MUMBAI: "The conviction comes from the society, the world and the country you live in," Star India chairman and CEO Uday Shankar said to a question on the conviction of taking billion-dollar bets on various major steps in the industry after winning the "Entrepreneurial CEO' award of the year 2016 by EY, the consulting firm formerly known as Ernst & Young.

The citation for the "Entrepreneirial CEO" stated: With a background in journalism, he seemed to be an unconventional choice to be a CEO of a global media corporation. But, his deep curiosity, disruptive thinking, and restless sense of pace sparked off a series of bold moves across digital platforms, regional entertainment, sports leagues and differentiated content which resonates with a varied audience, and all this has helped his organisation become an undisputed leader in India's media and entertainment sector.

On convincing STAR's global shareholders, he said, "I have to do just one thing -- to convince them about the possibilities and potential in India. The rest followed. I am very lucky to work for an entrepreneurial company where the promoters' genes itself is about (the promoters believe) taking risks in a democracy with a billion people." "It all boils down to the potential that my company sees in India, which we have been able to harness," Shankar said.

A distinguished independent jury led by Sun Pharmaceuticals MD Dilip Shanghvi had selected the finalists. Other members included Tata Communications chairman Subodh Bhargava, Info Edge (India) executive vice-chairman Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Max Financial Services chairman Naina Lal Kidwai, Kotak Mahindra Bank MD Uday Kotak, and JP Morgan Chase CEO - south Asia and India Kalpana Morparia.

Motherson Sumi Systems chairman Vivek Chaand Sehgal has been named Indian entrepreneur. Sehgal will also be in the running for the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year award in Monte Carlo in June where he will contest with world business leaders.

Infosys Ltd co-founder Nandan Nilekani was honoured with a lifetime achievement award for spearheading India’s Aadhaar project as head of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

Force Motors chairman Abhay Firodia bagged EY’s business transformation award and Balaji Wafers whole-time director Chandubhai Virani won the award in the consumer products and retail category.

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