Tushar Shah steps down from Sony Pictures Networks India after 16-year run

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) is set for a major leadership shake-up as Tushar Shah, the chief marketing officer and business head for movies, regional, FTA and infotainment channels, readies to step away after a marathon 16-year run that helped shape some of the network’s biggest brands.

Counting his earlier stint from 2002 to 2005, Shah has clocked more than 19 years at SPNI. His last working day will be 31 March 2026, though he will stay on to ensure a smooth handover.

A media hand with more than three decades across print, telecom and television, Shah has been the spine of SPNI’s vast portfolio—driving strategy, revenue and brand-building across Sony Max, Sony Max 1, Sony Max 2, Sony Pal, Sony Wah, Sony Marathi, Sony Aath, Sony Pix and Sony BBC Earth. His turnaround of Sony Aath turned the regional channel into a steady profit engine for over a decade, while his stewardship of the movies, regional, FTA and infotainment clusters kept SPNI competitive in some of India’s most cut-throat genres.

Shah also fronted the network’s sweeping rebrand—the first full refresh since launch—cementing SPNI’s identity in a ruthlessly crowded market. His tenure, marked by precision, audience instinct and methodical execution, remains one of the network’s most defining eras.

The managing director and chief executive of SPNI, Gaurav Banerjee, called Shah’s contribution “foundational,” crediting his clarity and consumer-first thinking for several of the network’s biggest milestones.

Shah said SPNI had been a defining chapter of his career, adding that he leaves with “pride, gratitude and memories that will travel with me.”

SPNI is expected to announce its succession plan soon. The next act, by the looks of it, promises just as much churn—and just as much charge.