iWorld
Divine streaming: Mythological platform Hari Om appoints chief to scale sacred stories
MUMBAI: India’s quest to package ancient wisdom for modern screens just got a new prophet—sorry, profit—maker. Hari Om, the country’s first mythological OTT platform, has roped in Avinash Dugar as chief executive officer, signalling its ambition to turn Vedas and Puranas into binge-worthy entertainment.
Vibhu Agarwal, founder of the platform, announced the appointment with near-evangelical fervour, describing Hari Om not merely as a streaming service but as a “movement”. The mission? To preserve and propagate India’s spiritual heritage—from the Upanishads to Sanatan Dharma—whilst turning a tidy profit in the crowded digital bazaar.
Dugar arrives with credentials that blend commerce and compassion. Currently group chief executive officer at Atrangii Network, he’s been driving growth across television, digital and OTT verticals since November 2025. He had a previous stint with the company in September 2023 when he was appointed as CEO of Atrangi Network’s now banned app Ullu.
However, his CV reads less like a corporate climber’s and more like a social entrepreneur’s manifesto. In 2016, he founded La Gravitea, Jamshedpur’s first deaf-run tea café, championing inclusion through campaigns like #KhamoSheWithLife and #SignLanguageInSchools. He’s also curating India’s first teapot museum—because why not?
Before his humanitarian pivot, Dugar spent seven years as vice-president at Kohinoor Steel, where he led nationwide sales operations and earned a gold medal for corporate social responsibility. Now he’s trading steel for stories, bringing strategic heft to a platform that promises to make mythology cool again.
Hari Om’s founders reckon there’s global appetite for India’s timeless tales, served up with slick production values and digital savvy. Whether the world is ready to swap Netflix for the Narayana remains to be seen. But with Dugar at the wheel, the platform is certainly betting that salvation—and subscription revenue—can coexist.
Divine content, mortal ambitions: that’s the Hari Om pitch. And if it works, expect more than just good karma on the balance sheet.
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.
