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Marya Shakil, CNN - IBN: Profile, Husband, Family and Age








Marya Shakil is one of India’s most respected political journalists. With nearly two decades of experience, she has established herself as a sharp, insightful voice across television journalism, in‑depth reporting, and political analysis.

🧬 Early Life & Education

Born in Patna, Bihar, Marya inherited her political acumen from her father, Shakil Ahmad Khan, a veteran politician who served as a Bihar MLA and cabinet minister in Rabri Devi’s administration. He passed away in August 2012 (en.wikipedia.org).

Marya completed her MA in Mass Communication (2005) from AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, after which she interned with Times Group (Bennett Coleman & Co.) in 2004 (en.wikipedia.org).

📺 Career & Rise in Journalism

  • CNN‑IBN / CNN‑News18: Marya started her TV career in 2005 with Network18. Notable early work includes a documentary on the 2008 Bihar floods and The Muslim Manifesto ahead of the 2012 UP elections, which analyzed evolving identities and aspirations within Muslim voters (en.wikipedia.org).

  • Awards: She received the Ramnath Goenka Award twice for her political reporting—first in 2012 (UP elections) and again in 2014 for coverage of the Lok Sabha elections, including a documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi (en.wikipedia.org).

  • Chevening Fellowship: Awarded the prestigious Chevening South Asia Journalism Fellowship in 2016 (en.wikipedia.org).

  • NDTV: In June 2023, Marya left CNN‑News18 and joined NDTV as Executive Editor – National Affairs, anchoring flagship shows like News Epicentre and Reporters Project (ndtv.com). On NDTV, she continues to author incisive ground reports and political interviews, shaping public discourse on major national events (ndtv.com).

📰 Noteworthy Reporting & Recent Coverage

From early 2025, Marya has extensively covered key national topics:

  • Operation Sindoor and India‑Pakistan tensions post‑Pahalgam terror attacks, interviewing politicians such as Shashi Tharoor and Rajeev Chandrasekhar (muckrack.com, ndtv.com).

  • High‑stakes policy debates including voter list controversies in Bihar, and debates around Waqf bill amendments and education/institutional reforms (muckrack.com).

  • Interviews with heavyweight political figures like Chandrababu Naidu, Harish Salve, P. Chidambaram and others, offering context on Supreme Court cases, trade talk claims, and election-related controversies (ndtv.com).

Her reporting is widely syndicated and cited across NDTV’s digital platforms and major news outlets .

🔎 Recent Incident & Controversy

In June–July 2025, Marya’s broadcast came under attention due to an on‑air embarrassment: an NDTV field reporter, during Marya’s live segment, forgot to switch off their microphone and was overheard saying: “Pahle kahenge update do… update do… fir fake news” (“First they ask for an update… then call it fake news”) (instagram.com).

  • The clip went viral on Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook, with criticism of internal newsroom dynamics and editorial pressures.

  • While NDTV hasn’t issued a formal statement, viewers and media commentators debated issues of newsroom hierarchy, credibility, and the pressures of real‑time reporting.

As of July 5, 2025, this remains a fresh controversy—widely discussed in media circles but with no escalation toward Marya directly, more reflective of larger internal dynamics at NDTV.

👤 Personal Life & Background

  • Family: Marya is the daughter of former Bihar minister Shakil Ahmad Khan. She has two sisters.

  • Residence: Lives in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

  • Spouse: Married to Irfan Khan, who co‑founded BlogMint, an influencer marketing firm (instagram.com, en.wikipedia.org).

  • Other Interests: Known for acid‑sharp political insight, human‑interest storytelling, and travel across Hindi heartland. Passionate about documenting grassroots narratives and socio‑political change (jioinstitute.edu.in).

✍️ Awards & Recognition

Year/Period Honour
2012 Ramnath Goenka Award – Best Political Journalist (Broadcast)
2014 Ramnath Goenka Award – Politics & Govt. (Lok Sabha coverage)
2016 Chevening South Asia Journalism Fellowship
Multiple ENBA / News Television Awards (for NewsEpicentre show)
2021 Nominated – Best Current Affairs Presenter, Asian Television Awards (en.wikipedia.org)

📌 Top Interesting Facts

  1. Political pedigree: Daughter of a two‑time Bihar MLA and state cabinet minister.

  2. Double Ramnath Goenka winner: Recognised twice for excellence in broadcast political reporting.

  3. Trailblazer: One of the few prominent women journalists anchoring prime talk and political shows in Hindi and English.

  4. Chevening Fellow: Among only a few Indian journalists to receive the South Asia Journalism Fellowship.

  5. Left‑leaning put‑down, lived up: After a reporter called coverage “fake news” live on her show, her composure and credibility only strengthened public support and curiosity.

❓ FAQs

Q1. Who is Marya Shakil married to?
She is married to Irfan Khan, co‑founder of influencer marketing platform BlogMint. They live in Noida and have one child (jioinstitute.edu.in).

Q2. Which shows does she anchor?
At NDTV, she hosts News Epicentre and Reporters Project, and oversees political and national reportage as Executive Editor – National Affairs (en.wikipedia.org).

Q3. What led to the controversy recently?
A field reporter on live air, during Marya’s segment, forgot the mic was on and criticized editorial directives, saying “update do… then fake news”, sparking debate about newsroom pressures and credibility (facebook.com).

Q4. What awards has Marya received?
She has won the Ramnath Goenka Award twice (2012, 2014), is a Chevening Fellow (2016), and received nominations and industry awards including ENBA and Asian Television Awards (en.wikipedia.org).

Q5. Where did she study journalism?
She graduated from AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia (2005), after internships at Times Group. She also held a Chevening Fellowship in 2016 (en.wikipedia.org).

Q6. What makes her editorial style distinctive?
Marya blends ground reporting from rural and political battlegrounds with insightful, human-centred storytelling, often translating complex political events into accessible narratives.

✨ Why She Matters

Marya Shakil remains a powerful force in Indian media—a journalist who transcends “studio anchoring” by reporting from the ground, asking tough questions of political power, and curating reflective, diverse conversation. Her dual awards and fellowship credentials reflect both depth and craft. The recent mic incident, far from undermining her, shines a spotlight on editorial ethics and transparency in live newsrooms—issues she navigates with measured professionalism.

🧭 Final Thoughts

Marya Shakil’s career arc—from a passionate Jamia Mass‑Comm student to national affairs editor at NDTV—speaks to her consistency, sharp political acuity, and storytelling clarity. Even as controversies swirl, her credibility endures, built on award‑winning work and commitment to factual, investigative, and balanced journalism.

Whether you are profiling women in media leadership, searching for examples of good political journalism in India, or just exploring credible anchors, Marya Shakil stands out as a figure worth profiling—thoughtful, rigorous, and fiercely professional.


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