iWorld
Ex-Google exec Mohit Jagtiani launches branded content firm NEXT NARRATIVE with Simran Hoon
Mumbai: With the increasing media clutter in the digital space, consumers have more media choices than ever. In such a competitive environment, it is vital for brands, creators and platforms, to keep their narrative fresh. Next Narrative is the new age Media Company that is committed to doing so by helping creators scale their reach and grow revenue while driving business outcomes for brands. Helmed by Mohit Jagtiani, award-winning brand storyteller, ex-Google (YouTube) and Viacom18, in partnership with Simran Hoon, ex-QYOU Media and Viacom18, the branded content company aims at solving these brand objectives with relevant and compelling long and short form branded content and IPs.
Next Narrative touches on the ABCs of Digital Storytelling:
1 Audience: Next Narrative understands consumer preferences and motivations, and aims to help brands as well as creators connect with them meaningfully.
2 Brands: It serves brands seeking meaningful connections through storytelling.
3 Creators: It aims to support authentic creators with a passion for crafting emotional narratives.
Next Narrative founder and CEO Mohit Jagtiani said, “There are too many brands vying for the same audience. This has inadvertently led to an obsession with performance marketing and immediate outcomes. Very few are focussing on building brand loyalty. Next Narrative believes that in today’s cluttered environment, a compelling attraction to a brand, brand loyalty and consistent business outcomes has to be created with the right story, the right content and the right creator(s). With the 3Cs of creator, content and commerce converging, I could not have asked for a better time to take the entrepreneurial leap and add the 4th C of connection with Next Narrative.”
About partnering with another industry veteran, Simran Hoon, Mohit added, “They say when you start on your own, you should tag team with someone who can complement your strengths and vision. I couldn’t be more excited about partnering with Simran who is also my ex-colleague from my time at Viacom18.”
Next Narrative partner Simran Hoon added, “Storytelling has always been in my DNA. While working at Viacom18 together, Mohit and I experienced first-hand the impact of the right story, in the right hands, told to the right audience. With our industry knowledge and the right partnerships, we always knew we wanted to create something creative and drive impact. I have had a rewarding career spanning 30+ years working with the broadcast media in its golden age and with the digital media which is today a tour de force. What remains unchanged across the years and types of media is the ability of tell great stories to solve brand challenges. ”
Whatever the medium- episodic series, creator collaboration campaigns or podcasts-Next Narrative aims to focus on building brand loyalty. Under Mohit and Simran’s leadership, the company will drive results for brands by developing compelling content. Today, creators are media powerhouses with loyal communities. Next Narrative aims to partner with these influencers and creators- niche, big and small, who can authentically bring brand stories to life.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
