Hindi
Marathi entertainment visionary Akshay Bardapurkar receives honorary doctorate
Mumbai: National Award winner, producer-entrepreneur Akshay Bardapurkar, has been conferred with an honoris causa (honorary doctorate) in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to Indian cinema and Marathi culture. This prestigious accolade, bestowed upon him by a renowned American university, acknowledges Bardapurkar’s groundbreaking work and innovative strategies that have transformed the landscape of the Indian entertainment industry. He was presented the honoris causa (honorary doctorate) by Padmashree Dr. Kanubhai Tailor, India’s humanitarian and former cricketer Munaf Patel. Apart from Bardapurkar, actor Manoj Bajpayee was also recently presented with an honorary doctorate from the same university.
Bardapurkar’s approach and transformative tactics have revolutionised the Marathi industry, consistently delivering exceptional brands and experiences for Marathi content. He created history by establishing Planet Marathi OTT, the world’s only exclusively Marathi OTT platform. With its vast collection of meticulously curated content, Planet Marathi OTT has emerged as a powerful platform for showcasing Marathi entertainment on an international scale. Through his cinematic endeavours, such as the iconic film “Chandramukhi,” Bardapurkar introduced the concept of larger-than-life cinema and pioneered innovative marketing and branding strategies in Marathi cinema.
His unwavering commitment to excellence has garnered national recognition, with two films from the Planet Marathi stable, namely “Gosht Eka Paithanichi” and “June,” receiving recognition at the prestigious 68th National Film Awards. These achievements solidify Bardapurkar’s position as a distinguished national award winner. Continuing his mission to elevate regional entertainment, Bardapurkar announced Planet Goem, a platform dedicated to showcasing art, culture, and people of Goa along with announcing plans to establish a film institute and studio in the state.
Commenting on his honoris causa (honorary doctorate), Bardapurkar said, “Receiving this honorary doctorate is a profoundly humbling experience, as it acknowledges the relentless efforts undertaken behind the scenes to foster positive transformation within the industry. I am deeply honored to accept this esteemed recognition, and I consider it a privilege that propels me forward to continue creating transformative and landmark contributions to Indian cinema.”
Hindi
Rashmika Mandanna, Shanaya Kapoor and Naila Grrewal climb IMDb’s Indian celebrity rankings
Upcoming films and returning shows are driving fan interest across Bollywood and streaming
MUMBAI: Bollywood’s popularity contest has a new weekly scorecard, and the numbers are telling. IMDb’s Popular Indian Celebrities list for this week places Shanaya Kapoor at number six, buoyed by buzz around her film Tu Yaa Main. Naila Grrewal slots in at seven on the back of the returning comedy series Maamla Legal Hai, while Rashmika Mandanna climbs to eighth, riding mounting anticipation for Cocktail 2.
The list, available exclusively on the IMDb app for Android and iOS, tracks trending Indian entertainers and filmmakers each week, drawing on data from more than 200m monthly visits to the platform worldwide.
Further down the rankings, Raaka is keeping two of its biggest names in the spotlight. Deepika Padukone holds 11th position, with Allu Arjun close behind at 13th, as the film continues to find traction with audiences.
The list offers fans a weekly pulse on who is breaking through, who is holding steady, and who is fading. It is a barometer as unsparing as the box office itself.
