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Ketan Pendse: Award-Winning Marathi-Hindi Actor-Director Turns Published Author and International Filmmaker with “11:17PM”

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Pune-Based Performer Adds Published Author and Global Filmmaker Titles to a Decade-Long, Award-Winning Career

Pune-based actor, writer, and director Ketan Pendse is stepping into a new chapter of his decade-long entertainment career. Best known for his work across the Marathi and Hindi film and television industry, the 29-year-old is now adding two fresh titles to his resume: published author and international filmmaker. The milestones arrive alongside his first English-language international feature film, “11:17PM,” and mark one of the more unconventional career pivots seen in regional Indian cinema in recent years.

A Decade of Awards Across Acting, Direction, and Beyond

Ketan Pendse’s presence on the Marathi and Hindi film festival circuit stretches back nearly ten years. He earned the Best Debut Actor award for “Ek Thriller Night” at the Nashik International Film Festival in 2016, and followed it with a Best Actor win at the Late Dr. Patangrao Kadam 4th Pune International Short Film Festival in 2019.

In 2021, he expanded into direction, winning the Best Director award at the 12th Pune and 9th Goa Short Film Festival for his Marathi short film “Gupt.” His most recent honour came at the Asian Thailand International Short Film Festival 2025, where he won Best Actor for “Kahi Kisi Roz.” He has also picked up recognition outside the festival circuit, including the Best Smile award at the Mr. & Ms. Glamfame fashion show, presented by Sonali Kulkarni and Ashmit Patel.

More recently, his awards tally has grown on the international stage: a Best Actor and Best Director win at the Nepal International Film Festival 2026 for the Hindi feature “Black Night,” and a Best Actor award at the Canada International Film Festival 2026 for the Marathi short “Gupt,” shared with co-actor Ketaki Chitale. Taken together, the honours span acting, direction, and even a fashion-circuit award, pointing to a career built on range rather than a single specialty.

A Filmography Spanning Formats

Pendse’s body of work covers feature films, web series, short films, and music videos in both Hindi and Marathi cinema. His Hindi credits include the feature films “The Invisible Hubby,” “Trisha,” and “Black Night,” along with the web series “Margaon Files: The Unsolved Case,” which features veteran performers such as Zeenat Aman, Pallavi Joshi, and Shilpa Shinde.

On the Marathi side, his filmography includes “Ek Thriller Night,” currently streaming on ZEE5, along with “Binda,” “Love Betting,” “Aagmya,” “Punha 26/11,” “Love Lover Zindabad,” and “Lagna Chakra,” which released on Amazon in the US and UK. Upcoming OTT projects include “Chillari,” “Aranyachakra,” and the web series “Ti Parat Aaliy.”

He has also built a substantial short film and music video catalogue, including the Hindi shorts “Gumraah,” “Strange,” “Kahi Kisi Roz,” and “The Trap”; a set of silent short films titled “Scared,” “Smile,” “The Mobster,” “The Mobile Last Frame,” and “Hope”; the award-winning Marathi short “Gupt”; “Blue Shoe” and “Khel Sansaracha”; and music videos such as “Roop Tuzha Bhari,” “Dil Mera Tere Naam,” and “Yaara Teri Yaari.” Beyond acting, he has anchored segments, including an interview with actor Abhijit Bichukale, and hosted the pan-India travel show “Travel Trolly.” He has also modelled in fashion shows alongside personalities such as Sonali Kulkarni, Parul Chauhan, Mrs India 2013 winner Pooja Thakur, Shruti Marathe, Saurabh Gokhale, and Gaurav Ghatnekar.

Stepping Into Publishing as an Author

In a departure from his screen career, Pendse has published his debut novel, “Haveli: Ek Adhuri Mulakat,” under Inkvision Press, credited to his full name, Ketan Pradip Pendse. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart, Google Books, Kindle, and the Google Play Store, and explores themes of memory, longing, and unresolved connection — a sensibility that echoes the psychological horror and travel-drama undertones running through his acting and directing work.

The literary debut will not be his last. A second novel, a romantic drama titled “Kinaara,” is set to publish soon under the same author credit, suggesting his move into fiction is a sustained pursuit rather than a one-off project alongside his screen career.

“11:17PM”: A Global Leap

Pendse’s most ambitious project to date is “11:17PM,” on which he serves as writer, director, producer, and lead actor. The film is produced under his own banner, Glamfame Entertainment, with Daulatsingh Rajpurohit co-producing through Rajpurohit Films.

Billed as a psychological horror and adventure travel drama, “11:17PM” was shot across five countries — Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macao, and India. The story follows travel blogger Keyaan, who is pulled into a haunting mystery tied to a recurring dream that strikes at exactly 11:17 PM.

An Outlier in Marathi and Hindi Entertainment

With a debut novel under the Ketan Pradip Pendse author credit and his first internationally shot feature film now underway, Pendse’s career trajectory reflects a performer unwilling to stay confined to a single role, language, or medium. As “11:17PM” and “Haveli: Ek Adhuri Mulakat” both reach new audiences, his decade of groundwork across Marathi and Hindi entertainment appears to be setting the stage for a considerably larger stage ahead.

In an industry where actors typically specialise in a single track — performance, direction, or production — Pendse’s willingness to take on all three simultaneously, while also publishing fiction and anchoring television segments, marks him as an outlier within the Marathi and Hindi entertainment space. From his 2016 debut award in Mumbai at NiFF to his 2025 win in Thailand, and now his 2026 wins in Nepal and Canada, his awards run appears to be reaching its most ambitious chapter yet — with his second novel, “Kinaara,” set to publish soon.

Flipkart:https://www.flipkart.com/haveli-ek-adhuri-mulakat/p/itm49ce56972d186?pid

Career Snapshot

NameKetan Pendse (author credit: Ketan Pradip Pendse)
RolesActor, Writer, Director, Producer, Anchor, Model, Author
IndustryMarathi & Hindi Entertainment
Career Span10+ Years
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Kartik Gupta, The Entrepreneur Building Visibility, Branding, and Digital Authority Through Shell Entertainment

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In today’s digital-first economy, visibility has become a critical factor in professional and business success. Entrepreneurs, professionals, and organizations are increasingly evaluated through their online presence before meaningful opportunities emerge. Recognizing this shift early, Kartik Gupta established himself in the fields of public relations, digital branding, and online reputation management.

Known as the Founder of Shell Entertainment, Kartik Gupta is an entrepreneur focused on helping individuals and businesses strengthen their digital authority through strategic branding, media visibility, and reputation-building initiatives.

His journey reflects the growing importance of personal branding and digital credibility in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Early Life and Entrepreneurial Mindset

Kartik Gupta belongs to a new generation of entrepreneurs who understand the influence of digital platforms on modern business growth.

From an early stage in his professional journey, he developed an interest in entrepreneurship, marketing, branding, and business development. While observing the changing behavior of consumers and professionals online, he identified a significant gap: many talented individuals and businesses lacked a structured digital presence despite possessing valuable expertise and achievements.

This observation became the foundation of his entrepreneurial vision.

Rather than viewing branding as merely a marketing function, Kartik Gupta recognized it as a strategic asset capable of influencing trust, credibility, and long-term growth.

The Foundation of Shell Entertainment

Driven by this vision, Kartik Gupta founded Shell Entertainment, a company focused on public relations, digital branding, personal branding, and online reputation management.

The objective behind Shell Entertainment was to help professionals, entrepreneurs, startups, and organizations improve their visibility in an increasingly competitive digital environment.

The company operates with a focus on creating long-term digital assets that contribute to authority and credibility rather than relying solely on short-term promotional campaigns.

Through strategic media exposure, branding initiatives, and visibility-driven solutions, Shell Entertainment aims to help clients strengthen their digital footprint and professional reputation.

Understanding the Importance of Digital Authority

One of the key principles behind Kartik Gupta’s work is the concept of digital authority.

As search engines and digital platforms become central to decision-making, individuals and organizations are increasingly judged based on the information available about them online.

Whether it involves a potential client, investor, recruiter, or business partner, online research often serves as the first point of interaction.

Recognizing this trend, Kartik Gupta has focused on helping clients improve:

* Online visibility

* Personal branding

* Media presence

* Digital credibility

* Reputation management

* Search discoverability

This approach aligns with the growing demand for professional positioning in the digital economy.

Entrepreneurial Approach and Leadership Philosophy

Kartik Gupta’s entrepreneurial philosophy is built around the belief that credibility and visibility must work together.

While visibility can generate attention, sustainable growth often depends on trust and authority.

His approach emphasizes:

Credibility Before Promotion

Building trust through genuine value and professional positioning.

Consistency Over Short-Term Attention

Focusing on long-term reputation rather than temporary visibility spikes.

Digital Assets as Growth Drivers

Creating content, media visibility, and branding assets that continue generating value over time.

Authority-Based Branding

Helping individuals establish expertise within their respective industries.

These principles have influenced both his leadership style and the growth strategy of Shell Entertainment.

Contribution to Personal Branding and PR

As digital branding continues to gain importance across industries, Kartik Gupta has contributed to raising awareness about the role of personal branding and reputation management in professional success.

His work reflects a broader shift occurring across the business world, where entrepreneurs and professionals increasingly recognize the value of strategic visibility.

By focusing on media exposure, branding frameworks, and online authority building, he has positioned Shell Entertainment within an industry experiencing significant growth.

Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Kartik Gupta aims to continue expanding his contribution to the fields of branding, public relations, and digital visibility.

His vision focuses on helping businesses and professionals navigate an environment where digital trust and online credibility play an increasingly important role in shaping opportunities.

As technology continues to transform the way people connect, communicate, and conduct business, the importance of strategic branding is expected to grow further.

Through Shell Entertainment, Kartik Gupta continues to work toward building solutions that support this evolving digital landscape.

Conclusion

Kartik Gupta is an entrepreneur, branding strategist, and Founder of Shell Entertainment whose work highlights the growing importance of visibility, credibility, and digital authority in modern business.

Through his focus on public relations, personal branding, and reputation management, he has established a professional presence within the evolving digital branding ecosystem.

As organizations and individuals increasingly invest in building stronger online identities, Kartik Gupta’s entrepreneurial journey reflects the opportunities emerging within the digital-first economy.

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Dr. Chandan Dash on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and the Science Shaping Everyday Life

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Short Summary:

Dr. Chandan Dash explores the growing role of Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, cybersecurity and everyday science in modern life. His perspective focuses on helping individuals understand emerging technologies, adapt to changing workplaces and education, protect personal information and use digital tools with greater awareness and responsibility.

Technology is no longer something that exists separately from everyday life. From smartphones and digital payments to artificial intelligence, online education, connected devices and automated workplaces, technology increasingly influences how people work, learn, communicate and make decisions.

Amid this rapid transformation, Dr. Chandan Dash focuses on the importance of developing practical technological awareness. His areas of interest include Artificial Intelligence and its impact, Generative AI, AI ethics, cybersecurity awareness and the science behind everyday technology.

Artificial Intelligence and the Changing Workplace

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping workplaces across industries. AI-powered systems can analyse information, automate repetitive processes, assist with research, generate content and support professionals in making data-driven decisions.

For employees, this evolution means that some routine responsibilities may increasingly be automated. At the same time, demand is growing for skills that complement technology, including critical thinking, communication, creativity, leadership and strategic decision-making.

Dr. Chandan Dash emphasises the importance of viewing AI as a tool that can enhance human capabilities. While machines can process large amounts of information quickly, human judgement, empathy, creativity and ethical reasoning remain essential.

Generative AI and the Future of Creative Work

Generative AI has opened new possibilities for writers, educators, designers, developers, marketers and other professionals. Modern AI tools can assist with content creation, presentations, software development, research, visual concepts and idea generation.

However, speed does not automatically guarantee accuracy. AI-generated information can contain factual errors, incomplete explanations or misleading conclusions. Human review therefore remains critical.

The responsible use of Generative AI requires professionals to verify information, add context and ensure that technology supports rather than compromises the quality of their work.

AI in Education and Learning

Education is another field undergoing significant technological change. AI tools can help students understand difficult subjects, practise concepts, organise information and explore different perspectives. Educators can also use technology to create learning resources and support personalised instruction.

Dr. Chandan Dash advocates using AI as a learning assistant rather than allowing it to replace independent thinking. Students still need to research, question information, analyse evidence and develop their own conclusions.

Cybersecurity Awareness for Everyday Users

As banking, shopping, communication and professional activities move increasingly online, cybersecurity has become an everyday responsibility.

Strong and unique passwords, multi-factor authentication, regular software updates and caution around suspicious links can significantly improve digital security.

Phishing remains a major concern. Fraudulent messages can imitate banks, government organisations, delivery companies or familiar contacts to obtain passwords, payment information or verification codes.

A basic but important principle is to pause before responding to an unexpected request and independently verify its authenticity.

Protecting Personal Data in a Connected World

Digital awareness also includes understanding how personal information is collected and shared. Phone numbers, email addresses, photographs, financial information and location data can become vulnerable when exposed unnecessarily.

Users should regularly review privacy settings, application permissions and the information they publish online. Before sharing sensitive information, it is worth asking whether the service genuinely requires it and whether the organisation can be trusted.

The Science Behind Everyday Technology

Dr. Chandan Dash also draws attention to the science operating behind ordinary digital and household devices.

Smartphones combine computing, electronics, sensors, optics and wireless communication. GPS relies on satellite signals and precise timing, while Wi-Fi uses radio technology to connect devices.

Similarly, refrigerators operate using principles of thermodynamics, microwave ovens use electromagnetic radiation and LED lights rely on semiconductor technology.

Understanding these examples can make science more accessible by connecting academic concepts with objects people use every day.

Building Responsible Digital Literacy

Modern digital literacy goes beyond knowing how to operate a smartphone or computer. It includes understanding technology, identifying misinformation, evaluating AI-generated information, protecting accounts, maintaining privacy and recognising the limitations of digital systems.

This is particularly important for students and young professionals entering workplaces where AI, automation and digital platforms are becoming increasingly common.

Technology, Ethics and the Road Ahead

Artificial Intelligence and automation offer significant opportunities, but they also create challenges involving accuracy, privacy, cybersecurity, employment and responsible use.

The answer is neither to fear technology nor to trust it blindly. The more sustainable approach is to understand how technology works, recognise its limitations, verify important information and use digital tools responsibly.

Dr. Chandan Dash’s focus on Artificial Intelligence and Technology, AI ethics and impact, cybersecurity basics and everyday science reflects a broader message for the digital age: technological progress becomes meaningful when people have the knowledge and judgement to use it wisely.

Further Reading & Profiles

https://www.foundertimes.in/profile/dr-chandan-dash

https://globalspotlightindia.com/story-details?i=MTE3

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Nirvana Naturopathy and Retreat Igatpuri Nashik Honoured with National Excellence in Naturopathy and Preventive Wellness Award 2026

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Gurumaa Yogita Khatri Receives National Recognition from Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde at ET Now Business Conclave & Awards 2026

At a time when preventive healthcare, holistic wellness and lifestyle-led health management are emerging as critical priorities for a healthier India, Nirvana Naturopathy and Retreat, Igatpuri, Nashik, has received a significant national recognition for its contribution to naturopathy and preventive wellness. The National Excellence in Naturopathy and Preventive Wellness Award 2026 was conferred on Gurumaa Yogita Khatri, representing Nirvana Naturopathy and Retreat, at the ET Now Business Conclave & Awards 2026 – West Edition.

The award was presented by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde, marking an important moment for the naturopathy and preventive wellness movement in Maharashtra. The recognition places the work of Gurumaa Yogita Khatri and Nirvana Naturopathy within a larger national conversation on preventive healthcare, healthy lifestyles and the growing importance of wellness in India’s development journey.

The ET Now Business Conclave & Awards platform brings together policymakers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, innovators and professionals across sectors. The 2026 West Edition in Mumbai focused on Maharashtra’s economic and development vision, including themes such as infrastructure, technology, artificial intelligence, sustainability and future-ready growth. ET Now’s coverage describes the platform as a forum bringing together policymakers and industry leaders while recognising excellence and impact.

Against this backdrop, the recognition of naturopathy and preventive wellness carries a wider significance. India’s healthcare conversation is gradually moving beyond treatment alone towards prevention, early intervention, lifestyle modification and greater individual responsibility for health. Naturopathy, yoga, nutrition, physical activity, stress management and mindful living are increasingly becoming part of this broader preventive-health ecosystem.

For Gurumaa Yogita Khatri, the honour represents more than an award. It is a recognition of a professional journey built around the philosophy that health should not begin only after disease appears. Her work has consistently focused on creating awareness about natural living, preventive health, yoga, naturopathy and sustainable lifestyle practices.

Through Nirvana Naturopathy and Retreat in Igatpuri, Nashik, this philosophy is presented in an environment that combines wellness education with nature-based living. The retreat’s positioning reflects an increasingly relevant global wellness trend: encouraging people to understand their health, identify lifestyle-related risk factors and develop sustainable habits rather than depending exclusively on reactive approaches to healthcare.

The recognition also arrives at a significant moment for Maharashtra. The state is positioning itself as a major contributor to India’s economic growth and its long-term development vision. At the ET Now Business Conclave & Awards 2026, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde spoke about Maharashtra’s development priorities and its ambition to contribute strongly to India’s growth story.

Within this larger development narrative, preventive wellness can become an important pillar of human capital development. A healthier population has implications not only for individual quality of life but also for productivity, workforce participation, family well-being and the overall social and economic resilience of communities.

The National Excellence in Naturopathy and Preventive Wellness Award therefore highlights an area whose importance extends beyond the wellness industry. It draws attention to the need for greater public awareness around lifestyle diseases, stress, sedentary living, poor dietary patterns, inadequate sleep and other modern health challenges.

Gurumaa Yogita Khatri’s journey also reflects the changing role of wellness professionals in contemporary India. The modern wellness leader is increasingly expected not merely to provide therapies, but to educate, motivate and empower individuals to make informed lifestyle choices. This combination of naturopathy, yoga, preventive healthcare, wellness education and motivational guidance is becoming increasingly relevant to India’s next generation.

For Nirvana Naturopathy and Retreat, Igatpuri, the award is consequently both an achievement and a responsibility. It strengthens the institution’s aspiration to contribute to the national dialogue on preventive healthcare, naturopathy, holistic wellness and healthy living, while encouraging greater awareness about the value of prevention.

The recognition also has significance for Nashik and Igatpuri, strengthening the region’s visibility on India’s growing wellness map. With its natural surroundings and increasing interest in wellness tourism, Igatpuri has the potential to become an important destination for people seeking structured retreats focused on lifestyle improvement, rejuvenation and preventive wellness.

As healthcare systems across the world increasingly recognise the importance of prevention, India’s traditional knowledge systems are finding renewed relevance when approached responsibly and integrated with modern health awareness. Yoga and naturopathy can contribute meaningfully to this conversation when positioned as complementary, preventive and lifestyle-oriented approaches rather than substitutes for necessary medical diagnosis or treatment.

The National Excellence in Naturopathy and Preventive Wellness Award 2026 is therefore a milestone not only for Gurumaa Yogita Khatri and Nirvana Naturopathy and Retreat, but also for the larger movement towards prevention-led wellness in India.

From Igatpuri to the national stage, the recognition represents a powerful message: India’s healthcare future will not be defined only by how effectively disease is treated, but also by how successfully people are empowered to remain healthy.

For Gurumaa Yogita Khatri, the honour becomes another chapter in a larger mission—to make preventive wellness, natural living, yoga, naturopathy and health awareness more accessible, meaningful and relevant to modern India.

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