Renowned film producer and owner of Magna Publishing, Nari Hira, died on August 23 at the age of 86. Hira was an important figure in the Indian media industry, known for his pioneering work in publishing popular magazines such as Stardust, Savvy, Showtime, Society and Health.

Nari Hira’s family said in an official statement: “We are deeply saddened to share the news of his demise. He was a pioneer of the print media, a family man and an incredible father. His absence has left us all heartbroken.”

Novelist-columnist Shobhaa De and journalist Vir Sanghvi posted for Nari after her demise. The former wrote, “Goodbye, Boss…. (sic)” while the latter wrote, “RIP Nari Hira, the genius of Indian publishing. The magazine revolution began when she launched Stardust. She broke every convention of film coverage and then built a magazine empire based on those principles; be sharp, be clear but write well and make it look good I will miss her (sic).”

As a veteran journalist and media giant, Hira’s contribution to Indian journalism has been widely recognised. His death marks the end of an era in the print media world, where his publications played a key role in shaping celebrity culture and public discourse for decades.