Mumbai: Comic Con India, the country’s flagship celebration of pop culture, has announced a leadership transition with Shefali Johnson appointed as Chief Executive Officer, marking a pivotal step in the brand’s expansion strategy. The announcement follows a successful year under NODWIN Gaming, which acquired Comic Con India in January 2024 at a valuation of ₹55 crore.
Johnson takes over from founders Jatin Varma, Karan Kalra, and Event Director Sonal Varma, who will now move into advisory roles. The founding team, credited with building Comic Con India into a national cultural phenomenon, will continue to contribute creatively and strategically as the brand enters a new phase.
Shefali Johnson, a key member of NODWIN Gaming’s core leadership, has previously led major IPs like DreamHack India, BGMS, and the Cosplay vertical, bringing a deep understanding of fan engagement, large-scale event execution, and cultural storytelling.
Shefali Johnson, the newly appointed CEO of Comic Con India, added, “Stepping into this role is both a privilege and a responsibility. Jatin, Karan and Sonal have built something truly iconic, and I’m honoured to carry their vision forward. Comic Con India, at its core, has always been about uniting fans, creators, and brands in an immersive way, and that will never change. What will evolve is the scale — we plan to grow this platform into newer cities, introduce newer formats, and create experiences that are more inclusive, dynamic, and reflective of India’s evolving pop culture identity. The road ahead is filled with possibilities, and we can’t wait to deliver even more unforgettable editions to our fans.”
The announcement comes after Comic Con India’s largest season yet, with new editions launched in Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Pune, alongside marquee events in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. The move underscores NODWIN Gaming’s larger goal of unifying comics, gaming, esports, and cosplay under a cohesive fan-first ecosystem.
Reflecting on the journey, Jatin Varma, Founder of Comic Con India, said, “Bringing Comic Con to India and watching it evolve into a cultural movement has been a lifetime honor. What began as a dream is now a vibrant platform for fans, creators, and brands across the country. Karan, Sonal, and I are incredibly proud of what we’ve built and we leave knowing that Comic Con India is in great hands with NODWIN Gaming. Shefali brings the perfect blend of vision, experience, and drive to take our labour of love to greater scale. We look forward to supporting her and the team in an advisory capacity as they shape the future of fandom in India across cities”
Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming said, “We’re incredibly excited to have Shefali step in as the new CEO of Comic Con India. She’s been a key part of the NODWIN journey and brings the right mix of leadership, vision, and passion to take Comic Con India into its next chapter. As the original core team moves into advisory roles, we’re staying true to our commitment of growing fan culture across the country. With Shefali at the helm, we’re looking forward to building on everything we’ve created so far—expanding our reach, deepening fan engagement, and continuing to celebrate the communities that make Comic Con what it is.”
Since its inception in 2011, Comic Con India has hosted legendary creators, blockbuster previews, cosplay championships, and exclusive merchandise launches, becoming the country’s go-to destination for fans of comics, anime, superheroes, and gaming. With Shefali Johnson at the helm and the continued support of the founding team, Comic Con India is set to reach new fandoms, expand into more cities, and deliver next-gen experiences for India’s ever-growing pop culture community.
