iWorld
Weekend Unwind with: Zee Studios head marketing Neeraj Joshi
Its that time of the week again, when we take a peek into the mind of a corporate head through a fun lens with IndianTelevision.com’s ‘Weekend Unwind’ series- An attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better, via their nuggets on life & mantras to deal with the curve balls that life throws.
This time we have Zee Studios head marketing Neeraj Joshi sharing with us his musings on the daily rigmarole that life & work has to offer. Having been in the field of media and entertainment for over 15 years, spanning the gamut of movies- from Hollywood to Bollywood and Regional- with motion picture marketing, Joshi still finds it all, in his own words, “fascinating”. Currently, heading the marketing function at Zee Studios (with three additional horizontal leadership profiles since 2018), he has worked with a clutch of the ‘buzziest brands’ in the industry earlier such as Viacom18, Fox Star Studios, Balaji Motion Pictures, Rajshri Films, PVR Pictures & RGV’s Factory.
A self-confessed adventure lover & true blue professional, he considers creativity, people, negotiations, conflict resolution, evangelising and brand communication, among others as his key strengths.
So without much ado here goes…
-Your mantra for Life
It won’t work if it’s not fun.
-A book you are currently reading/plan to read
Currently reading Franz Kafka’s short stories, also re-reading ‘Man Eater of Kumaon’ by Jim Corbett & Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.
-Your Fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
10K steps and diet!
-Your comfort food
Curd Rice
-When the chips are down a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going
I hope to be as wise today, as I think I might be, tomorrow.
-Your guilty pleasure
Watching 90’s Govinda comedies.
-When was the last time you tried something new?
Am a weekly experimenter – I will do something ridiculous once a week. Mostly never ends pleasantly.
-A life lesson you learnt the hard way
Money matters.
-What gets you excited about life?
So much of it isn’t known yet, so much to discover.
-What’s on top of your bucket list?
Scaling Everest
– If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Do not waste time
-An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
Music, long train journeys, solo trips, conversations with self – (I know it sounds silly but it really helps)
-What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
Friends, cricket, cinema, music & books.
-Your go-to stress buster
Playing a cricket match helps me regain my focus and if that’s not possible its music.
– One thing you would most like to change about the world
Make caring for the environment a compulsory part of education and occupation. Also add a ton of ‘sense of humour’ in the society – we’ve forgotten how to laugh at ourselves.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
