Quick Info
| Profession | Journalist |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 18/02/1957 |
| Age | 69 years |
| Birthplace | Delhi |
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Bio/Wiki
| Rajat Sharma is a veteran Indian television journalist and businessman best known for hosting Aap Ki Adalat, one of India's longest-running television shows. | |
| He is the Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV, a major Hindi news channel he co-founded with his wife Ritu Dhawan. | |
| During the Emergency (1975-1977), Sharma was an active student activist and was arrested and jailed for his resistance activities. | |
| He completed his M.Com. from Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), University of Delhi. |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 5' 11" (180 cm) |
|---|---|
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
Educational Qualification(s)
| M.Com. | Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), University of Delhi |
|---|
Personal Life
| Sharma began his journalism career in 1982 as a Trainee Reporter at Onlooker magazine, where he wrote his first story for Rs 300. | |
| He was promoted to Chief of Bureau in 1984 and became Editor in 1985. | |
| In 1987, he joined Sunday Observer as an Editor. | |
| He worked as Editor of The Daily newspaper from 1989 to 1992. | |
| In 1992, he conceptualized the Aap Ki Adalat format during a conversation with Subhash Chandra, Chairman of Zee Network. | |
| Aap Ki Adalat premiered on 14 March 1993 on Zee TV and became iconic for its unique courtroom-style interview format. | |
| In 1995, Sharma launched India's first private television news bulletin, which was beamed across satellite footprints in Asia, Europe, and North Africa. | |
| In 1997, he and his wife Ritu established Independent News Service (INS), the parent company of India TV. | |
| India TV News channel was launched in 2004 with notable personalities including Tarun Tejpal, Maneka Gandhi, and Madhu Kishwar. | |
| Over his career, Sharma has interviewed over 750 personalities on Aap Ki Adalat, earning the Indian Television Academy Lifetime Achievement Award. | |
| He was unanimously elected as President of the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) in July 2024. |
Relationships & More
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Ritu Dhawan |
| Marriage Date | 1997 |
Family
| Siblings |
|
|---|---|
| Spouse | Ritu Dhawan |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Birthplace Details | Sabzi Mandi, Delhi |
Career
| Debut | 1982 |
|---|---|
| Current Position | Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV, Host of Aap Ki Adalat |
| Career Span | Over three decades in journalism |
| Major Achievements |
|
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Rajat Sharma faced poverty in his childhood. | |
| 2. After completing M.Com, Sharma began his career as a researcher. | |
| 3. Janardan Thakur encouraged Sharma to start writing for a magazine. | |
| 4. Sharma worked for Onlooker Magazine at one point. | |
| 5. Currently, Sharma holds the positions of chairman and editor-in-chief at India TV. | |
| 6. He also hosts the popular news show "Aap Ki Adalat." | |
| 7. The show "Aap Ki Adalat" debuted in 1992 and remains very popular in India. | |
| 8. In 1997, Sharma tied the knot with TV producer Ritu Dhawan. | |
| 9. Sharma was honored with the Tarun Kranti Award in New Delhi on August 23, 2014. | |
| 10. In 2015, Sharma received the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Literature and Education. | |
| 11. The President of India presented Sharma with the Padma Bhushan in March 2015. | |
| 12. He was promoted to Chief of Bureau at Onlooker in 1984 and became Editor in 1985. | |
| 13. The show Aap Ki Adalat debuted on 14 March 1993 on Zee TV. | |
| 14. During the Emergency (1975-1977), Sharma was an active student activist and was arrested and jailed. | |
| 15. He was released from jail in 1977 when the Emergency ended. | |
| 16. Sharma has interviewed over 750 personalities on Aap Ki Adalat throughout his career. | |
| 17. India TV became India's number one news channel within four years of its launch in 2004. |