The 24th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit featured influential voices discussing global shifts under the theme “New Rules. New Realities.” Director Imtiaz Ali said, “High parameter of success is a disadvantage in terms of nepotism.” Many leaders joined the event to examine forces reshaping how we live, lead, and work.
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HTLS 2026: Key faces, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata and former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, headlined the 24th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.
HTLS 2026: The updates to this live blog have ended. Geopolitics, economics, health, artificial intelligence and showbiz are among the key themes on the agenda at the 24th edition of the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. Themed “New Rules. New Realities”, HTLS 2026 brings together influential voices to examine the forces reshaping how we live, lead and shape the future....Read More
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar kicked off the HT Leadership Summit with remarks about the changing world order, artificial intelligence, the India-US trade deal and the West Asia conflicts. In a key remark, he said, “There is a difference between foreign policy and social media.”
The second session featured Economist and Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, who said that China’s growth has closed the gap with the United States. He also spoke about trade deals and said that an agreement with US President Donald Trump is not worth the paper it is written on. Stiglitz further mentioned the artificial intelligence (AI) bubble and how its advertising is very dangerous.
Stuart Russell, Director, Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence, and Professor, UC Berkeley, in a conversation with Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV Partners, described AI and artificial general intelligence (AGI).
In the next session, Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata said that consumption has skyrocketed in the past decade.
In the following session, Dr Steven E. Koonin, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, spoke about climate change and decarbonisation. He said that India should meet its energy needs “in the most convenient way that it can” and worry about decarbonisation only once it is richer.
Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav, in conversation with HT National Political Editor Sunetra Choudhury, said that if the rule changes, reality will also change in Uttar Pradesh. He also mentioned SP’s seat-sharing figures with Congress, saying that the latter has sought to contest 181 seats.
Former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in the next session, reacted to the US midterm election results and said that he didn’t see the result coming. He termed the shift in numbers ‘extraordinary’. He also highlighted the importance of the India-US relationship.
Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, DPhil, Co-Founder and CEO of Manas AI, spoke about how far humans understand life, how the rush to AI risks starving basic science in the US and India, where the line on gene editing should be drawn, and why science depends on agreeing on what words mean. He also spoke about cancer cures and artificial intelligence in the medical field.
Lastly, film director Imtiaz Ali and actor Ananya Panday spoke about audiences' pattern of watching films, genres in filmmaking, Gen Zs' definition of success, nepotism and their motto for life.
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Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2026 | A recap
The 24th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit featured several key speakers who explored topics ranging from artificial intelligence and the US midterm election results to patterns in cinema and climate change, among other topics.
Here's a quick recap of the HT Leadership Summit 2026:
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke about the changing world order, the India-US trade deal being in its final stretch, and the West Asia conflicts. One of his key remarks was that "there is a difference between foreign policy and social media."
Economist and Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, in his session, spoke about the larger economies and the fiscal cliff. He stated that China's growth has closed the gap with the US. Stiglitz also said that advertising of AI is very dangerous.
In the third session, Stuart Russell, Director, Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence, and Professor, UC Berkeley, described artificial intelligence and artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Tata Trusts Chairman Noel N Tata spoke about how consumption has skyrocketed in the past decade and how he feels in his new role.
In the following session, Dr Steven E. Koonin, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, spoke about climate change and decarbonisation.
Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav, in conversation with HT National Political Editor Sunetra Choudhury, spoke about the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections 2027 and his party's seat-sharing formula with the Congress. He said that the Congress has sought to contest 181 seats in the polls.
In the next session, former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he didn't see the midterm election results coming, adding that the shift in numbers is extraordinary. He also stated that Washington's ties with India and Pakistan are fundamentally different. He called India a "global force."
Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, DPhil, Co-Founder and CEO of Manas AI, spoke about how far humans understand life, how the rush to AI risks starving basic science in the US and India, where the line on gene editing should be drawn, and why science depends on agreeing on what words mean. He also spoke about cancer cures and artificial intelligence in medicine.
In the final session of HTLS 2026, film director Imtiaz Ali and actor Ananya Panday spoke about audiences' film-watching patterns, short attention spans, painful love stories, Gen Zs' definition of success, and their own mottos for life.
That's a wrap on Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2026
With this, the 24th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2026 comes to a close. The updates to this live blog have ended.
My motto for life will be YOLO, says Ananya Panday
Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, actor Ananya Panday said, “At the risk of sounding very Gen Z, I would say my motto for life would be YOLO: you only live once. We should experience everything and be more present in our day-to-day life."
Life is about people, says Imtiaz Ali at HTLS 2026
When asked about his take on life, film director Imtiaz Ali, at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, said that life is about people, adding that it is sometimes good to be irrational.
We should never lose moderation, says Imtiaz Ali
During a rapid-fire session at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, film director Imtiaz Ali said that we should never lose moderation. "Understanding other people's point of view and taking their moderation, we should never forget that," he added.
I'm a greedy actor, I love everything, says Ananya Panday on her favourite roles
Actor Ananya Panday, when asked about her favourite roles, called herself a "greedy actor."
"I am a greedy actor. I love everything. I love crying on screen; I find it extremely enjoyable. Maybe it's a Gen Z thing: we don't express our emotions much in real life, and we enjoy doing so on screen," Panday added.
Safety for actors is important, says Ananya Panday on Tiger Shroff shooting case
Actor Ananya Panday, on the Tiger Shroff shooting case, cited the importance of safety for actors and everyone else.
"It is very scary and extremely unfortunate. It makes people lax about safety. A huge number of people also gather at events, so it is a matter of public safety, not just the actor's. I would not want to stop interacting with people. I don't want that connection to go away. So, safety for actors and everyone else is important," she added.
Genre of a film is ultimately decided by audience, says Imtiaz Ali
Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, Imtiaz Ali said that a film's genre is ultimately decided by the audience.
He said he can't ask an actor not to be themselves. "I was working with Shah Rukh Khan on a film and was told not to make him play a typical Shah Rukh Khan character. But how do I do that? If I go and tell an actor not to be Shah Rukh Khan, how will they process that? I'll definitely take the money, make the movie I want to make and convince everyone that it belongs to a different genre. Ultimately, the genre of a film is decided by the audience," he added.
Imtiaz Ali cites one 'disadvantage' of nepotism, says actors have to be ‘almost psychotic about their work’
Film director Imtiaz Ali, speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, said that one disadvantage of nepotism is that such actors have a high standard of success.
Referring to Ananya Panday, he said that she has examples of success within her own family, people who have been extremely successful.
"At the same time, she (Ananya Panday) knows very well that there are an equal number of people in the film industry who haven't succeeded. She has to do a good job to succeed, and nothing her father does will help her achieve that. They know they have to work hard because they have seen how hard their parents work. People don't understand how hard actors have to work. They have to be almost psychotic about their work, especially the girls," he added.
Imtiaz Ali is an example of balance between male and female characters, says Ananya Panday
Actor Ananya Panday, speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, said that the beauty of the film industry is reflected in films like Lokah, Kahaani, and Piku -- all of which are female-centric.
"Imtiaz sir is an example of the balance he has created between male and female characters. There would be no Rockstar without Heer. In Drishyam, which is typically a male-dominated film, you cannot imagine it without Tabu or the other female characters. So, it is not about screen time but about what you bring to the screen," she added.
Don't want any negative connotations attached to my association with Chunky Panday, says Ananya Panday
Speaking about her father, actor Chunky Panday, at the HT Leadership Summit, Ananya Panday said that there is no point in not acknowledging her relationship.
"I never want to distance myself from being associated with Chunky Panday, nor do I want any negative connotations attached to it. Coming from a film family, it is easier; it can be daunting for people who don't have that background, so it can be easier for someone who does. But once you start working, you have to put in the work," she said.
Gen Zs approach to success is different, says Ananya Panday
Actor Ananya Panday, speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, said that for the older generation, there was only one way to work: "Push yourself too hard."
"Gen Z is a little different. I thrive in chaos. I like working as hard as I can for as long as I can. The way we approach success and our definition of it are different. There are people who may not want to work that hard but are equally successful," Panday added.
Younger generation is the most dedicated, says Imtiaz Ali at HTLS 2026
Film director and writer Imtiaz Ali said that all generations are experiencing shorter attention spans.
"I feel younger people are more used to this because her (Ananya Panday's) generation was born after the internet became widespread. They are accustomed to it, whereas we had to adapt to it. They can navigate this world much better. We keep talking about the younger generation being distracted, but younger actors are among the most dedicated. I don't see them getting distracted by anything. Getting them to commit to long-term work is easier than it is with older generations," he added.
Main Vapas Aaunga wasn't a risky film, says Imtiaz Ali at HTLS 2026
Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, Imtiaz Ali said that his film Main Vapas Aaunga is a story of human emotions.
"I met an elderly woman and a man who went through that, and I wanted to make this film. I never thought it could be controversial to anyone; it wasn't a risky film," he added.
Painful love stories are Gen Zs' 'thing', says film director Imtiaz Ali
Film director Imtiaz Ali, at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, said that Gen Zs will relate to a painful love story.
"Painful love stories are their (Gen Z's) thing. Some of them miss it, while others miss what they see in films. It has become evident that the previous generation had the opportunity to experience all of that in real life," he added.
Imtiaz Ali talks about how Kareena Kapoor's character would be portrayed if Jab We Met was made today
Regarding how Kareena Kapoor's character would be portrayed in Jab We Met if the film were made today, director Imtiaz Ali said it might be "exactly the same."
"It is very difficult to capture modern relationships in a cinematic manner. If we look at Hollywood films, many are set in the past, with most of them being period films. The reason is that if a person is sitting at a laptop or messaging on a phone, it does not translate into anything particularly cinematic. If she (Geet - Kareena's character) were a media influencer, she would be sitting on a couch, looking at her phone. We want to show people interesting things," he said.
Actor Ananya Panday says box office, and trailer numbers not a healthy trend
Actor Ananya Panday, speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, said that box office numbers and viewing figures on movie trailers, etc., are not a healthy trend.
"I don't think this is a healthy trend for anyone because we are also pushing out these numbers. People are also posting about how much a film opened to. You are creating a different conversation. Only the producers who benefit from these numbers should be discussing them," she added.
Film director Imtiaz Ali on audience's watching pattern
Film director Imtiaz Ali, at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, said that there is no pattern in audiences' content consumption.
"The audience is not telling us, 'Hey, this is the pattern in which I would like to watch films." If you ask an audience member, they will simply say, "If it's a good film, we'll watch it." As simple as that," Imtiaz Ali said.
He further said, "It is also so unquantifiable that people have had to struggle to ask for more screens and more shows. So it does become difficult for a small film to even get screen time and the kind of screens they are hoping for."
I feel positive that all kinds of films are working, says Ananya Panday at HTLS 2026
Actor Ananya Panday, speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, said she feels reassured that all kinds of films are working.
"Lokah and Main Vapas Aaunga are such beautiful films. I am feeling very positive. As actors and directors, we are not following a recipe. We really don't know what will work; we are making films from the heart," Panday said.
People's attention spans have changed, and so has the way stories are told, says Ananya Panday
Actor Ananya Panday, at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, agreed with film director Imtiaz Ali that people look for patterns in cinema.
"People’s attention spans have changed, and so has the way stories are told. But the crux remains the same: the chase for emotions. The way we present cinema may have changed," she added.
Sometimes randomness works, says Imtiaz Ali at HTLS 2026
Film director and writer Imtiaz Ali, speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, said that the world is in a delicious phase where nothing is working.
"People are saying nothing long is working, but people are citing Dhurandhar as an example of what is working. Look at the duration of that film," he said.
Next up is film director Imtiaz Ali and actor Ananya Panday
Next up at HT Leadership Summit is film director and writer Imtiaz Ali and actor Ananya Panday, in conversation with Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor, Entertainment and Lifestyle, Hindustan Times.
Can cancer be cured now? Here's what Manas AI CEO Siddhartha Mukherjee said
Asked if cancer is no longer a challenge as earlier given advances in immunotherapy, in genetic sequencing, and advances in AI and whether we can say that we can for sure cure it, Manas AI CEO Siddhartha Mukherjee said, “We can say for sure we can't cure it.”
“That I'm pretty sure about at least in the near future. I think every cancer is different. We have made remarkable progress against, for instance, breast cancer, leukemias, lymphomas,” he said.
“…But other cancers, pancreatic cancer in India, several cancers of the intestinal tract, the stomach, etc. are really quite endemic. And I'm not sure that we can clearly foresee a cure for those in the near future,” the Manas AI CEO said.
“Some of these are being really attacked. Finally, the KRAS drug that I showed you, that pocket that took 10 years was a huge breakthrough for pancreatic cancer and for other cancers. But the idea that we will ever cure every cancer in sort of one fell swoop I think is just a mistaken idea,” Mukherjee said.
'Bibo is a big problem in medicine': Siddhartha Mukherjee on ‘biases’
On being asked about the sheer computing power due to AI and if there is a way to really change this, Manas AI CEO Siddhartha Mukherjee said, “The quick answer is yes, of course, there is a radical way to change it. The deeper question is whether it should be changed or not.”
“Medicine, as you know, has led the charge, I think more than any other science in the world, in illuminating human biases,” Manas AI CEO at the HT Leadership Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Saturday.
“…Human beings are deeply biased. In fact, we are so biased that medicine had to invent a mechanism called the randomised, blinded clinical trial, essentially to overcome human bias. It was invented by medicine and has since been adopted by fields such as economics and other sciences. But the reason it was developed was simple: human beings are biased. We want to see our medicines succeed,” Mukherjee said.
“In principle, therefore, there are ways to speed up clinical trials by using synthetic controls. In other words, you give the medicine to patients and use historical data or simulated data as a comparator,” he said.
“My general warning, however, is that people often talk about 'garbage in, garbage out'. In AI, we use the term ‘Bibo’ – bias in, bias out. And Bibo is a big problem in medicine,” he added.