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Star Vijay’s Rohatgi to also head Star Utsav
MUMBAI: Star India’s head of its Tamil language channel Vijay TV has been given an additional portfolio.
Star Vijay’s deputy general manager Harsh Rohatgi will now be overseeing the business of Star Utsav.
Going back to April 2004, Star India witnessed a restructuring which saw Rohatgi take over from Ajay Vidyasagar as the overall head of Star Vijay.
Rohatgi will now in effect be the overall business head for Utsav overlooking content, ad sales, distribution and marketing.
Speaking to Star India’s senior vice president marketing and communications Ajay Vidyasagar on the same, he says, ” This is a positive move for Harsh and we hope to take Utsav to greater heights, from both the ad sales and the viewership point of view. Harsh will be the overall conduit between the cost and the revenue.”
Interestingly, this is a newly created portfolio and the job role broadly speaking will be in bringing a degree of coordination within the marketing and distribution facets of the channel after the recent separation of Utsav from the Star Plus basket in terms of ad sales. While there was no official confirmation from Star on this, information available with Indiantelevion.com indicates that Rohatgi will be functioning in the capacity of general manager.
The ad sales head who was earlier working on Star News Shanti Rao will now be heading Utsav. Rohatgi will continue to report to Star India’s EVP content and communications Deepak Segal and will continue to be based out of Chennai for the moment.
Rohatgi has been with Star India for the last four and a half years. An IIM Ahmedabad graduate, Rohatgi was earlier with Pepsi handling sales and distribution.
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.
