iWorld
India to have a billion unique mobile subscribers by ’20; Delhi talent favourite
MUMBAI: The contribution of mobile industry to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) amounts to approximately US$140 billion (Rs 9,60,783 crore), the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and the Department of Telecom recently reported. India’s current GDP employs over four million people. At present, at 6.5 per cent, the government of India has stated that the mobile industry’s contribution is likely to rise to 8.2 per cent by 2020.
According to the report, India is expected to cross the one billion unique mobile phone subscribers mark by 2020. India will also see an increase in adoption of 4G services with number of 4G connections estimated to grow to 280 million by 2020 from just three million in 2015. Further, the report claimed that the mobile industry is expected to add 800,000 more jobs.
A survey by human resource (HR) solutions company PeopleStrong suggested that Delhi has emerged as the most preferred region for hiring in telecom and allied sectors. Hiring intent in this sector is expected to increase from 16% in 2016 to 20% in 2017.
In 2011-12, telecom sector contributed about 2.1 per cent of GDP with revenue of Rs 1,85,930 crore while, due to the increase in revenue next year to Rs 2,07,498 crore, the net contribution came down to 2.07 per cent. The revenue generated by the telecom sector in 2014-15 was Rs 2,42,900 crore, making it a contribution of 1.94 per cent to GDP.
Vodafone tops the list of investments with Rs 10,299 crore ($1,500.79 million) followed by Videocon International Electronics with Rs 4924 crore ($719.76 million). At third position stands Telenor at $573.15 million followed by Sistema Shyam Teleservices $451.83 million, Bharti Infratel $240.37 million, and Idea Cellular $123.22 million.
PeopleStrong CEO Pankaj Bansal said Delhi’s emergence for hiring could be attributed to the availability of the engineering and general graduate talent pool in this area or to the fact that many telecom and allied industries are headquartered in Delhi NCR.
iWorld
Prime Video drops trailer for Lukkhe, a rap crime drama starring KING in his acting debut
Eight episodes of revenge, redemption and hard-hitting rap arrive on the streaming platform on 8th May
MUMBAI: Prime Video has unveiled the trailer for Lukkhe, an eight-episode musical action drama built around the world of rap, crime and bruised relationships — and it has done so in suitably loud fashion, launching it at a live concert in Mumbai featuring electrifying performances by KING, Amira Gill, Akshath, Raashii Khanna, Ruaa Kayy and RUTVXK. As if that were not enough, the show’s music album was also dropped at the event, in collaboration with exclusive music streaming partner Amazon Music and music label Warner Music India.
The series is directed by Himank Gaur and produced by Vipul D. Shah and Rajesh Bahl under the banners of Optimystix Entertainment and White Guerrilla LLP. It is created and executive produced by Agrim Joshi and Debojit Das Purkayastha.
The cast is the talking point. KING, the acclaimed Indian rapper and songwriter, makes his acting debut as MC Badnaam, a performer consumed by rivalry and hunger for recognition. Raashii Khanna, returning to Prime Video after Farzi, plays Gurbani. Palak Tiwari, making her streaming debut, plays Sanober. Lakshvir Singh Saran plays Lucky. The ensemble also includes Nakul Roshan Sahdev, Kritika Bharadwaj, Shivankit Parihar, Yograj Singh and Ayesha Raza Mishra in pivotal roles.
The trailer plants its flag squarely in the tension between MC Badnaam and his rival MC OG, played by Parihar, while threading in the love story between Lucky and Sanober. The soundtrack, which spans hard-hitting rap anthems to emotionally charged melodies, is as much a character in the show as any of its leads.
Gaur was candid about what drew him to the project. “Lukkhe gave me a chance to dive into a world that’s loud, emotional, and constantly on edge,” he said. “What stayed with me was how every character is chasing something personal, and music becomes their way of expressing it. Working with this cast, especially KING in his debut, along with Raashii, Lakshvir, and Palak, was incredibly rewarding because they brought honesty that elevated every moment.”
Khanna reflected on her character with evident relish. “Playing Gurbani in Lukkhe was a really intense and fulfilling experience,” she said. “What I found most interesting was how her strength comes from something deeply personal, which shapes every decision she makes. It was about finding that balance between vulnerability and grit.”
KING, stepping in front of the camera for the first time, was characteristically direct. “Stepping into Lukkhe as MC Badnaam has been a defining moment for me,” he said. “What drew me in was how real his hunger and need to be heard felt. It’s something I connect with as an artist. Bringing music into his journey made the experience even more personal.”
Tiwari described the role as a first on multiple fronts. “It was my first time working with Prime Video, and the whole experience felt new and creatively satisfying,” she said. “Being part of a story that has both intense and heartfelt moments, along with a team that brought so much honesty to it, made this journey truly memorable.”
Saran, for his part, zeroed in on what made Lucky tick. “Lucky is someone who’s trying to move forward while still carrying the weight of his past, and that push-pull made him really interesting to explore,” he said. “There’s a sincerity to his journey that I hope people connect with.”
Lukkhe premieres on Prime Video in Hindi on 8th May, across India and in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. In a streaming landscape drowning in crime dramas, this one is betting that putting a rapper at its centre – and meaning it – is enough to cut through the noise. On the evidence of the trailer, it might just be right.
