GECs
ZEEL appoints Animesh Kumar as chief people officer
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has appointed Animesh Kumar as the chief people officer (CPO). He will report to ZEEL MD and CEO Punit Goenka.
In his new role, Kumar will be spearheading the human resources function to build a dynamic workplace that attracts the best talent and enables innovative people practices, supporting the growing workforce needs.
The new CPO has also worked with the IDFC Group for nine years engaging in various roles like head of human resources, marketing head of IDFC Bank and CEO of IDFC Foundation. Prior to joining ZEE, he was associated with the Future Group as the chief people & transformation officer wherein he was responsible for driving the internal transformation.
Having over 25 years of experience, Kumar has led the HR function at large scale Indian and MNCs for over 15 years. He has served on boards of various companies and has worked closely with non-profit organisations helping them enhance internal capacity to increase their social impact.
Kumar started his career with Marico as the HR manager and served the organisation for more than five years from June 1993 to December 1998. He has done BA in Economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce and holds a post graduate diploma degree on PM&IR (Personnel Management and Industrial Relations) in Human Resources from XLRI College, Jamshedpur.
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.
