Mumbai: Adar Poonawalla, billionaire CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII), has acquired a 50% stake in Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, one of the country's leading film production houses. The deal, valued at Rs 1000 crore, will see Poonawalla's Serene Production acquire a 50 percent stake in the production house, with Johar retaining the remaining 50 percent.

Talking about the partnership, Adar Poonawalla said, "I am delighted to have the opportunity to partner with one of the most iconic production houses in our nation, along with my friend Karan Johar. We hope to build and grow Dharma and scale even greater heights in the years to come."

Karan Johar, Executive Chairman of Dharma, emphasised that Dharma Productions has been synonymous with heartfelt storytelling that captures the essence of Indian culture. “My father dreamed of creating films that would leave a lasting impact, and I've dedicated my career to expanding that vision. Today, as we join forces with Adar, a close friend and an exceptional visionary and innovator, we're poised to elevate Dharma's legacy to new heights. This partnership represents a perfect blend of our emotional storytelling prowess and forward-thinking business strategies,” he said.

The prominent Bollywood producer and filmmaker also mentioned that this collaboration opens up new possibilities for creating content that resonates across borders and generations. Karan Johar will continue to serve as Executive Chairman and creative head, while Apoorva Mehta remains the CEO of Dharma Productions.

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Tehran/Doha: Iran’s President Massoud Pezeshkian has warned that attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure could lead to “uncontrollable consequences” affecting the entire world.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian said he “strongly condemns” the strikes that targeted the South Pars gasfield earlier in the day.

“Such aggressive actions will not achieve anything for the American Zionist enemy and their supporters. Rather, they will complicate the situation and could lead to uncontrollable consequences that will affect the entire world,” he said.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has urged residents to remain indoors due to what it described as an elevated security threat.

Authorities have not provided further details, but the advisory comes amid growing concerns over the safety of energy infrastructure and civilian areas in the region.