#DeshKaZee: Invesco red-faced as Bollywood biggies come out in support of ZEEL, Punit Goenka; slam China

As the #DeshKaZee hashtag and stories went viral on social media platforms pertaining to China's possible conspiracy using Invesco as puppet against ZEEL-Sony mega-merger, Bollywood biggies have come out openly in support of ZEEL and its MD & CEO Punit Goenka.

Renowned Bollywood director, Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted, "ZEE TV,first Indian channel cultivated by @subhashchandra to India’s biggest entertainment company has always been pioneer in Indian content.I wish that it continues to progress under the leadership of @punitgoenka & an all Indian Management and pray for a great future for them."

ZEE TV,first Indian channel cultivated by @subhashchandra to India’s biggest entertainment company has always been pioneer in Indian content.I wish that it continues to progress under the leadership of @punitgoenka & an all Indian Management and pray for a great future for them.

— Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) October 6, 2021

Tweeting with hashtag, #boycottchina, ace film maker, Satish Kaushik said, "Zee is the first Indian channel and has provided tremendous support to the indian entertainment industry .Today American and Chinese investors are trying to poach it.Hope Zee remains in original passionate hands. @subhashchandra @punitgoenka @PMOIndia #bycottchina."

Zee is the first Indian channel and has provided tremendous support to the indian entertainment industry .Today American and Chinese investors are trying to poach it.Hope Zee remains in original passionate hands. @subhashchandra @punitgoenka @PMOIndia #bycottchina

— satish kaushik (@satishkaushik2) October 5, 2021

Asking a big question on future corporate culture, famous Bollywood director, Subhash Ghai tweeted, "I wonder if small investors from China can shake an indian company like @ZEECorporate built by indian promotors @subhashchandra since 30 years with purely indian content ethos n ethics wid excellent status in media world Is it giving a wrong signal to future corporate culture?"

I wonder if small investors from China can shake an indian company like @ZEECorporate built by indian promotors @subhashchandra since 30 years with purely indian content ethos n ethics wid excellent status in media world

Is it giving a wrong signal to future corporate culture?

— Subhash Ghai (@SubhashGhai1) October 6, 2021

Supporting Punit Goenka's able leadership, famous Bollywood producer, Boney Kapoor tweeted, "Zee which was first Indian channel promoted by Indian nationalist @subhashchandra always supported & nurtured Indian entertainment sector now hounded by American and Chinese investors.Pray Zee Entertainment remains in original Indian entrepreneur’s passionate hands @punitgoenka." Kapoor added, "Make in India Flag of India is the mantra of our beloved Prime Minister @narendramodi Hope the original Indian channel remains with the Indian passionate promoter @subhashchandra & his sincere & equally passionate son @punitgoenka @PMOIndia"

Zee which was first Indian channel promoted by Indian nationalist @subhashchandra always supported & nurtured Indian entertainment sector now hounded by American and Chinese investors.Pray Zee Entertainment remains in original Indian entrepreneur’s passionate hands @punitgoenka

— Boney Kapoor (@BoneyKapoor) October 5, 2021

Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit tweeted, "#ZeeTV hs bn one of the major pillars of Indian entertainment industry . Its @subhashchandra ji’s vision which created so many job opportunities who r entertaining the country since a decade . Let’s nt allow #American & #Chinese investors to destroy its strength. @punitgoenka."

#ZeeTV hs bn one of the major pillars of Indian entertainment industry .
Its @subhashchandra ji’s vision which created so many job opportunities who r entertaining the country since a decade .
Let’s nt allow #American & #Chinese investors to destroy its strength. @punitgoenka

— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) October 6, 2021

Noticing how Invesco is acting for the past few days with respect to ZEEL-Sony deal, it raises some big and pertinent questions including - Is Invesco a puppet of China's conspiracy against ZEEL-Sony mega-merger?

ZEEL is a big proud crown for India's General Entertainment Channel (GEC) space, and it's been felt that China is not able to digest this and that's why it might be using Invesco as its puppet in hatching the conspiracy against ZEEL-Sony mega-merger.

Some media reports are falsely citing Invesco's version to take on ZEEL MD & CEO Punit Goenka but in vain. These reports have failed terribly in their mala fide attempt to malign the image of esteemed organisation - ZEEL and its MD & CEO Punit Goenka.

On Tuesday, the reports lacking truth have fallen flat on the face of their publishers as Dr Subhash Chandra - Founder, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, himself has come forward to clear the air on Invesco, ZEEL and Punit Goenka. The facts-laden statement by Dr Subhash Chandra - Founder, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited has now left no room for any confusion and will leave publishers of false and baseless reports red-faced.

'Blood and sweat to ZEEL'

Commenting on the entire matter, Dr Subhash Chandra, said, "No matter who runs ZEEL but the company, to which I've and many of my friends have given their blood and sweat for the past 30 years, should be in the hands of someone under whose leadership the organisation should prosper and shareholders should be benefitted since I don't have any profit or loss associated with this."

Questions to the vested interests of someone

Also, taking on the media reports, Dr Chandra added, "I wanted to give an interview to my friends at CNBC and Moneycontrol but they won't take it neither run it because it seems although he is a friend of mine but has a vested interest in the entire matter; I don't know whatever it is but I wish God give him good sense and wisdom."

WATCH: FULL VIDEO STATEMENT BY ZEEL FOUNDER DR SUBHASH CHANDRA:-

Questions to Invesco

Stating about the Invesco, Dr Chandra said, "Invesco is a good investor but in this case of ZEEL they are not revealing that what they will do after taking ZEEL, and in whose hands management will go?"

"You want to remove Punit Goenka? Okay, fine but what next? Have you done any deal with someone? The 6 directors given by them - what's their background? Do they have any relation with any particular company that wants to take over? Hence, Invesco should come out transparently and openly, and let the shareholders decide - whether they want to take the deal of Invesco or want to go with Sony's deal, "Dr Chandra said posing some really tough questions to Invesco.

Questions to regulators

On the regulators, Dr Chandra said, "The first and prime responsibility of the regulators is to protect the interest minority shareholders. So, they should ask Invesco that it should come out transparently. And, regulators should make sure that minority shareholders have both the things in hand to decide whether to vote for Invesco or Sony's deal with ZEEL."