For more than 100 weeks, Syed Suhail has led 9 pm prime time. The undisputed No. 1 anchor in Hindi news. And there is a reason.
In a space where prime-time leadership is fiercely contested, with star anchors in the ring, he has delivered consistent dominance through consistency and clarity. His show has not only led its slot but has been the most-watched broadcast in Hindi prime time. Each week, an average of nearly 19 million viewers tune in and they stay with him longer than with any other anchor at 9 pm. In a medium where both reach and retention are hard to secure, Suhail has turned leadership into a habit. He now joins NDTV India as Senior Executive Editor & Prime-Time Anchor.
When he stepped into journalism nineteen years ago, it was never half-hearted. At Jain TV, he discovered that only full immersion yields results, and at a small regional channel, he learnt lessons in humility and persistence. At P7 News and later at News Nation, he mastered the art of telling stories that matter to India. At News24, he sharpened his ability to connect with viewers on issues that resonate deeply with the nation. Those years of trial and error shaped his ease, and slowly, his command. By the time he moved to Republic Bharat, he was ready to redefine the 9 pm slot. And own it.
What has kept him ahead of the curve is not just the numbers but his instinctive India-first approach to journalism. For Suhail, news is about India and her people before anything else – an instinct that will now shape his show at NDTV India. He listens to a security guard in a housing colony with the same attentiveness as he speaks to a minister in Delhi. His 100-day journey across 45 districts of Uttar Pradesh was an immersion in India’s realities. It was on that journey that he visited an orphanage, an experience that reshaped his mission to speak for the underprivileged. Each of these episodes reflects his core belief – journalism must keep the ordinary citizen at the centre, and the country’s interests above all.
Suhail reviews every show personally, is a firm believer in the power of visuals, and ensures that content is always the star. His shows are built to make the news felt, and to keep citizens’ concerns at the forefront. That honesty has made him the most-watched and most-consistent face of Hindi prime time for over three years.
On joining NDTV India, Suhail said: ‘From the start of my career, I have admired NDTV for its credibility and its ‘viewer-first’ approach. To be part of this network is not just a professional honour – it is a responsibility to remain true to the common man and to tell their stories simply, honestly, and with commitment.’
Rahul Kanwal, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, NDTV, said: ‘Suhail is one of Hindi television’s most trusted prime-time voices. He brings not just ratings leadership but also credibility and an instinctive connection with viewers. We are delighted to welcome him to NDTV India as we strengthen our promise of meaningful, people-first journalism for a new India.’
Syed Suhail’s story has been one of persistence, and numbers that speak louder than words. His arrival at NDTV India is not just the continuation of a successful career, but the renewal of a promise – that the story of India will always be told with clarity, with honesty, and always with India first.