iWorld
Kunal Lakhara promoted as chief financial officer of Pocket Aces
Mumbai: The digital entertainment company, Pocket Aces, has elevated Kunal Lakhara to the new position of chief financial officer. Prior to this, Kunal was the vice president of finance & operations and a key member of the executive leadership team at the company.
Kunal joined Pocket Aces in 2017 as one of the earliest leaders in the management team, and has helped spearhead tremendous growth at the company, including $75 million raised in equity and debt across Pocket Aces and the company’s gaming arm Loco, and the successful spin-off of Loco into a separate entity in July 2021.
He leads a team of 10 that manages investor reporting, cash flow management, bank relationships, lawyer relationships, audit, production finance, brand copyrights, IP rights, and legal matters at Pocket Aces.
Kunal has a rich experience of over 16 years in the fields of finance and accounts, with an overall eight years spent building the finance domain in well-regarded startups such as Citrus Pay, which was acquired by Naspers in 2017.
Kunal started his career with Citigroup in its investment banking team, helping clients raise money through equity and debt instruments. Kunal is a chartered accountant and graduated with a first class degree in finance from Mumbai University.
Commenting on his new role, Kunal Lakhara said, “I am humbled and thrilled to take up the new role as the Chief Financial Officer of Pocket Aces. It has been a fantastic journey so far working with Aditi on the company’s mission of solving boredom. It is a proud moment to see how the company has grown from length to length in these years, and I’m truly thankful for all the support and hard work of my team members. I look forward to making significant contributions to further scaling Pocket Aces.”
Commenting on the appointment, Pocket Aces co-founder and CEO Aditi Srivastava said, “Kunal has been a trusted partner and friend, instrumental to our growth from an early stage startup in 2017 to now becoming the biggest new age media player in India. His function is like an army-if his team maintains the right checks and balances, the rest of us can sleep peacefully at night. With Kunal in this new role as our Chief Financial Officer, our focus is to demonstrate a hugely profitable new age media company that benefits all stakeholders, including audiences, talent, employees, clients, and investors.”
iWorld
Prime Video and Hrithik Roshan reunite for quirky heist comedy Mess
HRX Films expands pact with quirky heist comedy set for production
MUMBAI: Prime Video is doubling down on its partnership with Hrithik Roshan, announcing a new comedy film Mess that promises chaos, chuckles and a clever twist on the classic heist.
Produced by Hrithik Roshan and Eshaan Roshan under HRX Films, a division of FilmKraft Productions, the film is being made in association with Soda Films Lab. Directed by Rajesh A Krishnan, Mess marks the second collaboration between the streaming platform and HRX Films after the upcoming thriller Storm.
At the heart of Mess lies an unusual premise. A group of robbers break into the home of a man with OCD, only to find themselves outmatched in a night-long standoff that flips the script on who is really in control. It is a set-up that blends tension with humour, turning a break-in into a breakdown of expectations.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok said, “A good story should surprise and entertain, and Mess does both with ease. It brings together a unique premise, memorable characters and a tone that keeps you laughing throughout.”
He added that the collaboration with HRX Films continues to grow stronger, with the new film reflecting a shared appetite for bold and original storytelling.
Hrithik Roshan said, “After Storm, Mess feels like a natural next step in our journey with Prime Video. The film captures the kind of unconventional storytelling we want to champion, with Rajesh bringing a distinctive voice to the narrative.”
Director Rajesh A Krishnan said, “The world of Mess is a mix of comedy and chaos, unusual enough to keep audiences on edge while still delivering humour. It has been a deeply collaborative and creatively fulfilling experience.”
The original screenplay comes from Paul Soter, with adaptation and dialogues by Kapil Sawant, adding another layer of craft to the film’s offbeat narrative.
As production gears up, Mess looks ready to live up to its name, serving up a delightful tangle of mayhem, mischief and movie magic for audiences in India and beyond.
