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Identify safe places to shoot, Maharashtra CM tells industry delegation
MUMBAI: A 12-member delegation of television producers and broadcasters on Friday interacted with Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray who asked them to find safe and secluded places for resuming shooting.
In the zoom call, Thackeray responded positively to the delegation’s concerns and demands and assured them that shooting can restart soon. He asked them to identify green zones/safe areas for resuming shooting.
The delegation apprised the chief minister the huge losses the industry has been incurring since the lockdown was imposed in March. The leaders shared with him the concerns of job losses and the industry’s wish to restart shooting with utmost care and by adhering to SOPs.
He quickly addressed all issues and asked his team to set up a committee and work out the possibilities to start shooting at the earliest. The industry has to find out studios away from civilization, list of necessary precautions to be taken and spacious post production studios where social distancing can be maintained.
Once this is done, the permission for the maintenance of sets, monsoon sheds, fire safety measures, etc. can be obtained. The shooting has to be conducted with minimum crew. Government officials will also be visiting Goregaon film city to examine its safety.
Those who attended the meeting included: Zee Entertainment Enterprises managing director and chief executive officer Puneet Goenka, Sony Pictures Networks managing director and chief executive N P Singh, Network18 MD Rahul Joshi, Star & Disney India head K Madhavan, Zee Entertainment Enterprises CEO Punit Misra, Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege, TV producer Ekta Kapoor, Banijay Asia founder-CEO Deepak Dhar, actor-producer Adesh Bandekar, Dr Sanjay Mukharji, Vikas Gharelu, Sudhir Naik, IFTPC managing member Nitin Vaidya, and jd Majethia.
jd Majethia informed that the chief minister posed for a picture of the video conference meeting. “I was very happy to discover a hidden streak of our beloved CM’s sense of humour which kept everyone in the meeting comfortable. The chief minister concluded the meeting by asking us all to be positive and hopeful with a line of a song from film chhoti si baat “Aanewala pal jane wala hai,” said Majethia.
After several weeks of uncertainty, the television and broadcasting industry can finally heave a sigh of relief. Though an exact date has not been fixed yet, it is certain that production activities can resume soon.
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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.
