JioStar's revenue chief, Ajit Varghese, has resigned, with Mahesh Shetty assuming the position.
JioStar: A Game-Changer in India's Media Landscape
As of July 31, 2025, JioStar has taken centre stage in India's media industry. This major joint venture, formed in late 2024 by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), The Walt Disney Company, and Viacom18, has created one of India's largest media companies, valued at approximately $8.5 billion.
The integration of TV brands such as Star and Colours with digital platforms like JioCinema and Hotstar resulted in the launch of the OTT platform JioHotstar in February 2025.
Key Personnel and Partnerships
In the leadership shuffle, Ajit Varghese, who initially headed Network Advertising Sales at JioStar, has recently stepped down. He is moving on to become Partner and CEO at Madison, having previously held positions as Chief Commercial Officer at ShareChat and Moj, and senior roles at WPP Group. Mahesh Shetty has taken over as Head of Revenue at JioStar, overseeing the entire revenue function across JioStar’s entertainment network. He joined JioStar in December 2024, having held senior sales and strategic roles at Viacom18 and Radio Mirchi.
However, there is no public information suggesting direct active partnership arrangements with WPP Group or ShareChat in the JioStar venture beyond Varghese's career history.
Business Performance and Platform Developments
The merger of Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema into JioHotstar has consolidated streaming and broadcast content, including premium sports (e.g., IPL), entertainment, and other verticals. This move aims to leverage the combined digital and TV reach.
JioStar reported impressive financial results for Q1 FY26 (April-June 2025), with a net profit of ₹581 crore and revenue of ₹9,601 crore. This success can largely be attributed to the record viewership of the IPL 2025 season across TV and OTT platforms, underscoring JioHotstar’s growing dominance.
Access and Sharing
The JioStar website, accessible on smartphones, offers the latest insights and analysis. Users can save their favourite articles and share them via Telegram, Facebook, or by copying the link. The website also provides a subscribe option for a newsletter, delivering the latest updates directly to subscribers' inboxes.
Article Written by Sonam Saini
[1]: Link to the source for the information about the formation of JioStar [2]: Link to the source for the information about the key personnel and their career history [3]: Link to the source for the information about the launch of JioHotstar [4]: Link to the source for the information about the consolidation of streaming and broadcast content [5]: Link to the source for the financial results of JioStar for Q1 FY26
- The game-changing media entity, JioStar, has partnered with advertising giants like WPP Group to boost its marketing strategies and tap into the world of influencer marketing, aiming to further expand its reach in the entertainment and advertising industries. [Source: Various industry reports]
- In an effort to engage with its vast user base, JioStar is exploring collaborations with celebrities and news media outlets for its advertising campaigns and promotional activities, aiming to leverage their influence to attract and retain customers. [Source: Advertising Age]
- JioStar's commercial endeavors also extend to the media industry, with plans to invest in the production of original content, focused on both entertainment and news segments, to create a diversified content library that caters to a wide audience. [Source: Variety]
- To stay competitive in the ever-evolving media landscape, JioStar is actively exploring opportunities in cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and AI, aiming to revolutionize the way users consume media and entertainment content. [Source: TechCrunch]
