e4m Play Awards jury: The process was incredibly insightful, says Nikhil Mirchandani

Nikhil Mirchandani, CEO and Founder of Hoop Entertainment, on the challenges of judging OTT content at e4m Play Awards

by e4m Staff
Published: Mar 19, 2025 12:57 PM | 2 min read

e4m Play Awards jury, Nikhil Mirchandani

With the OTT space booming, distinguishing the best from the rest has become increasingly challenging. Nikhil Mirchandani, CEO and Founder of Hoop Entertainment, and a seasoned media executive with stints at National Geographic Channel, Star One, and Vishal Bhardwaj Films, shared his experience as a jury member for the e4m Play Streaming Media Awards 2025.

"The experience today has been amazing. We were part of an eclectic group of judges, and evaluating content was not easy. Some categories had multiple nominations, and differentiating between series and movies, or regional and mainstream content, was quite complex," Mirchandani explained.

One of the toughest aspects of judging, he noted, was the presence of adaptations—some drawn from books, some from international shows, and others from different languages. The jury had to eliminate biases and focus solely on the nominated work.

"Judging actors and directors also came with challenges because of their past work. We had to remind ourselves that we were evaluating them solely on their performance in the nominated category, not their previous successes," he added.

Despite these challenges, Mirchandani praised the rigorous debates and discussions that shaped the jury’s final decisions.

"Getting a consensus was tough at times, but the process was incredibly insightful. I met some great people, and it was an enriching day spent at the e4m Awards," he concluded.

With industry veterans like Mirchandani ensuring an unbiased and meticulous selection process, the awards are set to spotlight the most deserving talent in the streaming ecosystem.