iWorld
“The people there were really warm, and the food was absolutely lip-smacking”: Hina Khan
Mumbai: Amazon miniTV, Amazon’s free video streaming service, recently released the bromance dramedy Namacool, which has been basking in praise from audiences across that country ever since its release. Set in the bustling city of Lucknow, the series follows Mayank and Piyush, two best friends who yearn for fame as they enter their second year of college, unintentionally inviting an emotional rollercoaster as they embark on a quest to discover the true essence of manhood. Their lives spiral into a world of uncertainty, crime, and deceit when fate leads them to encounter new friends, enemies, and love interests. With numerous unexpected twists and turns, viewers will be hooked to the series from start to finish as this hilarious story unfolds.
Hina Khan, who plays Rubiya, discusses her character in the series, stating, “I play the character of Rubiya, wife of the dean. She is the eye candy for every boy in the college. Rubiya is the main mystery of the show. She does not just plot her husband’s murder but uses this young boy from the college to help her. Rubiya is a mixture of sweet and spicy, basically one of those ‘masala’ characters in the show who turns out to be the shocking mystery element.”
Furthermore, Hina also shares her experience of shooting for the series in the city of Nawabs – Lucknow, saying, “It was a lovely experience shooting in Lucknow. I absolutely loved my stay in the city! The people there were really warm, and the food was absolutely lip-smacking! I enjoyed trying out all the local delicacies that the cast and crew made me try. Overall, it was a great experience shooting there!”
Directed by Ritam Shrivastava and written by Shantanu Srivastava, this seven-episode series features a talented cast, including Hina Khan, Abhinav Sharma, Aaron Koul, Abhishek Bajaj, Anushka Kaushik, Faisal Malik, and Aadil Khan in pivotal roles. Namacool is now streaming exclusively on Amazon miniTV for free within Amazon’s shopping app, on Prime Video, Fire TV, Smart TVs, or download the app from Play Store.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
