GECs
Balaji Films returns to DD as Jeetendra appreciates its marketing and growth
NEW DELHI: Television entrepreneur Ekta Kapoor, who commenced her career with Itihaas on Doordarshan, is back on the national broadcaster with a family-oriented love story.
Pavitra Bandhan – Do dilon ka will be telecast from Mondays to Fridays commencing from 9 September at 8:30 pm.
Balaji Films chairman and renowned actor Jeetendra recalled at a press meet here how the pubcaster had given him support when he and his daughter Ekta first launched their programmes. He said that DD was a king at one time as it was the only one in the race, but it has gradually re-emerged as a major player with this new marketing policies and increasing revenues. ‘The king is content, and not stars, and DD banks on content’, he said.
Pavitra Bandhan is a journey of two strangers Aashima and Girish, who are completely opposite to each other by nature but are destined to meet. But their priorities do not change when they meet and their main concerns remain their respective families.
Deputy Director General Raj Shekhar Vyas, currently in charge of the primary channel DD I, said Ekta had commenced on DD Metro with Itihaas, but had now come on the primary channel. He claimed that the viewership of DD National was now the largest in the world with 1.25 crore viewers.
He said that the channel had acquired world rights of Pavitra Bandhan and it had also been decided that 60 per cent of the revenue from commercials will come to Doordarshan, the balance going to Balaji Films.
Vyas added that DD had now gone on a marketing binge and was also advertising in the print media and through hoardings. A sum of Rs 2 crore had gone to newspapers in recent months on advertising.
V K Jain who is in charge of public relations in Doordarshan said that DD will soon launch cross-channel publicity, and already had over 2,000 hoarding sites in different parts of the country.
Yash Tonk, who plays the male lead, said that he found working in films and television equally challenging. However, he admitted that he had a greater name in TV.
Hritu Dudhani who plays the female lead said she had also acted as a police officer in an early serial on Doordarshan, and acted in Bandhini with Balaji Films.
Others in the cast are Yamini Thakur, Shabnam Sayeed, Shailley Kaushik, Munni Jha, Shalini Arora, and Rajat Dahiya.
Mallika Dutt who has written the story and screenplay denied that Balaji series appeared to go on and on and said this series will only last as long as the viewers want it.
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.
