GECs
Doonya premieres on Zee TV Americas
MUMBAI: Zee Americas has added Doonya: The Bollywood Workout to its fall weekend schedule. The Doonya series premieres on 5 October 2013 on Zee TV, Zing and Zee Cinema in North America bringing dance and fitness (with a Bollywood twist!) to 800,000 homes.
Doonya’s founders – Priya Pandya and Kajal Desai – have created a program that takes Bollywood inspired movements and connects them to target muscle groups. Their clear and easy-to-follow instruction allows the audience to burn calories (up to 800 per hour) and build strength and stamina through cardio and conditioning workouts.
“We know south Asians love to dance,” says Desai, “but working out isn’t something our community is known for.”
“Diabetes, coronary artery disease and obesity are all issues plaguing our community right now. And it can be hard to combat these diseases when working out isn’t always fun,” adds Pandya.
“Doonya bridges that gap and provides a workout that is fun for the entire family! You’ll dance to songs you recognise using moves you already know, but will do them in a way that gives you results,” says Desai.
Pandya finishes, “Over the last seven years we’ve been teaching Doonya, we’ve seen our students’ bodies transform through our program. We are excited to share a program that is so rooted in our culture and upbringing with our community.”
Zee Americas GM Sameer Targe said, “Doonya is the first of its kind fitness program that is based on Bollywood dancing. We are very excited to partner with them as it coincides with our programming philosophy of “Entertainment with a Purpose”. A locally produced show was a natural move for us as it further strengthens our leadership position in the US.”
Zee subscribers would be able to catch Doonya’s workouts on Zee Cinema every Saturday at 9:30 am, Zee TV on Saturdays at 11:30 am, Zee TV Canada on Saturdays at 11:30 am and on Zing every Sunday at 11:00 am.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
