• India Today
  • Aaj Tak
  • GNTTV
  • Lallantop
  • Business Today
  • Bangla
  • Malayalam
  • Northeast
  • BT Bazaar
  • Harper's Bazaar
  • Sports Tak
  • Crime Tak
  • Astro Tak
  • Gaming
  • Brides Today
  • Cosmopolitan
  • Kisan Tak
  • Ishq FM
  • India Today Hindi
  • Reader’s Digest
  • India Today
  • Aaj Tak
  • GNTTV
  • Lallantop
  • Business Today
  • Bangla
  • Malayalam
  • Northeast
  • BT Bazaar
  • Harper's Bazaar
  • Sports Tak
Magazine
Live TV
Search
SIGN IN
Edition
IN
  • IN
  • US
  • Home
    • TV
      • Live TV
      • Primetime
    • Magazine
      • Latest Edition
      • Insight
      • Best Colleges
    • Puzzles
      • Life+Style
        • India
          • South
            • Global
              • All World News
              • US News
              • Canada News
              • UK News
              • China News
              • Indians Abroad
            • Business
              • Sports
                • Technology
                  • Showbuzz
                    • Entertainment
                    • Movies
                    • Bollywood
                    • Hollywood
                    • Television
                    • OTT
                    • Latest Reviews
                  • Newspresso
                    • Specials
                      • Podcasts
                      • Sunday Special
                      • History of It
                      • NewsMo
                      • DIU
                      • Opinion
                    • Videos
                      • Short Videos
                        • Fact Check
                          • Other News
                            • Education
                            • It's Viral
                            • Science
                            • Health
                            • Auto
                            • Law Today
                            • Environment
                            • Cities
                            • Weather
                            • Web Stories
                            • Horoscopes
                          • Election Hub
                            • Elections
                            • Bihar Assembly
                            • Bihar Constituencies

                          Download App

                          Download app
                          Follow Us On:
                          NewsMoviesCelebritiesWhat is Kwan?

                          What is Kwan?

                          Kwan, a well-known talent management agency of Mumbai, has found itself in the middle of the Bollywood drug probe carried out by Narcotics Control Bureau. Deepika Padukone has been a client of the agency since 2013.

                          Live TV
                          Share
                          Advertisement
                          What is Kwan?
                          Deepika Padukone has been a client of Kwan talent management agency since 2013.
                          Amit Tyagi
                          Amit Tyagi
                          Mumbai,UPDATED: Sep 25, 2020 20:42 IST

                          The death of Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput has opened a Pandora’s Box of drugs, lies and chats in tinsel town. From nepotism to sex abuse to drug links - almost every angle has emerged in the ongoing investigation. At the centre of the storm now is Kwan, a well-known talent management agency of Mumbai.

                          Such agencies have always played a pivotal role in managing actors’ schedules, finances and brand associations. Besides several other central investigating agencies at work in the SSR case, the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) is probing the ever-developing Hollywood drugs controversy which has turned the spotlight on top actors.

                          advertisement

                          Names like Jayanti (Jaya) Saha, Karishma Prakash and Shruti Modi have cropped up during the probe. Mumbai’s popular celebrity manager Jaya and Shruti used to manage Sushant and Rhea Chakraborty under their company Kwan. Jaya’s colleague Karishma Prakash is Deepika Padukone’s manager. Deepika has been an exclusive client of Kwan since 2013 when they were known as CAA Kwan. The agency got an alleged WhatsApp chat between Karishma and Deepika related to drugs.

                          Jaya gave the agency all information about Sushant and Disha Salian (her ex-colleague for a year) and other details about Bollywood actors. The NCB on Friday questioned Karishma for nearly seven hours in connection with the alleged drug controversy.

                          All about Kwan

                          The new set of revelations has raised several questions on the operations of Kwan Entertainment Private Limited. Kwan was founded in 2009 by Anirban Das Blah with co-founders brother Indranil Das Blah, Madhu Mantena, Vijay Subramanium and Dhruv Chitgopekar. Before 2009, Anirban was associated with Mahesh Bhupathi’s Globosport. Madhu is on the NCB radar after his name surfaced during Jaya’s interrogation while Dhruv also faced questioning.

                          The company soon became India’s best-known talent agency that managed stars like Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Hrithik Roshan.

                          In circa 2012, Los Angeles-based entertainment and sports firm Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Kwan got into a 50:50 joint venture called CAA Kwan to represent talent in India as well as other SAARC nations.

                          In 2014, Akshay Kumar too had signed on CAA Kwan as his brand custodian.

                          Four years later in 2016, the partnership ended as Kwan bought over CAA’s stake in the joint venture for an undisclosed figure. Anurag Kashyap and Phantom Films were some of CAA Kwan’s clients.

                          Kwan also has purchased equity stakes earlier in Saavn, Gamezop, Bing Bang Media Ventures and Offroad Films.

                          Rana Daggubati is also a director in the Kwan (south) Celebrity Services Private Limited along with Vijay Subramaniam.

                          In 2018, Anirban was accused of sexually harassing several women and he was asked to step aside from his post. His brother Indranil took over the management as CEO along with Vijay. In October 2018, Anirban allegedly tried to commit suicide by jumping off the old Vashi bridge but was saved by a police patrol. He moved to Bangalore soon after.

                          advertisement

                          In 2018, six more partners, including Jaya, were introduced. Anirban’s shares were bought by the other 10 partners (the founders and the remaining who joined later).

                          Jaya joined Kwan in 2010, and became a partner in 2018. Jayanti and Dhruv were next line in the command of the company. As a partner, Jayanti holds 2 per cent stake in the firm with rest 10 partners.

                          While on paper, Jaya is actually a partner with a company called Elan Celebrity & Talent Management Private Limited with Indranil apart from Big Bang Music LLP along with Vijay Subramaniam, there are other companies where directors common to Kwan are helming businesses. There are at least six other companies where Dhruv, Madhu, and Indranil are directors. In one of the companies, actor Tiger Shroff is partners with Dhruv among others.

                          There are other companies like Rana Daggubati Fashion LLP, Kriti Sanon Fashion Private Limited, Jacqueline Fernandez World LLP, and Gigstart Entertainment Private Ltd. among the many odd companies floated under the Kwan umbrella.

                          Kwan has around 300 employees and the company has as many as 40 actors, comedians, musicians, directors, writers, producers, social media influencers and sports personalities. It is considered as India’s largest entertainment marketplace that integrates investors, brands, and artists. They also managed sports stars like Shikhar Dhawan, PV Sindhu, Dinesh Kartik, Shubman Gill, Sania Mirza and Dipika Pallikal.

                          advertisement

                          SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT DEATH CASE: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

                          Last year, world music behemoth Sony Music and Kwan announced a joint venture that would launch a pop label called Big Bang Music. The 50-50 joint venture aims to leverage Sony Music’s business expertise and Kwan’s management relationships.

                          Kwan has also been associated with some of the leading global sports franchises such as the NBA, Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona, the IPL and its team franchises.

                          Jaya’s journey with Sushant

                          Jaya started working with Sushant in 2016, and got him to sign six films, including Drive, Sonchiriya, Kedarnath, Chhichhore. Other than films, Jaya also got Sushant endorsements and events of 21 brands between 2016 and 2019.

                          For Drive, Sushant got a payment of Rs 2.25 crore. For Sonichiriya and Kedarnath, he got Rs 5 crore and Rs 6 crore respectively. Sushant was paid Rs 5 crore for Chhichhore and Rs 3.5 crore for Dil Bechara.

                          Deepika’s manager Karishma used to report to Jaya. It was learnt that Jaya and Karishma also happened to be roommates in Mumbai. Jaya was a known name in Bollywood circuits and was instrumental in keeping all actors stay attached with Kwan.

                          advertisement

                          Amid reports of Salman Khan holding a majority stake in Kwan, the actor’s lawyer, Anand Desai, released a statement clarifying that the actor has no stake, direct or indirect, in the Kwan Talent Management Agency.

                          (With inputs from Piya Hingorani in Mumbai)

                          ALSO READ | Sushant death case: Rhea Chakraborty arrested due to drug trafficking network links, says NCB

                          ALSO READ | Sushant's death was 200% strangulation as per AIIMS team, his family lawyer claims. Incorrect, responds doctor

                          ALSO WATCH | Bollywood-drug nexus probe: Is NCB on a fishing expedition?

                          Published By:
                          Vibha Maru
                          Published On:
                          Sep 25, 2020
                          --- ENDS ---

                          Watch Live TV
                          Advertisement

                          Also Watch

                          00:21:15

                          Navi Mumbai Airport will unlock growth and global connectivity: Jeet Adani

                          00:30:57

                          Why is Adani betting big on airports and other high-capex sectors? Answers expert

                          Opposition Protests Removal Of Gandhis Name From Jobs Scheme
                          00:08:37

                          Rajya Sabha Passes G Ram G Bill Amid Opposition Protests Over Funding

                          Shreya Dhoundial: Winter Session Ends With No Pollution Debate
                          00:12:46

                          Winter Session Ends Without Pollution Debate as Delhi Chokes Under Severe AQI, Fog

                          Psychopath Attacks Kids In Bengaluru
                          00:03:14

                          Bengaluru Horror: Man Attacks Children on Camera, Released on Bail Sparks Outrage

                          Advertisement

                          Read This

                          50 lakh Indians to be trained in AI, cybersecurity and quantum with IBM’s skilling drive

                          Pilot assaults passenger

                          'Be back after thrashing him': Flier recounts ordeal with Air India Express pilot

                          J&K Police flag terror links among Ratle power project staff.

                          J&K Police flag terror links among power project staff, BJP MLA calls for removals

                          Shubman Gill

                          Why was Gill axed from T20 World Cup squad? Selector Ajit Agarkar explains

                          PM Narendra Modi

                          After Bihar, need to get rid of jungle raj from Bengal: PM jabs Trinamool

                          Advertisement
                           
                          Follow Us On:
                          Advertisement
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           

                          PUBLICATIONS

                          • India Today
                          • Business Today
                          • India Today-Hindi
                          • TIME

                          TELEVISION

                          • India Today TV
                          • Aaj Tak
                          • Good News Today

                          EVENTS

                          • Agenda AajTak
                          • India Today Conclave
                          • Sahitya AajTak

                          RADIO

                          • Ishq FM
                          • AajTak Radio

                          GAMING

                          • India Today Gaming
                          • World Esports Cup

                          USEFUL LINKS

                          • Press Release
                          • Sitemap
                          • News
                          • Newsletter
                          • Privacy Policy
                          • Correction Policy
                          • LMIL Documents

                          PRINTING

                          • Thomson Press

                          WELFARE

                          • Care Today

                          DISTRIBUTION

                          • Rate Card

                          SYNDICATIONS

                          • Headlines Today

                          WEBSITES

                          • India Today
                          • India Today Malayalam
                          • India Today NE
                          • Business Today
                          • DailyO
                          • AajTak
                          • Lallantop
                          • Bangla
                          • GNTTV
                          • iChowk
                          • Reader’s Digest
                          • Cosmopolitan

                          EDUCATION

                          • Vasant Valley
                          • Best Colleges
                          • Best Universities
                          LATEST
                          Ghaziabad AQI
                          Noida AQI
                          Bengaluru AQI
                          Gurugram AQI
                          Mumbai AQI
                          Delhi AQI
                          West Bengal Election 2026
                          Download App
                          Andriod App ios App SmartTv App
                          • ABOUT US
                          • CONTACT US
                          • TERMS AND CONDITIONS
                          • ARCHIVES
                          Copyright © 2025 Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today