iWorld
Humans of Bombay blossoms into full-stack media powerhouse
MUMBAI: Humans of Bombay (HOB), the platform that’s touched millions with its poignant tales, is no longer just telling stories; it’s now poised to write its own, transforming into a full-stack digital media company. Having spun over 6,500 narratives and built a community of more than 7M, HOB is branching out to become a veritable media tree.
With a belief that real human stories can, in fact, change the world, HOB is now taking that power to the next level. Expect a bumper crop of original IPs, bold new partnerships, and immersive formats that aim not just to recount lives, but to shape the very culture of a New India. It’s a bit like turning a heart-warming anecdote into a blockbuster franchise.
“Stories change people. And people change the world. We’re building storytelling ecosystems—formats and IPs designed to inspire, influence, and push India forward.” said Humans of Bombay founder & CEO, Karishma Mehta
Every grand transformation needs the right hands to steer the plough, and HOB is no exception. They’ve brought in some serious talent to cultivate this new growth.
Amit Sobti is joining HOB as its new president. With two decades of experience in building and scaling media companies, including a dozen years spent nurturing Fork Media into one of India’s leading digital media powerhouses—Sobti will be driving operations, revenue, and partnerships to new heights. He’s clearly got a knack for turning narratives into net profits.
“This move just felt right,” Humans of Bombay president, Amit Sobti. “I’ve spent years building brands and businesses, but HOB is different. It’s honest. It’s human. And in a world full of noise, that really matters. I’m excited to help shape what comes next—thoughtfully, and with purpose.”
And because creativity is the very soil in which HOB thrives, Jasleen Kaur Gupta is stepping in as vice president, creatives & delivery. Armed with a decade of experience in shaping content, marketing, and talent IPs at big names like Myntra, 120 Media Collective, and Fork Media, gupta will lead the creative vision, bringing bold, fresh storytelling formats to vivid life.
Much before joining HOB, I was a fan of their content. To now actually be here and have the opportunity to make an impact with life changing storytelling and creative experiments is a chance to do what I do best. Build. Bigger, better and be disruptive,” says Jasleen Kaur.
“At our core, we’ll always stand for real, empathy-driven stories. But the future we’re building is about going beyond content—into culture, influence, and impact at scale,” adds Karishma Mehta.
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.
