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Sony Pictures’ Tony Vinciquerra’s perspective on the Zee merger
MUMBAI: Why did the deal between Zee and Sony Pictures fall through?
Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman & CEO CEO Tony Vinciquerra gave some insights on 30 May at a business segment call with investment analysts.
Said he: “The Zee situation (the merger deal) would have been very great. It took a very long time to get regulatory approval and in that time, unfortunately, the Zee business deteriorated substantially.”
Vinciquerra, explained that Sony Pictures has several conversations going on in India that “could, might, possibly” end up in something that would help the company in the market place.
He added: “But we are not concerned about our survival there. We have a very good busines there. We will survive. We will do well. We have a very large competitor there who is merging with another of our very large competitors. We are not sure how the regulatory process will go over there, but it will probably take some time. Which would give us some time to re-establish and re-energise our business to compete very strongly. But we are looking some other options which may or may not come to fore.”
Vinciquerra also put paid to reports that the company had settled upon Disney Star’s Gaurav Banerjee to replace India CEO NP Singh who had announced he was retiring.
“We are aggressively looking…we have a long list of very good candidates we can choose from,” he elaborated.
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.
