Ektaa Kapoor is the first Indian filmmaker to get the prestigious International Emmy Directorate Award

The 2023 International Emmy Directorate Award will go to Ektaa Kapoor. The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ President & CEO, Bruce L. Paisner, made the announcement today. Kapoor will receive the Special Emmy from the International Academy during the 51st International Emmy Awards Gala on November 20 in New York City.

According to Paisner, “Ektaa R. Kapoor has transformed Balaji into one of India’s leading entertainment companies, with market leadership in the television content industry and mass appeal across South Asia through their long-running series and OTT platform.” We are excited to present her with our Directorate Award in recognition of her tremendous career and impact on the television business.

Kapoor founded Balaji in 1994, and since then has played a significant role in Indian television. She is recognized for changing the face of Indian television, creating a whole genre of television programming, and launching the country’s satellite television boom. She developed one of the first Indian OTT platforms, Alt Balaji, and has produced and generated more than 17,000 hours of television, 45 films, and other content under the Balaji label.

“I feel a deep feeling of delight and humility at receiving this distinction. This honor has a particular place in my heart because it represents a journey that extends beyond just my professional career; it’s an important part of both,” said Kapoor. “It is a tremendous honor to represent my nation on the world stage using this prestigious platform. Especially as a woman attempting to create tales for women, television has been crucial in assisting me in coming to terms with my identity. I am now able to represent them and our joint achievements on a global scale thanks to this honor.

The majority of general entertainment broadcasters have used Balaji’s programs as channel drivers in the past and still do now. Balaji has received almost all of the important TV honors. The only woman from the Indian television market featured in Variety500, an index of the 500 most important business executives reshaping the worldwide media sector, is Kapoor, who is one of Fortune India’s 50 most powerful women in Asia.