GECs
Akshay Kumar to host and mentor on Life OK’s ‘Dare 2 Dance’
NEW DELHI: After getting celebrities to do stunts in Khatron ke Khiladi, Bollywood’s daredevil actor Akshay Kumar is now going to find trained and famed dancers who will struggle to manage and survive on the dance floor.
Kumar will be the anchor and the mentor on the new dance show, ‘Dare 2 Dance’, which will air on Life OK from September, every weekend.
The reality programme will see the dancer perform in challenging venues rather than on a stage or a set. One would dance on a narrow wall or even under water. Kumar will first demonstrate the format to each contestant in the dance format with a commitment of a ‘first of its kind’ show.
Produced by SOL Productions, it is open to trained dancers from across the globe rather than just celebrities. There will no audience votes, and the elimination will be done in a unique form. He and two other personalities will form the jury. “Taking a cue from my son’s Sports Day function, I have decided that no participant will be eliminated after just one failure, but will be given another chance,” says Kumar.
Life OK general manager Ajit Thakur informs that around 30 per cent of the budget of the series will be spent on marketing. Since there will be several foreign participants, apart from advertising on channels, newspaper, hoardings and radio announcements, the social media will be used heavily to reach the viewers overseas.
The contestants will be challenged to prove their mettle as ‘Extreme Dance Ke Heroes’ in a hope to rise above all odds. Thakur reveals that many had walked out of the show after being told of the challenges.
He adds, “Kumar has successfully managed to challenge the status quo with his constant need to push the envelope and move beyond the common. It was this need to challenge the norms and do something different that brought us together. ”
To provide the right kind of setting, the entire series of sixteen episodes will be shot in and around Cape Town in South Africa.
GECs
Sony PAL to air Sankat Mochan Hanuman from May 4 at 9 PM
Mythological series brings Lord Hanuman’s tale of devotion and courage back to TV
MUMBAI: Sony PAL is set to bring back the timeless mythological series Sankat Mochan Hanuman, with its premiere scheduled for May 4 at 9 PM. The show revisits the legendary journey of Lord Hanuman, offering viewers a chance to reconnect with one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures.
Centred on themes of devotion, courage and righteousness, the series traces Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Ram and his fearless stand against evil. With its mix of dramatic storytelling and visually rich sequences, the show aims to deliver both entertainment and spiritual resonance, appealing to audiences across age groups.
The narrative unfolds as a larger-than-life saga, positioning Hanuman as the ultimate protector and a symbol of strength and selfless service. His journey, rooted in faith and duty, continues to strike a chord with viewers, making the series as relevant today as ever.
The cast features Gagan Malik as Lord Ram, Debalina Chatterjee as Sita, Nirbhay Wadhwa in the titular role, and Saurav Gurjar as Raavan. Their performances bring depth and authenticity to characters deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.
With its return to television, the show is positioned as more than just a rerun. It taps into a renewed appetite for mythological storytelling, blending nostalgia with timeless values.
As audiences increasingly seek content that resonates beyond entertainment, ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman’ offers a familiar yet powerful narrative, reminding viewers that stories of faith and courage never really go out of style.
