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Radhika Roy Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth7 May 1949

Age74 Years (as of 2023)

BirthplaceCalcutta, India

ProfessionJournalist

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpousePrannoy Roy

FamilyDaughter - Tara Roy; Parents - Sooraj Lal Das and Oshrukona Mitra; Sister - Brinda Karat

Radhika Roy Biography

Radhika Roy is an Indian journalist and one of the founders of New Delhi Television (NDTV). Known for shaping NDTV’s editorial standards and running much —

Early life and background
Radhika Roy was born Radhika Das on 7 May 1949 in Calcutta, India. She completed her early schooling at Welham Girls’ boarding school in Dehradun and went on to study English literature at Miranda House, University of Delhi. Her education included specialised training abroad: she qualified as a speech pathologist at the Oldrey Fleming School in London, earned a degree in broadcast journalism from The New School for Social Research in New York, and completed a television production course at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Career
Radhika Roy began her journalism career working on the editor’s desk at The Indian Express and later served as a news coordinator at India Today. In 1984 she established New Delhi Television (NDTV); while both she and her husband, Prannoy Roy, are commonly referred to as NDTV’s founders, the available record indicates Radhika initiated the company and Prannoy joined subsequently.

Under her leadership, NDTV evolved from a production house supplying content to Doordarshan into a pioneering independent news broadcaster. Radhika handled editorial and backend responsibilities and promoted strong standards of editorial integrity, including a legally binding code of conduct for the organisation. She also served as NDTV’s managing director from 1998 until 2011 and worked as the company’s chief executive producer.

Between 1998 and 2003 NDTV partnered with Star India to launch a 24x7 news service; NDTV provided editorial and production services while Star managed the infrastructure. After the partnership ended in 2003, NDTV launched its own channels, NDTV 24x7 and NDTV India, and the company went public in May 2004.

Recognition and industry standing
Radhika Roy and Prannoy Roy received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Information, Communication and Entertainment in 2003. In 2007 she was included among fifty notable women in the history of television and radio broadcasting by the Paley Center for Media. Fortune India has listed her among the country’s most powerful businesswomen, highlighting her resilience in difficult times.

Challenges and regulatory matters
NDTV faced sustained pressures and legal challenges in the years following political changes at the national level; these developments included attempts to restrict broadcasting and law enforcement actions that involved raids. Ownership and financial issues also drew scrutiny: reporting has documented loan arrangements for NDTV during periods of financial strain and analyses of shareholdings showing Radhika and her husband holding significant stakes directly and through a holding company. In 2019 the Securities and Exchange Board of India issued an order barring Radhika Roy and Prannoy Roy from holding certain board positions for two years, a decision they appealed. In 2020 SEBI imposed a monetary penalty, which was later challenged in India’s courts; the Supreme Court granted relief by modifying certain deposit requirements pending further proceedings.

Public profile
Radhika Roy is known for being reserved and keeping a low public profile. Colleagues and executives have described her as the driving ethical force behind NDTV’s operations, handling editorial strategy while her husband often served as the broadcaster’s public face. She has been associated with workplace initiatives that reflected concern for staff welfare.

Latest updates
Radhika Roy remained involved in NDTV’s corporate affairs through the 2010s and into the early 2020s. On 29 November 2022 she and her husband resigned as directors of RRPR Holding Private Limited following an open offer to acquire New Delhi Television Limited. Reporting on shareholdings and corporate changes around that period documented shifts in ownership and continued legal and regulatory engagement involving the Roys and NDTV.

Personal life
Radhika married Prannoy Roy in 1972 after meeting him as a young student; they studied overseas for higher education and later settled in India. The couple have a daughter, Tara Roy. Her parents were Sooraj Lal Das, an engineer, and Oshrukona Mitra. Radhika’s sister is Brinda Karat, who is active in politics.

Physical details
Publicly available biographical notes describe her eye and hair colour as black and list her zodiac sign as Taurus.
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Recent Work

Resignation from RRPR Holding Private Limited directorship

On 29 November 2022 Radhika Roy resigned as a director of RRPR Holding Private Limited amid an open offer to acquire NDTV.

2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Founded New Delhi Television (NDTV) in 1984
  2. Managing Director of NDTV (1998–2011)
  3. Co-laureate of the 2003 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Information, Communication and Entertainment
  4. Named among fifty notable women in broadcasting by the Paley Center for Media in 2007
  5. Listed by Fortune India among the country’s most powerful businesswomen
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Radhika Roy born?

7 May 1949

What is Radhika Roy known for?

Journalist

What is Radhika Roy’s marital status?

Married

Who is Radhika Roy married to?

Prannoy Roy