Sameer Nair is one of the most influential executives in Indian television and streaming. He helped bring Kaun Banega Crorepati to Indian screens, and as CEO of Applause Entertainment he backed the Scam franchise, including the upcoming Scam 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga.
Early life
Sameer Nair was born on 3 December 1965 in Mumbai. He moved into television in the early 1990s, when private satellite channels were just starting in India.
Star India and KBC
At Star India, he rose to become CEO. Under him, Star launched Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000 with Amitabh Bachchan, a show that changed Indian television and helped Star Plus become the leading Hindi channel. The channel also ran hugely popular family dramas in that period.
NDTV Imagine and Balaji Telefilms
He later led NDTV Imagine, a Hindi entertainment channel, and then became group CEO of Balaji Telefilms, the production house founded by the Kapoor family.
Applause Entertainment
In 2017 Sameer Nair became CEO of Applause Entertainment, the content studio of the Aditya Birla Group. Applause produced shows for many streaming platforms, adapting books and international formats. Its notable shows include:
- Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (Sony LIV)
- Scam 2003: The Telgi Story (Sony LIV)
- Criminal Justice
- Hostages
- The Office (Indian adaptation)
He also co-created the series Gandhi with Hansal Mehta.
Stepping down in 2026
In April 2026, Sameer Nair stepped down as CEO of Applause Entertainment, according to exchange4media. Scam 2010 continues under Applause and Birla Studios, with Deepak Segal as Applause’s content head.
Why he matters to the Scam series
Scam 1992 took a risk with an unknown lead actor and a story about stock markets. Its success showed that Indian audiences would watch serious, long-form stories about business and finance. That bet opened the door for Scam 2003 and Scam 2010.
KBC at a glance
Kaun Banega Crorepati is the Indian version of the British quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? It launched on Star Plus in 2000 with Amitabh Bachchan as host, and its prize money and simple format made it a national event. The show still runs today, and many of its catchphrases are part of everyday Indian speech.
How Applause works
Applause Entertainment works as a content studio. It develops and produces shows, then partners with streaming platforms to release them. That is why the Scam seasons appear on Sony LIV while Applause shows have also appeared on other platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sameer Nair still at Applause?
No. He stepped down as CEO in April 2026.
Questions to think about
- How did KBC change Indian television?
- Are streaming studios now more important than TV channels for Indian storytelling?
- What makes a business story work as a drama series?
