Yasser Usman is an acclaimed Indian TV journalist-anchor, a bestselling writer and India’s most loved film biographer.
He has worked for some leading news organizations in India and is currently working with the national news channel ABP News (formerly known as STAR News). He also hosts the digital show Cinema Uncut With Yasser Usman.
Yasser’s knack for storytelling shows his pulse on the Indian audience – both in his writing and tv shows. His shows on Cinema, Investigative stories and Culture have won many prestigious awards including the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.
He has also been a recipient of the Red Ink Award for journalism and NT Award (News Television Award) three years in a row. His brilliant non-fiction series on Forensic investigations won the Indian Telly Award.
His bestselling books on Bollywood stars Rajesh Khanna and Rekha were shortlisted for the famous Crossword Award,
Personal Life:
Yasser Usman was born in Moradabad city (U.P) to M.Usman, a college principal and Haseeba Khanam, a philanthropist. He completed his schooling in various cities of U.P before landing in Delhi for his college in the University of Delhi. A science graduate from Ramjas College, he topped his M.Sc (Master of Science) in Environmental Studies.
Yasser is a Gold Medalist from the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) inNew Delhi where he was trained as a Radio and TV journalist.
He is married to the famous writer, columnist and communication professional Nazia Erum.
Career:
After passing out from IIMC New Delhi, Yasser started her television career with the famous television company B.A.G Films and produced many acclaimed TV shows and documentaries including the successful crime show Red Alert.
He later joined the creative programming team of Channel 7 (IBN7) and
produced India’s first reality sports show: ‘SPEEDSTER’ hosted by renowned cricketers Wasim Akram and Ajay Jadeja.
Yasser was the host of a weekly film review show Premier 7. He wrote and directed the Investigative Show called ‘RAAZ- forensic files se’, a weekly dramatic representation of landmark forensic investigations in India.
After IBN7, he worked with the famous journalist Anirudh Bahl on his investigative show Benaqab (Star News) and later was the creative consultant on the funny talk show The Tony B Show on Channel V (2006)
Usman joined the top news channel of India Star News in 2007 and is an important part of its non-fiction programming team. As a senior professional in the non-fiction programs division of ABP News he planned and conceptualized popular content and shows for the channel. He directed documentaries on wide range of topics including 9/11 (102 minutes-from Ground Zero, New York) 26/11, Sports, Films, Biographies of political as well as film personalities.
Some of his successful shows are: Benaqaab, Poll Khol, Mera Naam Joker, Love Story, Jaane Bhi Do, Second Opinion (writer), Reality Shows: STAR ANCHOR HUNT (As Executive Producer-Creatives), Cricket, Camera Action (On IPL); Gangajal (Investigative feature on Ganga Pollution), Biographies of political as well as film personalities ; Automobile Review Show: Anchored and produced Top Speed.
As a Film Journalist:
As a TV anchor and film writer, Yasser has hosted news bulletins as well interviewed numerous stars and newsmakers of Bollywood. He has been a film critic and commentator and has been published in major newspapers in India and abroad including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, The Hindu, Khaleej Times, Dawn, Mumbai Mirror, Mid Day, Patrika, Dainik Hindustan, Tehelka, Outlook. The Sunday Guardian and the Hindustan Times.
He hosts a digital film show called Cinema Uncut with Yasser Usmanon ABP Network.He was the founder editor leading the launch team of the Bollywood website www.FilmyMonkey.com which became one of the top Film entertainment websites within a year of its launch (2016)
Working in the television news industry, Yasser has donned many hats including anchoring, conceptualization, scripting & production/direction of Non-Fiction & News-Based daily & weekly shows covering a wide range of genres.
As an Author
He is the author of the bestselling books—
- Rajesh Khanna: The Untold Story of India’s First Superstar (Shortlisted for the Crossword Award, Best popular biography, 2015) : Published by Penguin Random House
- Rekha: The Untold Story (Shortlisted for the Crossword Award, Best popular biography, 2017) Published by Juggernaut
- Sanjay Dutt: The Crazy Untold Story of Bollywood’s Bad Boy. (2018) Published by Juggernaut
- Guru Dutt: An Unfinished Story (2020) Published by Simon & Schuster
As a celebrated biographer, Yasser and his books have been covered extensively in major publications in India and abroad.
He has also written on Cinema for many publications including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, The Hindu, Mumbai Mirror, Mid Day, Patrika, Dainik Hindustan, Tehelka, Network 18, Asian Age, Deccan Chronicle.
Awards and Honors:
Yasser’s knack for storytelling shows his pulse on the Indian audience – both in his writing and tv shows. His shows based on Cinema, Investigative stories and Culture have won many prestigious awards including the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism. He has also been a recipient of the Red Ink Award for journalism and NT Award (News Television Award) three years in a row. His brilliant non-fiction series on Forensic investigations won the Indian Telly Award.
His bestselling books on Bollywood stars Rajesh Khanna and Rekha were shortlisted for the acclaimed Crossword Award.
