iWorld
Manish Kalra departs from Zee5 as chief business officer
MUMBAI: Manish Kalra, who led Zee5 over the past five years, first domestically and then in a global position, has abruptly stepped down from his role as chief business officer for India and global markets.
Manish had initially been given charge of the streamer’s advertising video on demand product in 2020. Eight months into the job, and he was given a bump up as Zee5’s business head for the domestic market (both AVoD and SvoD), a position he held until September 2024 when Archana Anand, the global head quit, and he was given additional responsibility for her portfolio.
Zee5 had recently broadened Manish’s mandate, entrusting him with overseeing the platform’s business across global markets. This role involved fostering strategic partnerships, enhancing audience engagement, and positioning Zee5 as a prominent player on the global streaming stage. Company sources confirmed Manish’s resignation, and that an internal leader has been assigned to oversee the transition. He would be serving his 90 day notice period at Zee is what sources say.
Manish joined Zee5 in May 2020 and brought over two decades of experience in online business and marketing. Before his time at Zee5, he held leadership roles at renowned organisations, including Amazon, MakeMyTrip, and Dell. His strategic vision and business acumen have been pivotal in steering Zee5’s growth.
An alumnus of XLRI, Jamshedpur, where he earned his MBA, Kalra also holds an engineering degree from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. His professional journey exemplifies a strong foundation in strategic planning and execution across industries.
Under Kalra’s leadership, Zee5 made significant strides in audience engagement. His efforts helped the platform cement its position as India’s homegrown streaming giant with a growing international footprint.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
