GECs
Jodha Akbar completes 500 episodes
MUMBAI: Zee TV’s historical magnum opus Jodha Akbar completes a glorious run of 500 episodes and the entire Mughal empire was seen rejoicing and celebrating this milestone on the sets of the show. The show began with a ruthless Mughal emperor Akbar (played by Rajat Tokas) marrying a Rajput princess – Jodha Bai (played by Paridhi Sharma) and traced the journey of how Jodha, with her power of love and humane qualities, softens the hrd edges of the Mughal emperor’s fierce personality. It has followed how two strikingly different personalities fall in love eventually. The show currently focuses on their journey as parents of the adolescent Salim and his iconic love story with courtesan Anarkali and the evil forces trying to work against Emperor Akbar.
The cast and crew of the show called in for a grand celebration on the sets. A cake cutting ceremony followed by a lot of cake smashing saw the actors along with the crew of the show having a blast. It looked like young Salim, played by actor Ravi Bhatia was the favourite prey for all the smashing.
Ruling the hearts of its audiences, the show is one of the most loved costume dramas currently on Indian Television and has been running for over a year now.. With fans in India and abroad, the show has paved its way into the hearts of millions of fans all over the globe, making actors Paridhi Sharma (Jodha) and Rajat Tokas (Akbar) household names.
Sharing her excitement Paridhi said, “”It feels great to have completed 500 Episodes! It requires a lot of hard work, endurance and Jodha Akbar is a unique show with requirements quite different and sometimes trickier than your usual shows. But the show has managed to strike a chord with the audiences since it’s beginning and we all are very happy that we have reached this milestone. I am really grateful to all our fans for showering us with so much love. It’s been a beautiful journey and I hope we celebrate many more such milestones!”
With its gripping storyline, the show has managed to hold the interest of its audience right since its launch. The show will now see the entry of the devious Laaboni (played by Melanie Pais), who with her black magic on Akbar will enter the Mughal palace to wreak havoc in their lives.
GECs
‘I wasn’t enjoying it’: Why ex-Colors CEO Raj Nayak quit at his peak
Former TV and media executive says happiness, not hierarchy, defines leadership
MUMBAI: Former television executive Raj Nayak, once among the most powerful figures in Indian broadcasting, has offered a candid reflection on leadership, ambition and the decision to step away at the height of his career.
Speaking on the ThinkRight Podcast, Nayak dismissed corporate titles as hollow constructs, arguing that designations are often mistaken for identity. Leadership, he said, has little to do with hierarchy and everything to do with character.
Despite holding senior roles across Star TV, NDTV and Colors, Nayak described his career as largely unplanned. He said progress came not from strategy but from effort, adding that his only constant was giving each role his full commitment.
One of the most formative moments, he recalled, came in 2001 when he quit his job and spent nine months fighting a non-compete case in the Mumbai High Court. The sudden loss of structure and support, he said, exposed how dependent he had become on corporate machinery.
That period also shaped his public persona. The nickname “Raj Cheerful”, later adopted across social media, became a defining trait within the industry, with actors such as Hrithik Roshan embracing it as part of his identity. Over time, Nayak said, the label evolved from an affectation into a lived philosophy.
Nayak also addressed his decision to leave his role at the peak of his influence, a move he described as deeply counter-cultural in corporate India. From the outside, he said, everything appeared perfect. Internally, it was not. After months of unease, a conversation with his family proved decisive, pushing him to act on values he often spoke about publicly.
“People don’t quit jobs at their peak… I was doing everything perfect… but I knew I was not enjoying it,” he added.
Reflecting on success, Nayak argued that power and visibility offer no assurance of fulfilment. Happiness, he said, is a more reliable measure. Overcoming fear and greed, he added, remains the hardest test of leadership and of life.
