JioHotstar has announced a major new chapter for South India’s entertainment landscape with a bold ₹4,000 crore investment dedicated to strengthening the region’s creative economy. The announcement was made at a landmark event attended by Tamil Nadu’s Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, Hon’ble Member of Parliament Padma Bhushan Thiru. Kamal Haasan, Hon’ble Minister of Tamil Development, Information and Publicity Thiru M.P Saminathan, and several leading icons from the South film and television industries. The participation of industry leaders including Sushant Sreeram, Head of SVOD & Chief Marketing Officer at JioStar, and Krishnan Kutty, Head of Cluster, Entertainment (South) at JioStar, highlighted the platform’s commitment to expanding South Indian storytelling at scale.

During the event, JioHotstar signed a Letter of Intent with the Government of Tamil Nadu, marking a significant partnership aimed at empowering the state’s creative and production ecosystem. Through this collaboration, JioHotstar will introduce new-age regional formats, nurture emerging storytellers and create more opportunities for Tamil Nadu’s cultural and creative talent. As part of the initiative, the platform will also launch creator-focused programs including writing labs, mentorship sessions and skill-building workshops designed to prepare the next generation of filmmakers, writers and digital creators.

A major highlight of the evening was the unveiling of JioHotstar’s South content lineup featuring 25 new titles. The slate presents a bold vision where regional stories take centre stage, reflecting the evolving tastes and aspirations of audiences. Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin emphasised the power of cinema in shaping society and expressed confidence that the partnership will create 1,000 direct and 15,000 indirect jobs, contributing to the state’s growth. He added that the partnership will strengthen Tamil Nadu’s long-standing cultural influence and support creators across the region.

Sushant Sreeram noted that JioHotstar aims to build the entertainment future of tomorrow rooted in India’s storytelling heritage and advanced technology. He highlighted the rapid progress made across entertainment and live sports, reinforcing the platform’s mission to serve as the leading destination for Indian content. Adding to this, Krishnan Kutty shared that the South continues to be one of India’s strongest creative forces, and JioHotstar’s efforts are focused on widening access, supporting new talent and enabling creators to dream bigger and reach wider audiences.

The event also featured remarks from Hon’ble Member of Parliament Padma Bhushan Thiru. Kamal Haasan, who reflected on how stories today transcend screens and travel with the audience. He highlighted that regional stories are becoming national cultural events with the potential to reach global audiences, and a platform like JioHotstar plays a vital role in expanding this reach.

The upcoming slate reflects the depth and diversity of South Indian content with the return of popular franchises such as Kerala Crime Files S3, Save The Tigers S3, Heartbeat S3 and Good Wife S2. JioHotstar also revealed several new shows including Cousins And Kalyanams, Moodu Lantharlu, LBW – Love Beyond Wicket, Resort, Secret Stories: ROSLIN, Lingam and Vikram On Duty. Adding to this, the platform introduced premium originals like Vishakha, the regional adaptation of Aarya, along with notable productions such as Kaattaan starring Vijay Sethupathi and Pharma featuring Nivin Pauly. Movies like Lucky The Superstar and Kenatha Kaanom further enrich the lineup.

Alongside its strong fiction offerings, JioHotstar is expanding its non-fiction portfolio with culturally rooted formats including Comedy Cooks, Mad for Each Other and Second Love. In a major milestone, Roadies will debut in Telugu, bringing one of India’s most iconic adventure formats to the South. The platform’s content library continues to bring together top talent such as Kamal Haasan, Mohanlal, Nagarjuna, Dhanush, Vijay Sethupathi and Sivakarthikeyan, along with celebrated actors, acclaimed directors and leading production houses from across the South.

With this significant investment, JioHotstar aims to build a strong and sustainable creative ecosystem for South India, empowering storytellers, supporting talent and presenting regional stories to audiences across India and beyond.

The Pune and Hyderabad editions of the India International Travel Mart (IITM) concluded on a successful note, offering a strong platform for travel and tourism stakeholders to connect, collaborate, and explore new opportunities. Held from 27–29 November 2025 in Pune and 4–6 December 2025 in Hyderabad, both events marked an important milestone as IITM continues its journey of strengthening partnerships and shaping the tourism landscape for 25 years.

With exhibitors from national and international tourism boards, travel companies, hotels, airlines, and allied sectors, the two editions highlighted India’s growing influence as a global tourism hub. Both events attracted a wide range of participants whose presence added value to the discussions, networking sessions, and destination showcases.

The Pune inauguration was graced by industry leaders including Mr. Narendra Dev Bhatta, Member – Executive Committee, Nepal Tourism Board; Mr. Aijaz Qaiser, Joint Director, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism; Mr. Amit Kumar Sharma, President, Pune Hotelier’s Association; Mr. Shahbehram Rabbani, President, Skal International Pune; Sushil Kumar Singh, Chapter Chairman, ADTOI – UP and IATO Bihar; Mr. Aniket Kelkar, Secretary, Travel Agents Association of Pune; Mr. Mohan Shedge, Treasurer, Travel Agents Association of Pune; Ms. Payal Joshi, Sr. Trustee, Travel Agents Association of Pune; Mr. Navin Mahajan, Trustee, Travel Agents Association of Pune; and Mr. V G Kelkar from the Travel Agents Association of Pune.

The Hyderabad edition was inaugurated by Smt. Valluru Kranthi, IAS, Managing Director, Telangana Tourism Development Corporation Limited and Director (FAC) – Department of Tourism; Mr. M Hishamuddin, Director, Tourism Malaysia; Mr. N S N Mohan, Vice President and President Elect, SKAL International; Mr. Sunil Kumar, President, TAAI; Mr. Valmiki Kishan, Chairman, Tourism Committee – APFCCI and IATO; and Mrs. Sujana Kumar, Vice President of TOAT.

More than 400 exhibitors participated across the two cities, with representation from over 15 countries and numerous Indian states. Tourism Malaysia and Nepal Tourism Board participated as Partner Countries, showcasing their offerings and strengthening ties with the Indian market.

The events featured a strong business networking component, with hosted buyer programs attracting travel agents from key markets such as Nashik, Kolhapur, and Aurangabad. These programs facilitated more than 10,000 one-on-one business meetings, giving exhibitors significant visibility and collaboration opportunities.

Visitor engagement remained high, with more than 5,000 travel agents attending across both cities. Destination presentations, cultural showcases, and interactive sessions added energy to the platform and encouraged participants to explore new-age travel segments such as adventure, wellness, and culinary tourism.

IITM also highlighted the evolving trends in Indian travel, supported by the growth of the middle class, rising disposable incomes, and shifting travel preferences. The increasing interest in domestic travel after the pandemic has played a strong role in revitalising the sector, with travellers rediscovering the country’s cultural and natural diversity.

Sphere TravelMedia Director, Rohit Hangal, said, “The Pune and Hyderabad editions of India International Travel Mart have reaffirmed our commitment to being the foremost platform for the travel and tourism industry in India. The enthusiastic participation from exhibitors and the overwhelming response from visitors highlight the growing dynamism of the sector.”

Sphere TravelMedia Director, Sanjay Hakhu, added, “As we successfully conclude the Pune and Hyderabad editions, we are reminded of the resilience and creativity that define the travel industry. These events have not only facilitated meaningful business connections but also inspired new ideas in sustainable and experiential tourism. The growing outbound travel market in India presents vast possibilities, and IITM aims to connect global destinations with diverse Indian travellers.”

With participation from over 20 Indian states including Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Goa, along with international destinations such as Turkey, Malaysia, Botswana, Kenya, Vietnam, Bali, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, and Maldives, IITM continues to strengthen its presence as a major travel and tourism platform in India.

The successful completion of the Pune and Hyderabad editions further reinforces IITM’s commitment to nurturing industry connections, opening opportunities, and promoting growth across India’s vibrant travel sector.

Emversity, one of India’s leading networks for industry skilling and talent development, has entered into a strategic partnership with Lemon Tree Hotels to strengthen skill development and address workforce gaps in the country’s rapidly expanding hospitality sector.

As part of this collaboration, students enrolled in Emversity’s NSDC-aligned Hotel Management Diploma Program will be placed across Lemon Tree Hotels properties in multiple cities. The model focuses on combining structured classroom learning with practical exposure through on-the-job training in live hotel environments.

The program is designed to ensure students receive well-rounded learning. In the first semester, spanning six months, they undergo classroom instruction that builds foundational knowledge. This is followed by 1.5 years of full-time internships across key operational functions, including Front Office, Housekeeping and Food & Beverage Service. The experience allows students to develop job-ready skills and gain confidence through real-time industry engagement.

Mr Rajesh Kumar, Senior Vice President – Human Resources, Lemon Tree Hotels, said, “At Lemon Tree Hotels, our motto is ‘we hire for attitude and train for skill.’ Our focus has always been to attract, groom and grow talent with the right attitude so they can become fine hoteliers. Currently, most colleges provide only basic theoretical knowledge, leaving a gap between learning and real-world job requirements. Emversity’s initiative bridges this gap by providing entry-level talent and skill-based education. Their courses and teaching strategy will empower these students with a well-rounded experiential learning, and coupled with the various moments of truth, we are confident this partnership will benefit the hospitality industry as a whole”.

Mr Vivek Sinha, Founder & CEO, Emversity, added, “This partnership with Lemon Tree Hotels represents the perfect integration of skilling and industry. By combining Emversity's work-integrated learning model with Lemon Tree's operational excellence, we are creating a direct bridge between classrooms and careers. The partnership will empower young Indians with practical skills and real-world experience, helping them build meaningful livelihoods in the hospitality sector."

The partnership will initially onboard students at select Lemon Tree properties, with plans to expand across more locations in the coming years. With a shared vision to strengthen India’s hospitality workforce, both organisations aim to build pathways that offer young talent meaningful learning and long-term career opportunities.