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Times Internet COO Rajesh Sawhney joins Reliance Entertainment as president
MUMBAI: Anil Ambani is sprucing up the media and entertainment side of his business. In a key appointment, Times Internet Ltd COO Rajesh Sawhney has joined Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Enterprises as president, Reliance Entertainment.
His task: to focus initially on launching the group’s Internet and portal strategies and providing movies, entertainment and gaming content for Reliance Infocomm mobile customers. As COO of Times Internet Ltd, Sawhney was responsible for building Indiatimes from a start-up venture to a leading player in the Internet, mobile and e-commerce space.
Indications are that more members will be added to the Reliance Entertainment team. Amit Khanna is the chairman of Reliance Entertainment.
According to an official release, Sawhney will be a key member of the ADAE leadership team in the media and entertainment space. Incidentally, Reliance has applied for a direct-to-home (DTH) license and acquired controlling stake in Adlabs Films, a leading motion picture processing laboratory which also runs a chain of multiplexes.
During his 14 years with The Times of India Group, Sawhney was involved in businesses across several new areas, including radio, retailing, internet, e-commerce, travel and mobile value added services.
Sawhney is an Engineer and MBA, with a fellowship in Globalisation and Leadership from the London School of Economics and Social Sciences.
Reliance Infocomm Ltd., an Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Enterprises group company, is a leading information and communications services provider, with a subscriber base of over 12 million. Reliance Infocomm has established a pan-India, high-capacity, integrated (wireless and wireline), convergent (voice, data and video) digital network, to offer services spanning the entire Infocomm value chain.
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.
