Tarun Katial at Star India
MUMBAI: Has Tarun Katial, Star India’s senior vice-president, programming, content and communication, put in his papers following his transfer to Star Asia’s head office in Hong Kong or not? Star denies he has resigned but sources close to Katial say the opposite.
While there are still attempts being made to get Katial to reconsider his decision to quit, his transfer to Hong Kong is final and irrevocable, sources close to the situation say. Information available with indiantelevision.com indicates that Star India COO Sameer Nair will internally be making the announcement today that Deepak Segal, creative director, Star Plus, is being redesignated senior vice-president, content and communication. Segal therefore will be taking over Katial’s position at India’s leading broadcast network.
Nair was reportedly scheduled to meet his “protege” this evening but it is unlikely to make any material difference to the situation. Sources close to Katial say he will be taking a month’s break to decide what to do next. Knowing Katial’s fondness for the UK as a holiday destination (his sister is settled there), Star’s creative whizz kid would in all likelihood be headed there.
If Katial had agreed to the transfer to Hong Kong, it would have involved working very closely with Steve Askew, who till last week was the programming head of the pan-Asian broadcaster.
Askew has just been promoted to executive vice-president, television operations at Star and president, Star Entertainment. Askew now not only spearheads Star’s programming in India, China and Taiwan, he also oversees the broadcast operations and engineering division of Star and the company’s Taiwan operation.
Segal, a product of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has been closely associated with Star’s recent big budget detective series Josh… Aktion Unlimited. Segal comes from a film background. His father is the well known producer-director of yesteryears Mohan Segal.
Katial began his career at Saatchi & Saatchi but it was when he was at Ogilvy and Mather managing media buying on television that he first came into contact with Peter Mukerjea, heading ad sales at Star at the time. A few months after Mukerjea took over as CEO from Rathikant Basu in February 1999, he invited Katial to join Star.
Katial, who joined Star in July 1999 as assistant manager, strategy and planning, had a meteoric rise at the jewel in Rupert Murdoch’s Asian crown to reach where he did today, managing all programming and marketing of the Star network.
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.
