NDTV Auto Awards 2025
The inaugural edition of the NDTV Auto Awards is set to take place on February 28, where we honor the finest in the automotive industry. Before the culminating event, to evaluate the best of the auto industry, a jury round, featuring leading experts from the automotive sector, was successfully held on February 11th at the Buddh International Circuit, India's only Formula 1 track, ensuring that the evaluations are both thorough and credible. Here, our jury members - a distinguished panel of esteemed experts rigorously evaluated nominees across various categories to ensure only the most deserving contenders take center stage. To help you understand our jury members better, here's a short introduction of all the esteemed personalities.
Mugdha Mishra is a passionate auto enthusiast and one of the most respected names in the Indian automotive fraternity. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, she currently heads NDTV Auto and is on her way to make it one of the fastest-growing automotive publications in the country. She is also the anchor/host of the NDTV Auto Show, which is one of the most highly-regarded and popular auto shows on television.
With more than thirty years of experience, Rakesh Srivastava is a seasoned veteran in the Indian automobile sector. He helped brands like Hyundai Motor India expand and succeed by launching several successful models. He also had a 15-year stint with Maruti Suzuki India and was behind the launch of many popular models like the Alto, WagonR, Swift, Dzire and many more. His last corporate assignment was being the Managing Director of Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd.
Bertrand D'Souza is well known for his stint as the Editor of Overdrive, one of the country's top automotive magazines. In time, speed, and distance forms, he has achieved numerous national records. His substantial impact on the development of the Indian automobile sector is highlighted by his extensive knowledge of automotive journalism as well as his active engagement in the industry as a content creator.
Renuka Kirpalani is one of the leading automotive journalists in India, with over two decades of experience. She currently serves as a consulting editor for Autocar India and is also the contributing editor - Auto at Mashable India. Kirpalani has served in many prominent automobile events including the World Car Events, Women's World Car of the Year, and International Engine of the Year. She is also an avid curator of road expeditions. Today, she is one of the most respected figures in the automotive business and industry because of her unparalleled level of passion and extensive experience.
Co-founder of MotorOctane, India's largest automotive YouTube channel with close to 5 million followers, and a well-known personality in the country's automotive media landscape, Rachit Hirani is known for his vast contributions as an automotive content creator. He has also served as a juror on many prestigious automotive awards. Rachit's work with MotorOctane has had a positive influence on Indian automotive media.
He is the O.G. Indian motorsport superstar, with many championships under his belt. He is a 5-time Indian National Rally Champion and the former Asia Zone Rally Champion. His extensive motorsport background and deep understanding of car dynamics make him a great addition as a juror to the NDTV Auto Awards. His experience is testament to his esteem and knowledge in the automotive industry.
Nikhil Chawla is an award-winning content creator and the founder of The Unbiased Blog. He wears many hats, with technology, social media and automobiles close to his heart. An entrepreneur, he runs his own digital media company, along with serving as a consulting editor with many reputed media brands. He is one of the leading tech and automotive journalists in the country.
Kalyani Potekar
Kalyani Potekar wears multiple hats with consummate ease. She is a certified adventurer along with being a motorcycle racer and is India's only female rider to hold lap records in the 600 cc and 1,000 cc categories and a representative at the FIM Asia Cup of Road Racing. She also has certifications in paragliding, alpine skiing and mountaineering along with being an expert content creator.
Abhinav Bhatt is a Delhi-based automobile enthusiast known for customising his motorcycles to tailor-fit his needs. A veteran journalist with 18 years in the news industry, Abhinav approaches motorcycle content with inquisitiveness and does not shy from posing harsh questions to manufacturers. He is a rider who enjoys all facets of motorcycling but is particularly keen on long-distance and trail riding.
Kingshuk is the Senior Associate Editor at NDTV Auto. With a total experience of 12+ years as an automotive journalist, he handles web stories, videos news, and reviews for NDTV Auto. He was part of a team that drove down two Mercedes-Benz SUVs from Germany to India across 11 countries. He specialises in four-wheeler and two-wheeler reviews along with videos. He loves to jump a motorcycle and has served as a jury member for various automotive publications in the past.
Simranjeet Singh a.k.a Simran King is a professional motorcycle racer and a speed merchant. His love for speed is reflected in the fact that he is the fastest Indian on a 1,000 cc+ motorcycle around the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) along with being the JKNRC champion in the 1,000 cc category for 2015-17. He has served as a juror for several prestigious automotive awards and also runs his own superbike store.
The Indian motorcycle enthusiast Deepak Gupta goes by the moniker of ‘MountainManDG' while creating popular motorcycling content for his audience. He has travelled in 59 countries on a motorcycle and has ridden over 12 lakh kilometres on various motorcycles in the last 30 years. He's a part of the Group of Delhi Superbikers (G.O.D.S).
Dr. Arun Thareja earned his "Dr. Speed" nickname in India since he is both an E.N.T. surgeon and an avid motorcyclist who loves to ride. Dr. Thareja initiated the Group of Delhi Superbikers (G.O.D.S.) in 1998, which currently has over 100 active members. Doctor Thareja started his motorcycling passion through Yamaha-Rajdoot RD350 which he bought while he studied medicine way back in the 1980s. Dr. Thareja has dedicated his life to motorcycling by gathering more than twenty-two motorcycles which represent his strong devotion to the bikers' fraternity.
Car - Jury Members
Car Jury Members NDTV Auto Awards 2025
Mugdha Mishra
Editor, NDTV Auto
Mugdha Mishra is a passionate auto enthusiast and one of the most respected names in the Indian automotive fraternity. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, she currently heads NDTV Auto and is on her way to make it one of the fastest-growing automotive publications in the country. She is also the anchor/host of the NDTV Auto Show, which is one of the most highly-regarded and popular auto shows on television.
Rakesh Srivastava
Former Managing Director, Nissan Motor India
With more than thirty years of experience, Rakesh Srivastava is a seasoned veteran in the Indian automobile sector. He helped brands like Hyundai Motor India expand and succeed by launching several successful models. He also had a 15-year stint with Maruti Suzuki India and was behind the launch of many popular models like the Alto, WagonR, Swift, Dzire and many more. His last corporate assignment was being the Managing Director of Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd.
Bertrand Dsouza
Content Creator | Automotive Journalist | Overlander
Bertrand D'Souza is well known for his stint as the Editor of Overdrive, one of the country's top automotive magazines. In time, speed, and distance forms, he has achieved numerous national records. His substantial impact on the development of the Indian automobile sector is highlighted by his extensive knowledge of automotive journalism as well as his active engagement in the industry as a content creator.
Esteemed Jury Members Evaluating Cars For NDTV Auto Awards 2025
Renuka Kirpalani
Consulting Editor - Autocar India | Contributing Editor - Mashable India | Juror – World Car of the Year
Renuka Kirpalani is one of the leading automotive journalists in India, with over two decades of experience. She currently serves as a consulting editor for Autocar India and is also the contributing editor - Auto at Mashable India. Kirpalani has served in many prominent automobile events including the World Car Events, Women's World Car of the Year, and International Engine of the Year. She is also an avid curator of road expeditions. Today, she is one of the most respected figures in the automotive business and industry because of her unparalleled level of passion and extensive experience.
Rachit Hirani
Founder, MotorOctane
Co-founder of MotorOctane, India's largest automotive YouTube channel with close to 5 million followers, and a well-known personality in the country's automotive media landscape, Rachit Hirani is known for his vast contributions as an automotive content creator. He has also served as a juror on many prestigious automotive awards. Rachit's work with MotorOctane has had a positive influence on Indian automotive media.
Hari Singh
Former Rally Driver | 5-time Indian Rally Champion, Former Asia Zone Rally Champion | Founder – Drive Tech India
He is the O.G. Indian motorsport superstar, with many championships under his belt. He is a 5-time Indian National Rally Champion and the former Asia Zone Rally Champion. His extensive motorsport background and deep understanding of car dynamics make him a great addition as a juror to the NDTV Auto Awards. His experience is testament to his esteem and knowledge in the automotive industry.
Nikhil Chawla
New-Age Media Consultant | Founder, Unbiased Blog | Tech & Auto Journalist
Nikhil Chawla is an award-winning content creator and the founder of The Unbiased Blog. He wears many hats, with technology, social media and automobiles close to his heart. An entrepreneur, he runs his own digital media company, along with serving as a consulting editor with many reputed media brands. He is one of the leading tech and automotive journalists in the country.
Bike Jury Members NDTV Auto Awards 2025
Bike - Jury Members
Kalyani Potekar
Motorcycle Racer | TedX Speaker | Certified Adventurer | Content Creator
Kalyani Potekar wears multiple hats with consummate ease. She is a certified adventurer along with being a motorcycle racer and is India's only female rider to hold lap records in the 600 cc and 1,000 cc categories and a representative at the FIM Asia Cup of Road Racing. She also has certifications in paragliding, alpine skiing and mountaineering along with being an expert content creator.
Abhinav Bhatt
Senior Executive Editor, NDTV
Abhinav Bhatt is a Delhi-based automobile enthusiast known for customising his motorcycles to tailor-fit his needs. A veteran journalist with 18 years in the news industry, Abhinav approaches motorcycle content with inquisitiveness and does not shy from posing harsh questions to manufacturers. He is a rider who enjoys all facets of motorcycling but is particularly keen on long-distance and trail riding.
Kingshuk Dutta
Senior Associate Editor, NDTV
Kingshuk is the Senior Associate Editor at NDTV Auto. With a total experience of 12+ years as an automotive journalist, he handles web stories, videos news, and reviews for NDTV Auto. He was part of a team that drove down two Mercedes-Benz SUVs from Germany to India across 11 countries. He specialises in four-wheeler and two-wheeler reviews along with videos. He loves to jump a motorcycle and has served as a jury member for various automotive publications in the past.
Bike Jury Members Evaluating Models For NDTV Auto Awards 2025
Simranjeet Singh
Superbike Racer
Simranjeet Singh a.k.a Simran King is a professional motorcycle racer and a speed merchant. His love for speed is reflected in the fact that he is the fastest Indian on a 1,000 cc+ motorcycle around the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) along with being the JKNRC champion in the 1,000 cc category for 2015-17. He has served as a juror for several prestigious automotive awards and also runs his own superbike store.
Deepak Gupta
Content Creator | Traveller
The Indian motorcycle enthusiast Deepak Gupta goes by the moniker of ‘MountainManDG' while creating popular motorcycling content for his audience. He has travelled in 59 countries on a motorcycle and has ridden over 12 lakh kilometres on various motorcycles in the last 30 years. He's a part of the Group of Delhi Superbikers (G.O.D.S).
Dr. Arun Thareja
E.N.T. Surgeon | Founder, Group of Delhi Superbikers (G.O.D.S)
Dr. Arun Thareja earned his "Dr. Speed" nickname in India since he is both an E.N.T. surgeon and an avid motorcyclist who loves to ride. Dr. Thareja initiated the Group of Delhi Superbikers (G.O.D.S.) in 1998, which currently has over 100 active members. Doctor Thareja started his motorcycling passion through Yamaha-Rajdoot RD350 which he bought while he studied medicine way back in the 1980s. Dr. Thareja has dedicated his life to motorcycling by gathering more than twenty-two motorcycles which represent his strong devotion to the bikers' fraternity.
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