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Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Aly Esmail

Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (supported by CareTech and Sheikh Holdings): Aly Esmail, director of the SME Group

Having joined his parents in the family business around a decade ago, Aly Esmail has helped make the SME group one of the most successful in its sector.


The group runs a wide range of fast food restaurants, partnering with some of the top franchise names in the world. Under Esmail’s watch, SME has expanded beyond its traditional London base and has now branched out into hotels with Choice Hotels International and InterContinental Hotels.

The company has over 1,000 employees and the Esmail family are well known philanthropists, donating to a number of worthy charities.

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Karan Johar

Dharma Productions scouts fresh faces after 500 auditions

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Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions chooses outsiders after 500-audition hunt for newcomers in Bollywood

Highlights

  • Dharma Productions to introduce a boy and girl with no industry links
  • Over 500 auditions held across India
  • Taran Adarsh, Sumit Kadel confirm the major talent search
  • Move seen as shift from star kids to fresh faces
  • Identities of debutants yet to be revealed

Karan Johar and Dharma Productions are betting big on fresh talent. The studio is launching two newcomers in Bollywood after what’s being called its largest-ever talent hunt, which spanned more than 500 auditions from across India. The aim, insiders say, is to find raw, authentic performers, not familiar surnames.

Karan Johar Dharma Productions scouts fresh faces after 500 auditions Getty Images

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