Senior journalist Nari Hira has passed away. Hira, who was the founder and editor of Stardust Magazine, breathed his last on Friday, August 23, 2024. Details about his last rites are not known as of now.
“It is with deep sorrow that we share the news of his passing, a pioneer in print media a family man and father beyond compare, he leaves us behind heartbroken in his absence,” his family said in an official statement as quoted by Exchange4media.
Born in 1938 in Karachi, Nari Hira and his family moved to Mumbai after partition in 1947. Initially, he started his career as a journalist in the 1960s but later ventured into publishing. His magazine – Stardust – became a huge success and was known for revealing shocking controversies, sensationalized stories and gossip related to Bollywood and its celebrities.
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Due to the same, the magazine often landed in legal trouble as well. The magazine faced several defamation cases from celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan among others. It was also accused of invading celebrities’ privacy. Besides this, the magazine was also criticised by many for its gossip-driven content.
However, it was through his breaking stories that Nari Hira had a significant impact on Indian popular culture. He was also referred to as the ‘King of Indian Magazines’ by many. Hira also received several awards for his contributions to Indian publishing. He was once honoured with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Indian Magazine Congress.
Meanwhile, not much is known about Hira’s personal life. He was known to be a private person. After him, his son, Rahuul Hira, took over as the managing director of Magna Publishing.
Rest in peace, Nari Hira!
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