In a landmark celebration that reflected the growing maturity, scale, and ambition of India’s financial ecosystem, Zee Business, in collaboration with the Mutual Fund Round Table (MFRT), hosted the prestigious Zee Business Mutual Fund Awards 2025. Co-powered by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and Canara Bank, with Value Research as Knowledge Partner, the event recognised the mutual fund industry’s most exceptional performers—those who go beyond numbers to build a responsible, transparent, and investor-first financial future.
With millions of Indians entering market-linked investments, the mutual fund industry today stands not just as a wealth creation engine, but as a pillar of national financial empowerment. The Zee Business Mutual Fund Awards 2025 celebrated institutions and individuals who embody this transformation—not only for their market performance, but for their integrity, innovation, communication practices, and long-term vision. In an environment shaped by growing retail participation, regulatory dynamism, and digital disruption, the awards served as a benchmark for ethical investing and financial stewardship.
Shruti Agarwal from Value Research opened the evening with an insightful overview of the award methodology. She emphasised that the evaluation process went beyond short-term returns and examined key factors like performance consistency, governance, investor education, transparency, and compliance. This ensured that the awards retained their reputation as one of the most credible recognitions in the Indian financial sector.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Sundararaman Ramamurthy, Managing Director and CEO of BSE Ltd., stressed the significance of building trust in the markets. “BSE has always stood for transparency and investor protection. These awards amplify that vision by celebrating those who are building India’s capital markets with strategy, integrity, and vision,” he stated. His words reflected the industry-wide consensus that trust is the foundation upon which sustainable financial systems are built.
Speaking on behalf of Zee Business, Mr. Anil Singhvi, Managing Editor, said, “These awards go beyond honouring performance. They are a recognition of purpose. Mutual funds today represent the aspirations of India’s rising middle class—and we aim to spotlight the leaders who are turning those aspirations into long-term wealth through discipline, ethics, and innovation.” He reaffirmed Zee Business’s commitment to making financial literacy accessible and empowering Indian investors to make informed choices.
Reinforcing this vision, Mr. Karan Abhishek Singh, CEO of Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL), added, “As a media organisation with a national responsibility, ZMCL is committed to promoting financial literacy and inclusive growth. These awards don’t just celebrate excellence—they catalyse industry-wide transformation by placing ethics and transparency at the heart of investor engagement.”
The event also featured two high-impact panel discussions. The first, ‘Is India’s Mutual Fund Ecosystem Equipped for the Future?’, brought together stalwarts such as A. Balasubramanian (Aditya Birla Sun Life MF), D.P. Singh (SBI MF), Kalpen Parekh (DSP MF), and Anil Singhvi to explore evolving regulations, retail participation, and digital strategies. The second session, ‘How Fund Managers Will Make Money in the New Era of Investment,’ featured investment leaders like Taher Badshah (Invesco MF), Trideep Bhattacharya (Edelweiss MF), Rajeev Thakkar (PPFAS MF), and Aashish Somaiyaa (White Oak Capital), moderated by Swati Raina of Zee Business. The exchanges provided a glimpse into how fund leaders are preparing for the future, guided by shifting investor expectations and broader industry transformation.
The core of the evening was the recognition of outstanding performers. At the Zee Business Mutual Fund Awards 2025, industry excellence was recognised across a wide range of categories, honouring both institutions and individuals who exemplify performance, transparency, and innovation. DSP Mutual Fund won Gold and Edelweiss Mutual Fund took Silver in the Best Fund House for Investor Communication & Transparency category. Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund earned the Gold in Most Innovative Fund House. In the Rising Star – Emerging Fund Manager category, Aparna Karnik of DSP Mutual Fund was awarded Gold, while Rajasa K of Franklin Templeton received Silver. For Fund Manager of the Year – Debt, Gold went to Manish Banthia of ICICI Prudential MF, and Silver to Shobhit Mehrotra of HDFC MF. In the Fund Manager of the Year – Equity category, Rajeev Thakkar and Rukun Tarachandani of PPFAS MF jointly won Gold, with Amit Ganatra of Invesco MF winning Silver. Invesco Mutual Fund secured Gold as Best Hybrid Fund House, with Aditya Birla Sun Life MF earning Silver. For Best Debt Fund House, Gold went to SBI Mutual Fund, and Silver to both ICICI Prudential MF and Nippon India MF. In the Best Equity Fund House category, Motilal Oswal MF took Gold and HDFC MF received Silver. Lastly, in the prestigious CEO of the Year – Mutual Fund Industry category, Navneet Munot, MD & CEO of HDFC AMC Ltd., was awarded Gold, while Neil Parag Parikh, CEO of PPFAS MF, was honoured with Silver.
As India’s mutual fund industry prepares for its next phase—characterised by data-driven advisory and widespread financial inclusion—the Zee Business Mutual Fund Awards 2025 stood as a guiding light for investors and institutions alike. It was not merely an awards night, but a tribute to those building a more ethical, inclusive, and visionary financial India.
