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Mukta Arts elevates Rahul Puri
MUMBAI: Mukta Arts has elevated its executive director, Rahul Puri as the new MD for the company. Subhash Ghai shall work in the power of chairman of the media and entertainment company. The company has welcomed this transformation as a way to introduce constructive innovations.
Also in a filing to the BSE, the board of the company has decided to conform with the provisions of Section 203 of the Companies Act, 2013 as per which an individual cannot be chairman and MD of the company at the same time.
The BSE-listed Mukta Arts is largely into movie production and distribution business that has now entered the movie exhibition business with Mukta A2 Cinemas.
“After working for 30 years as managing director of Mukta Arts, I feel pleased today that the responsible chair of managing director of Mukta Arts has been entrusted to Rahul Puri by board of directors. I share this collective decision proudly since like others, I am aware of the capacity and capability of Rahul Puri who has been working with Mukta Arts for years as a director,” said Ghai.
“Rahul Puri is a man of great integrity, quality and responsibility and possesses a complete knowledge of this business in terms of art, commerce and finance. Especially being a finance man himself he will take the company to the newer heights, I am sure. I convey my best wishes to him for every success in Mukta Arts with a great future ahead,” added Ghai.
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.
