Actors recall the joy of receiving their first paycheck!

         Actors recall the joy of receiving their first paycheck!

Most of us put a lot of thought into how we want to spend our first salary, and it holds a special place for everyone. &TV artists, who began their careers with humble salaries, walk down memory lane to share the stories of their first paychecks. These include Smita Sable (Dhaniya from Bheema), Ashutosh Kulkarni (Krishan Bihari Vajpayee from Atal), Yogesh Tripathi (Daroga Happu Singh from Happu Ki Ultan Paltan), and Shubhangi Atre (Angoori Bhabi from Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai). Smita Sable, who plays Dhaniya in &TV’s Bheema, says, “Before stepping into acting, I worked as a model for a brand portfolio shoot. I was quite young, and I vividly remember receiving my first salary of Rs. 1500 after working for the entire day. Though it wasn’t a big amount, it felt like a huge accomplishment. As soon as I got home, I gave the entire amount to my mother as a gift, telling her she could spend it however she wished. I still remember the tears of joy in her eyes and the pride she felt. That day, she also cooked my favourite meal, and I felt immensely blessed." Ashutosh Kulkarni, who portrays Krishan Bihari Vajpayee in Atal, shares, “I still remember the day I received my first paycheck from Pune’s Akashwani Radio Station. I was a 14-year-old schoolboy working as a  voice actor and earned ₹2500 for my role. At that age, the amount felt enormous, and I was filled with pride knowing I had earned it on my own. The first thing I did was buy a beautiful saree for my mother. She has always been my biggest support and gifting her something special was my way of saying thank you. I also bought a pen for my father as a symbol of respect for his guidance and wisdom. That day taught me the joy of giving and how much happiness comes from seeing your loved ones smile because of you. It was a small step in my career, but it meant the world to me, and that experience still holds a special place in my heart.”

 

Yogesh Tripathi, who portrays Daroga Happu Singh in Happu Ki Ultan Paltan, shares, “I can never forget the moment I received my first salary. It was Rs. 600, and I earned it while doing a theatre play. Back then, it wasn’t just about following my passion for acting; that money was essential to make ends meet. Life was challenging, and every rupee mattered. Theatre and street plays were not just my creative outlet; they were a lifeline. Earning 600 rupees was important for me. It wasn’t much, but it helped me cover basic needs and gave me the strength to keep going. Those days taught me the value of hard work and persistence. Every performance, no matter how small the stage, was a stepping stone toward something bigger. That first paycheck will always remind me of where I started and the struggles that shaped me into the person and actor I am today.” Shubhangi Atre, who plays Angoori Bhabi in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai, shares, “I still remember the excitement of receiving my first salary. It was a humble amount of Rs. 300 when I was in class 12, but it holds immense sentimental value for me. I earned it by teaching dance to a group of students. Dance has always been a passion of mine and sharing it with others was an incredibly fulfilling experience. At that time, it wasn’t about the money; it was about the joy of seeing my students learn and grow and knowing that I could contribute to their progress. That amount might seem small in monetary terms, but it symbolized my first step toward independence and the realization that my skills could make a difference in someone’s life. I often look back at that moment with pride because it was the beginning of my journey, which has brought me to where I am today. It taught me the value of hard work, dedication, and the joy of pursuing my passion.”

Watch your favourite artists in Atal at 8:00 pm, Bheema at 8:30 pm, Hapu Ki Ultan Paltan at 10:00 pm, and Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai at 10:30 pm, airing every Monday to Friday only on &TV!

Nium Strengthens Executive Leadership Team with Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer Appointments

Nium Strengthens Executive Leadership Team with Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer Appointments

~Investment banking veteran, Andre Mancl, joins as CFO; Fraud risk expert, Philip Doyle, to lead regulatory compliance operations~

 Nium, the global leader in real-time cross-border payments, announced two executive appointments that strengthen its leadership team and underscore the company’s focus on driving efficient and responsible growth.

Andre Mancl joins as Chief Financial Officer. He will oversee all financial strategies for the company and will lead Nium’s global finance organization, including planning, treasury, tax, reporting, corporate development, and investor relations. He will be integral in helping Nium deliver profitable growth and efficiency at scale, while creating value for all Nium shareholders.

Philip Doyle joins as Chief Compliance Officer. He will lead Nium’s global risk and compliance programs, ensuring both evolve and grow as regulatory expectations heighten. Both executives will report to Prajit Nanu, Founder and CEO of Nium, and will join the company’s Executive Committee.

 “These two leaders add deep subject matter expertise in their respective fields and complement what is already one of the best leadership teams in global payments,” said Nanu. “We’re in a great position to continue executing on a sustainable growth strategy, elevating our operational performance across all areas of our business, while delivering customer-centric technology innovation. These leaders, together with our colleagues around the world, take us steps closer to achieving a mission of connecting the world’s banks and businesses to the future of real-time, cross-border payments.”

Prior to Nium, Mancl was the Chief Financial Officer at ChowNow, a leading software platform that connects independent restaurants with their diners through a suite of digital products. Before joining ChowNow in 2021, he was a Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Internet Investment Banking at Credit Suisse. As an Investment Banker, he worked in the Technology Sector for over 15 years and has been involved in tens of billions of dollars of debt, equity, and M&A transactions. During his banking career he advised and executed transactions for companies, such as Lyft, Snap, Ancestry.com, Facebook (Meta), AppLovin, and GoDaddy. Prior to his investment banking career, he served as a distinguished SH-60B Seahawk Helicopter Pilot in the United States Navy, flying missions in various regions and received the Order of the Daedalian for landing a helicopter in distress. He holds an MBA from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and a BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California (USC).

“Throughout my career in the technology sector, I’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact of technology innovation on the global economy,” commented Mancl. “Joining Nium at this pivotal moment is one of the most exciting moments of my career and I’m humbled to be part of such an exceptional team. I look forward to playing a meaningful role in Nium’s next phase of growth.”

Doyle joins Nium with decades of risk and compliance experience, most recently Chief Risk and Compliance Officer for Zepz, one of the world’s leading remittance companies. There he created and led the company’s global compliance program, including standards and best practices for adhering to applicable local and international regulations. Prior to this, Doyle held senior financial crime positions at banks, such as Revolut, Clearbank, and Tandem Bank. A career-long “fraud fighter,” Doyle has also held fraud prevention roles at FICO, SAV Credit Limited, Visa, and Morgan Stanley. He holds an MSc. from the University of Nottingham and a BSc. from the University of Sussex.

“Payments is built on the trust we earn from the banks and businesses we serve,” said Doyle. “There could not be a better time to start my journey with Nium with so much investment going into expanding our compliance programs to be best-in-class.” 

Mancl and Doyle join at a time of great momentum for Nium, which recently announced its expansion Latin America with license applications, key fintech association memberships, and new customers. The company also announced new local funding and collection capabilities to more than 40 countries and 15 currencies, with more to come. In June, the company announced that it had raised US$50 million in a Series E funding round, led by a prominent sovereign wealth fund in Southeast Asia. Today’s news follows key appointments for the company including Spencer Hanlon to Chief Operating Officer and Alexandra Johnson to Chief Payments Officer.

 About Nium

Nium, the leader in real-time, cross-border payments, was founded on the mission to deliver the global payments infrastructure of tomorrow, today. With the onset of the global economy, its payments infrastructure is shaping how banks, fintechs, and businesses everywhere collect, convert, and disburse funds instantly across borders. Its payout network supports 100 currencies and spans 220+ markets, 100 of which in real-time. Funds can be disbursed to accounts, wallets, and cards and collected locally in 40 markets. Nium's growing card issuance business is already available in 34 countries. Nium holds regulatory licenses and authorisations in more than 40 countries, enabling seamless onboarding, rapid integration, and compliance – independent of geography. The company is co-headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore.

मनोरंजनाची चवदार ‘पाणीपुरी’ चित्रपटगृहात

                                               लज्जतदार नात्यांची चटकदार गोष्ट

                     मनोरंजनाची चवदार ‘पाणीपुरी’ चित्रपटगृहात

झणझणीत, तिखट, कुरकुरीत, आंबट-गोड पदार्थ म्हटलं की, पाणीपुरीच आपल्या नजरेसमोर येते. पाणीपुरी म्हटलं की, प्रत्येकाच्या तोंडाला लगेच पाणी सुटतं आणि मनालाही ते खाण्याचा मोह होतो. नात्यांच्या अशाच वेगवेगळ्या चवींची चटकदार पाणीपुरी लवकरच चित्रपटगृहात आपल्याला चाखायला मिळणार आहे. एस. के प्रॉडक्शन निर्मित आणि रमेश चौधरी यांचे लेखन-दिग्दर्शन असलेला ‘पाणीपुरी’ हा मराठी चित्रपट येत्या १५ नोव्हेंबरला चित्रपटगृहात दाखल होणार आहे. संजीवकुमार अग्रवाल या चित्रपटाचे निर्माते आहेत तर सहनिर्माते चंद्रकांत ठक्कर, अनिकेत अग्रवाल आहेत.  

प्रत्येक नात्याची स्वतःची एक गोष्ट असते.. कधी खूप आनंद, प्रेम, विश्वास देणारी तर कधी सोबत दुःख घेऊन येणारी..अशाच लज्जतदार नात्यांची चटकदार गोष्ट घेऊन ‘पाणीपुरी’ हा चित्रपट आपलं मनोरंजन करणार आहे. मकरंद देशपांडे, सायली संजीव, ऋषिकेश जोशी, विशाखा सुभेदार, भारत गणेशपुरे, प्राजक्ता हनमघर, कैलास वाघमारे, शिवाली परब, प्रतिक्षा जाधव, सचिन बांगर, अनुष्का पिंपुटकर, अभय गिते आदि कलाकार मंडळी आपल्या मनोरंजनातून  ‘पाणीपुरी’ची चव आपल्याला  चाखायला देणार आहेत.  

चित्रपटाचे छायांकन आणि संकलन सिद्धेश संतोष मोरे यांचे आहे. चित्रपटाची पटकथा-संवाद संजय नवगिरे यांनी  लिहिले आहेत. संगीत अजित परब तर पार्श्वसंगीत अमर मोहिले यांचे आहे.  गीतकार मंदार चोळकर यांच्या  गीतांना  गायक मंदार आपटे, अजित परब  यांचे  स्वर लाभले आहेत.  

मनोरंजनाची ही चटकदार ‘पाणीपुरी’ १५ नोव्हेंबरला चित्रपटगृहात दाखल होणार आहे.

'The emotional climax of Ardaas Sarbat De Bhale Di,'

                                     The emotional climax of 'Ardaas Sarbat De Bhale Di,'                                                                     Jasmine Bhasin's performance wins hearts 

The ending scene of Ardaas Sarbat De Bhale Di was a powerful and emotional moment, where the theatre was filled with a profound silence, leaving the audience deeply moved. Jasmine Bhasin's performance touched viewers' hearts with her emotional depth and subtle expressions. The audience responded with admiration, and her portrayal resonated strongly with them.

THE MOST POWERFUL MARATHI FILM OF THE DECADE!

                              THE MOST POWERFUL MARATHI FILM OF THE DECADE! 

                                                       'RAANTI' FIRST LOOK IS HERE...

                                                     SHARAD KELKAR IN & AS #RAANTI

                                                              Directed by Samit Kakkad 

                                                               Produced by Punit Balan  

PUNIT BALAN | SAMIT KAKKAD | SHARAD KELKAR

#Raanti #Releasing_22_November #काही_असतात_काही_बनतात

@punitbalan @samitkakkad @sharadkelkar 

'RAANTI' FIRST LOOK IS HERE...

SHARAD KELKAR IN & AS #RAANTI

Directed by Samit Kakkad 

Produced by Punit Balan  

PUNIT BALAN | SAMIT KAKKAD | SHARAD KELKAR

#Raanti #Releasing_22_November #काही_असतात_काही_बनतात

@punitbalan @samitkakkad @sharadkelkar 

Actor Vishesh Sharma Joins Mishri as Samarth,

                                            Actor Vishesh Sharma Joins Mishri as Samarth,                                                                         a Grey-Shaded Character Set to Become the Negative Lead

After delivering stellar performances in Naagin6, Dharam Patni, Dhadkan Zindaggi Ki and Dil He Toh Hai 2, actor Vishesh Sharma is back on screen, this time stepping into the suspense-filled role of Samarth, a grey-shaded character in the popular daily soap Mishri. Samarth is introduced as a wealthy fashion business tycoon whose character arc promises to be filled with intrigue and drama. As the storyline unfolds, Samarth is set to evolve into the show’s primary antagonist, bringing intense conflict to the plot.

Vishesh Sharma is celebrated for his versatility in portraying both positive and negative characters, having recently earned praise for his portrayal of a doctor in Dhadkan Zindaggi Ki and a complex negative role called Viper in Dharam Patni which was loved and adored by the show fans. His memorable performance in Naagin 6 further solidified his place as one of television’s most dynamic actors.

RAANTI.THE MOST POWERFUL MARATHI FILM OF THE DECADE!

 THE MOST POWERFUL MARATHI FILM OF THE DECADE!

 Punit Balan Studios presents RAANTI, the biggest action entertainer, directed by Samit Kakkad. 

                                   

In the wild, animals roam free, but not all are savage. Predators hunt out of necessity, and rarely do their prey fight back. But when they do, the prey’s ferocity can surpass even the predator’s. Raanti, produced by Punit Balan, directed by Samit Kakkad and starring Sharad Kelkar, tells the tale of a prey that refuses to be hunted, transforming into a brutal force to protect its own.

The poster, recently unveiled in Pune alongside producers Punit Balan, Sharad Kelkar, and Samit Kakkad, radiates fury, raw intensity, masculine energy, and violence. Raanti breaks new ground in Marathi cinema, delivering a powerful blend of emotional storytelling and visceral, hard-hitting action. This film promises to offer audiences a thrilling experience, unlike anything they’ve seen before.

After unveiling an impressive poster for Raanti, it’s safe to say that Sharad Kelkar, a celebrated actor in the Hindi-Marathi film industry, has the potential to rival action heroes all over the world. The extent of his ‘Raanti-ness’ is set to unfold when the film hits theatres in just 45 days. Speaking about his character, Sharad shares, “I portray Vishnu, a man with a rebellious streak. Every actor dreams of a role like this, and I’m thrilled to have taken on this charged, unique character under Samit Kakkad’s powerful direction. He’s sharp and uncompromising.”

Director Samit Kakkad, known for his grand cinematic narratives, has brought this larger-than-life action-drama to fruition. With notable works like Dharavi Bank, Indori Ishq, Half Ticket, Aayna Ka Bayna, Ascharya Chak It, and 36 Gunn, to his credit, Samit has once again captivated the audience with Raanti, a film that’s now eagerly awaited by fans. Scheduled for release on November 22, Raanti promises to be a fresh and thrilling addition to the Marathi cinema bouquet. Samit is known for pushing boundaries and delivering films with bold themes and intense conflicts. His unique storytelling has won over both fans and critics, earning him tremendous respect within the industry. Raanti promises a potent blend of action and entertainment, with Samit himself stating that the film will introduce Maharashtra’s very own ‘Angry Young Man’ through Sharad’s riveting performance.

The film’s technical backbone is equally impressive. With Hrishikesh Koli’s writing, Ajit Parab’s music, Amar Mohile’s gripping background score, Ejaz Gulab’s dynamic action sequences, Sethu Sriram’s stunning cinematography, and Ashish Mhatre’s precise editing, Raanti is set to deliver a top-tier cinematic experience to every ticket buyer.

Producer Punit Balan, known for supporting meaningful and impactful cinema, praised the incredible team behind Raanti. “Samit Kakkad always brings something innovative to the table. With Raanti, we dared to explore a different visual style and storytelling within Marathi cinema. And we’re quite confident that the audience will appreciate this fresh approach.”

Gauging the response to the poster and the buzz surrounding the title, Raanti is poised to entertain and become a box-office smasher. The film, produced by Punit Balan and directed by Samit Kakkad, is set to become Marathi’s biggest action blockbuster, premiering in theatres on November 22.