GECs
Shashank Ghosh leaves SaharaOne
MUMBAI: He was brought on board to revamp Sahara Manoranjan and design the look of the proposed movie channel from the Sahara stable. But SaharaOne creative director Shashank Ghosh decided to call it a day as the launch of ‘Filmi’ in January has been deferred to the second half of the year.
In the wake of this development, Abhijeet Mitra from Hungama TV will be stepping into Ghosh’s shoes. Sahara has also roped in Sony on-air promo head Mukul Mishra as the creative director and on air promo head for ‘Filmi’.
Confirming the same to Indiantelevision.com, Ghosh said that he had parted ways with the company on amiable terms. On being queried as to why he had decided to move on, he said when he was appointed, he had also been given the responsibility to oversee the launch of Sahara’s new movie channel, which was getting delayed due to several reasons. “After the relaunch of Sahara Manoranjan as SaharaOne, there was not much to do since the launch of the second channel had been postponed and hence I felt that I needed to move on.”
Ghosh, whose contract with Sahara expired in December, was earlier Channel [V] creative head. He also made his directorial debut last year with the film Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II starring Arshad Warsi, Sandhya Mridul and Suchitra Pillai.
When asked what he intended to do now, an upbeat Ghosh said, “I am itching to make another movie.”
It was said post Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II Ghosh would be looking at two more projects — an emotional saga called Aarambh and a cult comedy called Quickgun Murugan, based on one of the projects he did for Channel [V].
GECs
Pocket FM partners with Indian Open Pickleball 2026
Audio platform joins forces with major tournament to engage young fans.
MUMBAI: Pocket FM just served up a perfect partnership because when audio storytelling meets pickleball’s fast-paced rallies, even the sidelines start listening. Pocket FM, the world’s largest audio series platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Indian Open 2026, one of India’s biggest pickleball tournaments organised by Global Sports in Hyderabad in association with Pickl’Out and Crosscourts Sports Club.
The collaboration brings Pocket FM’s immersive storytelling to one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in India. Pickleball, known for its accessibility, energy and strong community appeal, is rapidly attracting younger, digitally savvy audiences making it an ideal platform for Pocket FM to deepen its cultural relevance.
Under the partnership, Pocket FM will enjoy extensive on-ground and digital visibility throughout the tournament, which begins on 1 April 2026. This includes centre court branding, venue-wide presence, presenting rights for select matches, player lounge branding, team jersey integration, and strong integration across live streaming and social media.
Pocket FM, SVP and global head for brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said, “Pickleball is building a strong connection with young and engaged audiences in India. This partnership allows us to connect with people in a meaningful way through strong on-ground presence and digital visibility.”
Global Sports and Indian Open 2026, founder Hemal Jain added, “Partnering with Pocket FM adds an exciting new dimension to the experience. As a brand that has built deep resonance with young audiences, Pocket FM is a strong fit for the energy and ambition of this tournament.”
The move reflects Pocket FM’s continued strategy of aligning with emerging passion points and building deeper engagement with communities driven by competition and shared experiences.
In a country where sports and stories often collide, Pocket FM isn’t just sponsoring a tournament, it’s turning every rally into a narrative, proving that the best audio moments sometimes happen when the paddle meets the ball.
