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Rajiv Lakshman quits Colosceum as CCO
MUMBAI: Colosceum’s chief creative officer Rajiv Lakshman has decided to quit. He is currently serving his notice period, with his last day in office being 31 July 2014. Lakshman has been one of the founding members and the creative core of the company. He is expected to announce his new venture soon.
That apart, Hitesh Bhatia has joined Colosceum as VP – programming. Bhatia has been associated with Colosceum for more than four years and has been director of all seasons of MasterChef for Star Plus. Bhatia has over 14 years of rich experience working as both director and creative director. Further, Colosceum has also elevated Vikrant Bharadwaj as VP – programming.
Speaking on the development Colosceum COO Lalit Sharma said, “Rajiv has been an invaluable asset to the company. He gave the team strong creative leadership with the freedom to experiment and he’ll be hard to replace. I wish him good luck with his future venture. I am sure soon we will be working together on our next big project. At the same time I repose full faith in Hitesh and Vikrant who have been associated with Colosceum for quite some time now. In fact we have worked with Hitesh on all our big ticket shows. The ability of both Hitesh and Vikrant to create and execute shows fits well with Colosceum’s goals.”
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.
