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Uday Shankar, Vice Chairman of JioStar, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at FICCI FRAMES 2026 from Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
Accepting the award, Shankar said he was humbled and honoured by the recognition and called on India’s media and entertainment industry to play a bigger role in building the country’s global narrative.
Speaking at the event, Shankar said media has been his life since he became an adult and that it is the only field he has worked in. He also joked that the Lifetime Achievement Award could be a hint that it was time for him to step away from the industry, but said he could not promise to do so as media is all he knows.
Shankar said media continues to be a fundamental pillar of society and plays an important role in shaping people’s aspirations, imagination and vision for the future. He said this role goes beyond news and also includes entertainment, drama, cinema and sports.
He said different forms of media have the power to inspire people, including those who may have been left behind by the progress of the world. According to Shankar, media can help people imagine a better future and give them a sense of hope.
Shankar also spoke about India’s progress and said the country has achieved tremendous growth. He said the media and entertainment industry has an important role in helping the world understand India better by sharing the country’s experiences and telling its stories.
He said entertainment, sports, movies and other forms of media can help build the narrative around India. Shankar added that as the country moves towards a greater future, the industry can play a much bigger role in ‘building grand India’, and said this responsibility lies with the media and entertainment industry.
Shankar also remembered people who played an important role in his journey with FICCI, including Dr Amit Mitra and Yash Chopra, who encouraged him to become actively involved with the organisation. He thanked FICCI colleagues, its Secretariat and past presidents for their support and guidance.
Concluding his speech, Shankar once again thanked the industry community for the Lifetime Achievement Award and said he was honoured and humbled to receive the recognition.
