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Sarika Shankarnarayan elevated as business head – Star UK, Europe & South Africa
Mumbai: Sarika Shankarnarayan has been elevated as business head for Star TV Network UK, Europe, and South Africa. She is the first woman business head for Star TV Network UK.
Shankarnarayan has been associated with Star TV Network for almost 14 years and was previously the vice president – marketing and sponsorship sales. She began her career at J Walter Thompson (Wunderman Thompson) and has been associated with Sony Pictures Networks India, Zee Entertainment Enterprises before joining Star TV India in October 2007.
With two decades of experience under her belt, Shankarnarayan is a media professional with strong cross-cultural and multi-market experience in brand building and marketing. She is an alumnus of Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi and completed her post-graduation in management from Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad.
The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of Star TV Network in 2019. The network broadcasts over 65 channels across 110 countries worldwide. In the UK, Star Plus the flagship channel was sampled by an average of 596,500 viewers every week across 2019, with a viewership of 10,797 individuals every minute of the year, garnering a staggering 0.8+ billion eyeballs (Source: Broadcasters Audience Research Board (BARB), Wk 1-32’2019). Star Network is a leading TV destination in the UK reaching 4+ million Asians and partnering with 2600 brands to leverage the purchasing power of UK’s Asian audiences.
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.
