Karan Bedi among key candidates being eyed by Ananya Birla's Birla Studios/ Applause?

In the wake of CEO Sameer Nair’s exit, Applause Entertainment is understood to be evaluating a shortlist of media executives, including Karan Bedi, for a senior leadership role, according to people familiar with the matter.

While speculation in industry circles suggests Bedi may be a frontrunner for the role, he has dismissed such talk. The Aditya Birla Group did not respond to queries from e4m.

Bedi, who currently heads Amazon MX Player, previously served as CEO of MX Player prior to its acquisition by Amazon. He is credited with scaling the platform into one of India’s largest ad-supported streaming services, first under the Times Group and later within Amazon’s streaming ecosystem.

The leadership search comes amid broader shifts within the group’s content business. e4m had earlier reported on Nair’s exit, alongside the conglomerate’s expanding ambitions in the entertainment space, including the launch of Birla Studios. The initiative is being led by Ananya Birla, daughter of Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, and is expected to play a larger role in shaping the group’s entertainment content strategy going forward.

Read more: What next for Applause?

Sameer Nair’s exit

“The incoming leader is expected to oversee Applause’s content vertical along with an expanded mandate of mentoring the group’s newer initiatives, including its sports interests such as RCB, as well as potential ventures in new media and new business verticals,” insiders told e4m.

Bedi’s track record, coupled with the Aditya Birla Group’s increasing focus on content and the possibility of exploring its own streaming and microdrama verticals, makes him a credible fit, industry observers say. 

e4m reached out to both the Aditya Birla Group and Amazon to seek their comments. The copy will be updated as and when they respond. 

Why Karan Bedi?

Bedi is understood to have strong industry backing, including from Satyan Gajwani, Chairman of Times Internet since 2012, who has known him since their time at Stanford University (2003 to 2007). 

The Aditya Birla Group’s recent engagement with a consortium for the ownership of IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru has also brought it closer to key digital media stakeholders, including Gajwani, industry observers note. Times group is part of that consortium. 

MX Player’s evolution also adds context to Bedi’s profile. Launched as a video player in 2011, the platform was acquired by Times Internet in 2018 and repositioned as an OTT service with original programming in 2019. 

As an AVOD platform, MX Player gained significant traction without a subscription model. It ranked among the most downloaded OTT apps globally in 2022, according to Data.ai, and emerged as the top-downloaded app in India. 

However, intensifying competition—from the rapid rise of JioCinema to the aggressive expansion of Amazon Prime Video and Netflix—reshaped the landscape. MX Player subsequently faced financial pressures and was put on the block in 2023 as part of a broader restructuring within the Times Group.

e4m reached out to Gajwani for comment; a response was awaited at the time of publishing.

Whether Bedi ultimately fits into Aditya Birla Group’s roadmap remains unclear. For now, both sides maintain there is no development to report.