GECs
Xerox India’s Rohit Gupta appointed sales head at Sony Entertainment
Six months after former Sony Entertainment International president Michael Grindon initiated a “rightsizing exercise” in Sony Entertainment Television that swept away a number of high profile executives, the first replacement appointment has been made.
Coming in place of marketing and sales head Kacon Sethi (she was managing director of sister channel SET MAX as well at the time) is Rohit Gupta – previously executive director, industry solutions operations, Xerox Modicorp.
Gupta’s brief, outside of pushing ad sales for SET, will be to get the most out of the ICC cricket rights that Sony has acquired.
Gupta, who has been appointed executive vice-president – sales & revenue management, has been with Xerox for 18 years, right from its inception in India. Gupta comes into SET with no prior media exposure but that, according to SET CEO Kunal Dasgupta, can actually work as an advantage as he can provide a fresh perspective.
Gupta’s marks the first appointment from outside to replace any of the high-profile departures like former COO Rajesh Pant, programming head Rekha Nigam, senior V-P corporate development Anand Desai and V-P – MAX, Prashant Sanwal.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
