Kids
Disney-ABC elevates Swati Shetty to TV distribution head in India
MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company’s Disney-ABC International Television (Asia Pacific), the international TV distribution arm, has appointed Swati Shetty as director, India, responsible for Disney-ABC International Television’s TV distribution business across all platforms in India.
Shetty replaces Amit Malhotra who was promoted in June 2007 to regional sales director, Pan-Asia, India and Singapore.
Shetty will be based in Mumbai and report directly to Malhotra in Hong Kong as well as the managing director for Walt Disney Company (India) currently overseen by , Walt Disney International president Andy Bird. She joins Disney-ABC International Television in early August. The announcement was made today by Disney-ABC International Television’s vice president of sales for Asia Pacific Greg Johnson. Shetty joins from her earlier position as associate director, advertising sales, Disney Channel in India where she played an instrumental role in launching Disney Channel in the country. Previously, Shetty held sales and business development positions at major Indian broadcasters including Star India and Sahara India. Commenting on the new appointment in India Johnson said, “Swati’s strong sales experience combined with her deep understanding of the Indian television market will be integral to the continued growth of our distribution business in India, a key strategic market for the Company. We‘re very excited to welcome her to the TV sales team.
Kids
Mukta Arts and Green Gold ink MOU to animate iconic film IPs
Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan to spawn animated shows plus features.
MUMBAI: When classic hindi movie meets animation, the result is a fresh reel of nostalgia with a cartoon twist. Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on animated shows and feature films drawn from Mukta Arts’ four-decade treasure trove of iconic IPs. The partnership taps Mukta’s SGM Animation Studio launched in 2025 as its dedicated animation and games arm and Green Gold’s proven track record in building scalable, homegrown franchises. Creative teams from both sides have already kicked off discussions, with the first project currently in development.
The slate will draw inspiration from landmark Mukta films including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar and Iqbal, plus character-led spin-offs from those universes. The aim is to reimagine these stories for today’s young, global audiences while preserving their emotional core.
Green Gold Animation (home of Chhota Bheem) founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”
Mukta Arts Ltd. filmmaker and founder Subhash Ghai added, “Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”
In an industry where timeless tales never go out of fashion, this collaboration promises to bring beloved characters back to life with a modern, animated glow proving that some stories are too good to stay in live-action. Stay tuned for the first animated frame to drop.
