As the India-headquartered multinational conglomerate Essel Group celebrated its centenary event in Chennai, Kamal Haasan, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most versatile artists in Indian cinema, hailed the Essel growth story and the determination and vision of Essel Group Chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra. "In many ways, the story of Essel Group and Journey of India are similar: transforming, adapting, reinventing, across generations. It is truly an honor to be a part of your history. Our owning up your history makes us proud. I know what sweat and toil must have been behind it," Haasan, also a Parliamentarian, said at the Essel100 event hosted by Zee Tamil, Zee Thirai and Tamil Zee 5.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/essel-group-completes-100-years-marks-century-long-journey-from-grain-trading-business-to-global-conglomerate-1779335073369">Essel Group completes 100 years, marks century-long journey from grain trading business to global conglomerate</a>&nbsp;Congratulating the Essel group on its 100-year milestone and commenting on the journey so far, Kamal Haasan said: carrying an institution through a century of political, economic, technological change, across generations, required knowing what to preserve and what to reinvent. Commending Dr. Subhash Chandra and his family's efforts for nurturing and growing this venture, Kamal Haasan appreciated that now the fifth and sixth generations are taking forward the business that was started in 1926.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/essel-group-celebrates-100-years-of-legacy-and-growth-as-eminent-personalities-gather-in-mumbai-1785643791986">Essel Group celebrates 100 years of legacy and growth as eminent personalities gather in Mumbai</a>&nbsp;Dr. Subhash Chandra is the Chairman and visionary leader who built and expanded the Essel Group into a global conglomerate. He transformed his family's modest pre-independence commodity trading enterprise—originally founded in 1926—into a massive multi-sector business empire spanning media, packaging, and infrastructure, notably launchinhttps://www.wionews.com/india-news/100-years-of-essel-group-dr-subhash-chandra-shares-origin-story-of-the-name-essel-1779347038565g India's first private satellite TV channel, Zee TV, in 1992, followed by multiple TV channels across genres and languages.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/100-years-of-essel-group-dr-subhash-chandra-shares-origin-story-of-the-name-essel-1779347038565">100 Years of Essel Group: Dr Subhash Chandra shares origin story of the name 'Essel'</a><h2>Addressing the gathering, Essel Group’s Chairman</h2>Dr. Subhash Chandra said it was a matter of great pride that the group had successfully navigated several challenges and transformations over the years and evolved into a global media and entertainment organisation. Sharing his entrepreneurial journey, he recalled that his dream venture was started in the year 1970 with an investment of just ₹17 and that it has now grown into a media empire reaching millions of people.&nbsp;Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/100-years-of-essel-group-a-century-of-vision-innovation-and-inspiring-generations-1779270124809"> 100 Years of Essel Group: A century of vision, innovation and inspiring generations</a>&nbsp;Touching upon Zee's affinity towards Tamil Nadu and the Tamil language, Dr. Chandra highlighted the lesser-known fact that Tamil was the second language in which Zee TV began brodcasting in, in the mid-1990s. "Tamil was our second language... While the exclusive Tamil TV channel Zee Tamil was launched on 12th October 2008, we actually began Tamil broadcasts on the main Hindi channel Zee TV in the year 1995... Back then, there was a 30-minute Tamil language band on the predominantly Hindi-language Zee TV," recalled Dr. Chandra. We value and respect Tamil culture, ethos and aspirations. We respect it in our storytelling also. We would never compromise on the Tamil culture and traditions. That is why people of Tamil Nadu love us, he added.&nbsp;

The Essel100 celebration hosted at the ITC Grand Chola in Chennai brought together leading stars from the Tamil film and television industries, along with creators, writers, directors, producers, technicians and industry personalities.

Actor Kamal Haasan congratulated the Essel group on its 100-year milestone. Commending Dr. Subhash Chandra and his family's efforts for nurturing and growing this venture, he appreciated that now the fifth and sixth generation are taking forward the business.


As the India-headquartered multinational conglomerate Essel Group celebrated its centenary event in Chennai, Kamal Haasan, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most versatile artists in Indian cinema, hailed the Essel growth story and the determination and vision of Essel Group Chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra. "In many ways, the story of Essel Group and Journey of India are similar: transforming, adapting, reinventing, across generations. It is truly an honor to be a part of your history. Our owning up your history makes us proud. I know what sweat and toil must have been behind it," Haasan, also a Parliamentarian, said at the Essel100 event hosted by Zee Tamil, Zee Thirai and Tamil Zee 5. Also Read: Essel Group completes 100 years, marks century-long journey from grain trading business to global conglomerate Congratulating the Essel group on its 100-year milestone and commenting on the journey so far, Kamal Haasan said: carrying an institution through a century of political, economic, technological change, across generations, required knowing what to preserve and what to reinvent. Commending Dr. Subhash Chandra and his family's efforts for nurturing and growing this venture, Kamal Haasan appreciated that now the fifth and sixth generations are taking forward the business that was started in 1926. Also Read: Essel Group celebrates 100 years of legacy and growth as eminent personalities gather in Mumbai Dr. Subhash Chandra is the Chairman and visionary leader who built and expanded the Essel Group into a global conglomerate. He transformed his family's modest pre-independence commodity trading enterprise—originally founded in 1926—into a massive multi-sector business empire spanning media, packaging, and infrastructure, notably launchinhttps://www.wionews.com/india-news/100-years-of-essel-group-dr-subhash-chandra-shares-origin-story-of-the-name-essel-1779347038565g India's first private satellite TV channel, Zee TV, in 1992, followed by multiple TV channels across genres and languages. Also Read: 100 Years of Essel Group: Dr Subhash Chandra shares origin story of the name 'Essel' Addressing the gathering, Essel Group’s Chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra said it was a matter of great pride that the group had successfully navigated several challenges and transformations over the years and evolved into a global media and entertainment organisation. Sharing his entrepreneurial journey, he recalled that his dream venture was started in the year 1970 with an investment of just ₹17 and that it has now grown into a media empire reaching millions of people. Also Read: 100 Years of Essel Group: A century of vision, innovation and inspiring generations Touching upon Zee's affinity towards Tamil Nadu and the Tamil language, Dr. Chandra highlighted the lesser-known fact that Tamil was the second language in which Zee TV began brodcasting in, in the mid-1990s. "Tamil was our second language... While the exclusive Tamil TV channel Zee Tamil was launched on 12th October 2008, we actually began Tamil broadcasts on the main Hindi channel Zee TV in the year 1995... Back then, there was a 30-minute Tamil language band on the predominantly Hindi-language Zee TV," recalled Dr. Chandra. We value and respect Tamil culture, ethos and aspirations. We respect it in our storytelling also. We would never compromise on the Tamil culture and traditions. That is why people of Tamil Nadu love us, he added.

Actor Kamal Haasan congratulated the Essel Group on its 100-year milestone. Commending Dr. Subhash Chandra and his family's efforts in nurturing and growing this venture, he appreciated that the fifth and sixth generations are taking the business forward. &nbsp;

100-yr story of Essel group and journey of India are similar: Kamal Haasan at Essel100

The Essel Group marks 100 years since its founding in 1926, growing from a humble grain store in Haryana's Hisar district into one of India's major business conglomerates. Eminent personalities from the worlds of politics, media, entertainment and civil society gathered in Mumbai to mark the Essel Group's 100-year journey and celebrate its contribution to India's media and entertainment industry. The gathering also paid tribute to Nand Kishore (N.K.) Goenka, the patriarch of the Essel Group, who passed away peacefully on July 13, 2026. Over the decades, the group expanded across media, entertainment, infrastructure and technology, emerging as a prominent force in India's private broadcasting industry.&nbsp;The story of Essel Group is a master class in survival and ambition. Several generations ago, Dr. Subhash Chandra, Laxmi Narain Goel, Jawahar Lal Goel and Ashok Kumar Goel ‘s forefathers migrated from Agroha to Fatehpur. They came in search of earning a living and navigating a place to settle down. From a modest grain-trading business in Haryana to a global conglomerate with interests spanning media, entertainment, infrastructure and technology, the Essel Group has completed a century of reinvention, ambition and resilience. As Essel looks back on a century of transformation, its story offers a window into the evolution of Indian enterprise — from a family-run business to a force that helped reshape the country’s media and entertainment landscape. While most family businesses in India fade out after two or three generations, Essel Group is now successfully run by its sixth generation.

<h2>100 years of Essel Group</h2>The Essel Group’s journey began in 1926, when Jagannath Goenka set up Messrs Ramgopal Indraprasad at Adampur Mandi/Okara Dukaan to deal in food grains. The company is considered the precursor to the Essel Group. In 1941, Goenka shifted the business from Adampur to Hisar in Haryana to explore better opportunities.&nbsp;Five years later, the Okara Dukaan shut down and Nandkishore Goenka, father of Dr Subhash Chandra, entered the family business at the age of 16, making significant strides forward. In 1948, Jagannath Goenka moved to Delhi, bought a plot at Mothia Khan and set up a factory producing polished pulses. In 1951, a new unit at Hisar began supplying polished gram to Gujarat and southern states. In 1969, Messrs Ramgopal Indraprasad was renamed Subhash Chandra Laxmi Narain (SL). In 1970, at the age of 20, Dr Subhash Chandra moved to Delhi with just Rs 17 in his pocket and a suitcase full of dreams.

A year later, he leased a dal mill in Delhi, marking the family business’s evolution from agriculture to industry. In 1976, the company was renamed Essel Group of Industries. In 1981, Dr Chandra brought laminated plastic tube technology to India and launched Essel Propack Limited, which went on to become the world’s largest tube maker, manufacturing more than 8 billion tubes a year. Essel World, described as Asia’s biggest amusement park, was launched in Mumbai in 1990, followed by Zee TV, India’s first Hindi entertainment channel, in 1992, setting the stage for the Indian satellite television industry.&nbsp;In 1994, SITI Cable Network Limited launched its services and grew into one of India’s leading Multi-System Operators. Zee News, India’s first privately owned 24-hour news channel, was launched in 1995, the same year Zee Entertainment went international with the launch of Zee TV UK. In 2001, Shirpur Refinery, described as India’s first and Asia’s largest gold refinery, was launched, along with Playwin Lottery, the first lottery in India to allow online ticket sales. Kidzee was launched in 2003 and grew into Asia’s largest pre-school chain, touching the lives of more than 400,000 children. Dish TV was launched in 2004 and went on to become Asia’s largest DTH network.&nbsp;In 2005, E-City Bioscope Entertainment Pvt Ltd, a chain of multiplex cinemas, and SITI Energy Ltd were launched, while DNA, a leading English broadsheet daily, also made its debut. Essel Infraprojects Ltd was launched in 2007, followed by Essel Finance Management LLP in 2013 and Living Entertainment Enterprises Private Limited in 2014.&nbsp;In 2015, Essel Group forayed into ‘ASHA 2022’, with the aim of providing a home to every Indian. In 2026, the Essel Group completes 100 years. Over the years, the group has launched several pioneering and successful projects across the country. Dr Subhash Chandra has repeatedly credited his grandfather for the group’s success and reiterated its success mantra: “Never be afraid of difficulties and never compromise on your promise and honesty.”

From a humble grain-trading business in Haryana to a global conglomerate, Essel Group marks 100 years of ambition, resilience and reinvention. Celebrated in Mumbai, its centenary reflects a legacy spanning six generations and sectors including media, entertainment, infrastructure and tech

The Essel Group marks 100 years since its founding in 1926, growing from a humble grain store in Haryana's Hisar district into one of India's major business conglomerates. Eminent personalities from the worlds of politics, media, entertainment and civil society gathered in Mumbai to mark the Essel Group's 100-year journey and celebrate its contribution to India's media and entertainment industry. The gathering also paid tribute to Nand Kishore (N.K.) Goenka, the patriarch of the Essel Group, who passed away peacefully on July 13, 2026. Over the decades, the group expanded across media, entertainment, infrastructure and technology, emerging as a prominent force in India's private broadcasting industry. The story of Essel Group is a master class in survival and ambition. Several generations ago, Dr. Subhash Chandra, Laxmi Narain Goel, Jawahar Lal Goel and Ashok Kumar Goel ‘s forefathers migrated from Agroha to Fatehpur. They came in search of earning a living and navigating a place to settle down. From a modest grain-trading business in Haryana to a global conglomerate with interests spanning media, entertainment, infrastructure and technology, the Essel Group has completed a century of reinvention, ambition and resilience. As Essel looks back on a century of transformation, its story offers a window into the evolution of Indian enterprise — from a family-run business to a force that helped reshape the country’s media and entertainment landscape. While most family businesses in India fade out after two or three generations, Essel Group is now successfully run by its sixth generation.

From a humble grain-trading business in Haryana to a global conglomerate, Essel Group marks 100 years of ambition, resilience and reinvention. Celebrated in Mumbai, its centenary reflects a legacy spanning six generations and sectors including media, entertainment, infrastructure and tech

Essel Group celebrates 100 years of legacy and growth as eminent personalities gather in Mumbai

Essel Group Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra has outlined his vision for Zee Network as the Essel Group celebrates 100 years, saying he expects the television network to become the world's number one TV media company within the next 10 years and suggesting that viewers could eventually be paid to watch its programmes.&nbsp;"In the next ten years, TV, especially Zee Network, where will it be? We have set a target that after 10 Years, we will pay viewers for watching our shows instead of taking. In 10 years, Zee Network will grow as the world's number one TV media company," Dr Chandra said.&nbsp;Addressing the gathering in Mumbai, Dr Chandra said television will continue to remain relevant despite the growing shift towards mobile platforms. He said traditional TV will coexist with OTT and short-form content, while immersive formats could give viewers a more interactive role in the future."Many people are saying TV is shrinking, everything will be on mobile, but it is not going to shrink. OTT will be here, short forms will be here, but immersive content is coming in which viewers can be part of; you can give direction to them. Such a future you will see soon," he added.&nbsp;Chandra also reflected on the people who have worked with Zee over the years and gone on to achieve success in their respective fields. He said he feels happiest when he sees former members of the Zee family succeed and grow in their personal and professional lives.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/why-militants-are-targeting-non-local-workers-in-kashmir-decoding-the-kulgam-killings-1785608150650">Why militants are targeting non local workers in Kashmir: Decoding the Kulgam killings</a>&nbsp;"Many people worked with Zee, many became singers, many talents emerged. When I see people who become successful in their lives, when I read and hear about your success stories who worked with us in the past, I am the happiest person to see your success and growth other than oneself," he stated.&nbsp;Eminent personalities from the worlds of politics, media, entertainment and civil society gathered in Mumbai to mark the Essel Group's 100-year journey and celebrate its contribution to India's media and entertainment industry.&nbsp;The group's biggest impact arguably came through broadcasting, where it pioneered a new era in Indian television. In 1992, Essel launched Zee TV, India's first private satellite television channel, transforming the country's media landscape. Three years later, it launched Zee News, India's first private news channel. The group later expanded into cable and direct-to-home services through Siti Cable and Dish TV, helping drive the growth of subscription television across Indian households.&nbsp;Essel's journey began in 1926 in Adampur with a grain trading business before evolving into a diverse global conglomerate. Over the past century, the group has expanded across packaging, entertainment, news, distribution, infrastructure, real estate, education, technology, lifestyle and gold refining.&nbsp;Today, Essel Group has a presence in more than 190 countries and has impacted billions of lives while contributing to India's business landscape and global presence.

Essel Group Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra outlined an ambitious vision for Zee Network to become a global TV media leader within a decade while highlighting the future of television, immersive content and the success of former Zee employees as the group marks 100 years.

Essel Group Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra has outlined his vision for Zee Network as the Essel Group celebrates 100 years, saying he expects the television network to become the world's number one TV media company within the next 10 years and suggesting that viewers could eventually be paid to watch its programmes. "In the next ten years, TV, especially Zee Network, where will it be? We have set a target that after 10 Years, we will pay viewers for watching our shows instead of taking. In 10 years, Zee Network will grow as the world's number one TV media company," Dr Chandra said. Addressing the gathering in Mumbai, Dr Chandra said television will continue to remain relevant despite the growing shift towards mobile platforms. He said traditional TV will coexist with OTT and short-form content, while immersive formats could give viewers a more interactive role in the future. "Many people are saying TV is shrinking, everything will be on mobile, but it is not going to shrink. OTT will be here, short forms will be here, but immersive content is coming in which viewers can be part of; you can give direction to them. Such a future you will see soon," he added. Chandra also reflected on the people who have worked with Zee over the years and gone on to achieve success in their respective fields. He said he feels happiest when he sees former members of the Zee family succeed and grow in their personal and professional lives. Also Read: Why militants are targeting non local workers in Kashmir: Decoding the Kulgam killings "Many people worked with Zee, many became singers, many talents emerged. When I see people who become successful in their lives, when I read and hear about your success stories who worked with us in the past, I am the happiest person to see your success and growth other than oneself," he stated. Eminent personalities from the worlds of politics, media, entertainment and civil society gathered in Mumbai to mark the Essel Group's 100-year journey and celebrate its contribution to India's media and entertainment industry. The group's biggest impact arguably came through broadcasting, where it pioneered a new era in Indian television. In 1992, Essel launched Zee TV, India's first private satellite television channel, transforming the country's media landscape. Three years later, it launched Zee News, India's first private news channel. The group later expanded into cable and direct-to-home services through Siti Cable and Dish TV, helping drive the growth of subscription television across Indian households. Essel's journey began in 1926 in Adampur with a grain trading business before evolving into a diverse global conglomerate. Over the past century, the group has expanded across packaging, entertainment, news, distribution, infrastructure, real estate, education, technology, lifestyle and gold refining. Today, Essel Group has a presence in more than 190 countries and has impacted billions of lives while contributing to India's business landscape and global presence.

Essel Group Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra outlined an ambitious vision for Zee Network to become a global TV media leader within a decade while highlighting the future of television, immersive content and the success of former Zee employees as the group marks 100 years.

'Zee Network eyes global TV media leadership in a decade': Chairman Dr Chandra outlines vision as Essel turns 100

It’s a century! Essel Group has remained rooted in its goal and vision of building a legacy with everybody who joined this journey. Addressing the employees, Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra highlighted the group’s impact and spirit through the poem ‘Charaiveti Charaiveti’ voiced by veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan, which in essence means “keep moving forward.” As the conglomerate completes 100 years, the leadership is steadfast on its mission of moving ahead in these evolving times.&nbsp;WATCH HERE:&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">A journey of 100 years is not the end of a legacy, it is the beginning of a new era. Rooted in vision, resilience, and continuous progress, Essel Group celebrates a century of impact while marching ahead with the spirit of “Charaiveti Charaiveti”, keep moving forward. From the… <a href="https://t.co/yI5w5dYjcP">pic.twitter.com/yI5w5dYjcP</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/2057402534147371433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;“Business is not a game of shortcuts; it’s a journey of perseverance and resilience.” Dr Chandra noted. He also spoke of how, without a template to follow, it was only “conviction” and “immense faith in India’s potential” that led to the launch of the country’s first privately owned satellite TV channel in October 1992 – Zee.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/my-destiny-is-to-keep-moving-chairman-dr-subhash-chandra-s-inspiring-speech-at-the-100th-anniversary-of-essel-group-1779353599390">Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra's speech at the 100th anniversary of Essel Group</a>

The Essel Group Chairman recalled the day when the group surpassed ₹100 crore in annual business in the year 1981. This was the first time the company hit a milestone, and he was celebrating the achievement at his Punjabi Bagh residence. It was during this celebration that he answered a colleague’s curiosity on sustaining such success. He said that the company would always find a path towards new opportunities and that the business would never plunge below ₹100 crore. Today, those words and that commitment stand as the testimony.

Marking Essel Group’s historic centenary, Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra shared a vision of resilience through the poem ‘Charaiveti Charaiveti,’ voiced by Amitabh Bachchan.

It’s a century! Essel Group has remained rooted in its goal and vision of building a legacy with everybody who joined this journey. Addressing the employees, Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra highlighted the group’s impact and spirit through the poem ‘Charaiveti Charaiveti’ voiced by veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan, which in essence means “keep moving forward.” As the conglomerate completes 100 years, the leadership is steadfast on its mission of moving ahead in these evolving times. WATCH HERE:

Marking Essel Group’s historic centenary, Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra shared a vision of resilience through the poem ‘Charaiveti Charaiveti,’ voiced by Amitabh Bachchan.

Moving forward at 100: How Dr Subhash Chandra shared Essel Group’s vision through poetry

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