Deepak Chhabria quits JioStar; steps down as Executive Vice President at Star Plus
Chhabria reported to Sumanta Bose, Head of entertainment business for Hindi and regional channels across the East and West markets
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Published: Oct 12, 2026 2:41 PM | 2 min read
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- Deepak Chhabria has resigned from his position as executive vice president at JioStar, as confirmed by sources familiar with the situation.
- He joined Viacom18 in 2015 and played key roles in the merged entity, leading Star Plus and Star Utsav after the joint venture formation between Reliance Industries, Viacom18, and Disney.
- Chhabria has over 20 years of experience in television programming and content development, having worked with organizations like BBC World Service Trust and The Walt Disney Company.
- His departure comes amid significant organizational changes within JioStar, which consolidates the media and entertainment businesses of Reliance and Disney in India; neither Chhabria nor JioStar has publicly commented on the resignation.
Deepak Chhabria, executive vice president at Star Plus, has quit JioStar, according to top sources familiar with the development. He joined Viacom18 in 2015 and held leadership positions in the merged entity and was leading Star Plus.
A top source privy to the development confirmed the move to exchange4media.
Chhabria reported to Sumanta Bose, head of entertainment business for Hindi and regional channels across the East and West markets. He was tapped to lead Star Plus and Star Utsav following the formation of the joint venture between Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), Viacom18 Media and The Walt Disney Company.
Chhabria brings more than two decades of experience in television programming, content development and entertainment. His career has spanned organisations including BBC World Service Trust, Viacom18 and The Walt Disney Company, with responsibilities across fiction programming and general entertainment television.
At BBC World Service Trust, Chhabria served as an executive producer on Jasoos Vijay and other intellectual properties. He subsequently moved into television programming, including a stint as fiction head at Viacom18.
He later joined the Star network, leading Star Plus. His most recent role was executive vice president at the Hindi general entertainment channel, where he was involved in programming for one of the network's key television properties.
Star Plus remains a significant player in the Hindi general entertainment segment, while Star Utsav operates in the free-to-air market. Both channels form part of JioStar's television portfolio following the consolidation of Reliance and Disney's media businesses in India.
JioStar was formed through the combination of the media and entertainment businesses of Reliance and Disney, bringing television broadcasting, digital streaming and sports properties under a consolidated business. The integration has reshaped the organisational structure and leadership responsibilities across its portfolio.
Chhabria's career has spanned several phases of the Indian television industry, from the expansion of general entertainment channels to the growing competition from streaming platforms and the consolidation of broadcasting businesses.
Neither Chhabria nor JioStar has formally commented on the development.
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