GECs
Star India extends partner health insurance cover, parental leave benefits to LGBT+ employees
MUMBAI: Celebrating diversity and inclusion is at the core of Star India’s vision, mission and values. The company’s on-going focus on creating a truly inclusive culture where all individuals can bring their authentic selves to work reaches an important milestone this July.
Effective July 1, Star India will extend health insurance cover to the partners of LGBT+ employees. All existing employee benefits around Maternity and Paternity, IVF, Surrogacy and Adoption is applicable to the LGBT+ employees.
Amita Maheshwari, Head of Human Resources, APAC, DTCI, The Walt Disney Company, said, “At Star, we believe that our people are happiest when they can bring their authentic self to work. Since our inception, diversity and inclusion have been our biggest strengths. It helps us build enduring characters, rich stories and imagine more possibilities… We respect each individual’s diverse perspectives to foster a truly inclusive culture.”
Star India has always been progressively cutting-edge and ahead of the curve on its employee benefits. Star was one of the first organizations to offer ‘6+6 months’ maternity leave program, 4 weeks of paternity leave, and a flexible leave policy that allows its employees to take as many days of paid leave as they need – recognizing the individual’s desire for flexibility.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
