Uday Shankar in Reliance-Disney merger spotlight

Reliance Industries (RIL) and Walt Disney’s announcement on Wednesday to combine into an $8.5-billion media giant will not only mark a new dawn for the domestic entertainment industry, but also for Uday Shankar, 61, a former Walt Disney executive, who will now be the vice-chairperson of the media entity.

RIL and Disney are forming a joint venture by merging Viacom18, where Shankar holds a board seat, with Star India, a company he led as CEO for thirteen years from 2007 to 2020. According to sources within the media industry, Shankar’s extensive experience uniquely equips him to navigate both the challenges and opportunities inherent in the formation of a media powerhouse like RIL-Disney within a rapidly evolving market.