Hindi
Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan get Padma Vibhushan
MUMBAI: Legendary Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar and megastar Amitabh Bachchan have been conferred with the second highest national honour – the Padma Vibhushan – in the Republic Day honours this year.
A former Information and Broadcasting Minister, veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani has also been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.
India TV’s Rajat Sharma, Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua, carnatic composer and vocalist Sudha Raghunathan, and khayal and dhrupad classical vocalist Dr. (Pandit) Gokulotsavji Maharaj are also among the recipients of the Padma Bhushan.
The Padma Shri awardees include filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, wildlife and natural life filmmaker Naresh Bedi, veteran music director Ravindra Jain, lyricist Prasoon Joshi and author Tarak Mehta on whose writings the popular television series ‘Tarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma’ is based.
Recipients of Padma Shri from the music field include carnatic music vocalist A. Kanyakumari, Oriya singer and musician Prafulla Kar, Shillong Chamber Choir founder Neil Herbert Nongkynrih, music composer and singer Shekhar Sen and Hindustani classical vocalist Tripti Mukherjee, who is now based in the United States.
Cartoonist and ‘Chacha Choudhary’ creator Pran Kumar Sharma who died in August last year has also been named posthumously for the Padma Shri.
The Bachchan family now boasts of six Padma awards: Amitabh has earlier received the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan; his late father Harivansh Rai Bachchan received the Padma Bhushan, and his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and his wife Jaya Bachchan have also received the Padma Shri.
Hindi
Rajesh Ramaswamy exits The Script Room to focus on filmmaking journey
Ad filmmaker steps away from own venture to pursue direction and storytelling
MUMBAI: In a move that has caught the attention of the advertising and creative community, Rajesh Ramaswamy has announced his exit from The Script Room, the company he co-founded, marking the end of a seven-year stint at the helm.
The decision, which came into effect earlier this month, signals a shift in focus for Ramaswamy, who is now looking to immerse himself fully in filmmaking and direction as an independent creative.
Known for blending sharp advertising insight with storytelling craft, Ramaswamy has been instrumental in shaping The Script Room into a creative hub that delivered campaigns, branded content, and original storytelling formats. Over the years, the company collaborated with agencies, directors, and a wide network of writers, while also experimenting with formats such as short films and web series.
Sharing his thoughts on the transition, Ramaswamy indicated that the move is driven by a desire to focus and explore stories he has been developing over time. While he acknowledged the unconventional nature of stepping away from one’s own venture, he also framed it as a necessary leap toward clarity and creative pursuit.
Importantly, The Script Room will continue its operations with its current team and leadership, with Ramaswamy expressing confidence in the group that helped build the company’s identity. The studio, he noted, remains well-positioned to evolve further with fresh talent and ideas.
His exit also reflects a wider industry trend, where experienced advertising professionals are increasingly transitioning into independent filmmaking, tapping into the growing opportunities across digital and long-form content platforms.
As Ramaswamy steps into this new phase, the move underscores a familiar creative instinct, sometimes, the boldest ideas begin with a clean break.
