Kids
Hungama TV kicks off auditions for ‘John Aur Kaun?’
MUMBAI: Hungama TV is all set to make a splash this monsoon with the auditions of John aur Kaun (JAK) – its talent hunt for kids that will kick-start in Mumbai on 29 July.
In the first round of Oral-B JAK auditions, 50 kids will be short-listed from the applicants on 29t July in Mumbai.
In the second round on 30 July, final eight will be selected from Mumbai. There will also be ‘on-the-spot‘ auditions for those who missed out on sending their entry from 9 am to 12 noon, on a first come first serve basis on 29 July.
The Oral-B JAK auditions will travel across five cities to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad over 58 days, with the similar selection process and will culminate in August. The most talented eight contenders per city will be flown to Mumbai for the final rounds.
The auditions will be aired on Hungama TV where kids will be seen displaying their singing, acting and dancing talents.
The selected talent pool will be further groomed by industry professionals at every step of the contest. By a process of elimination, the final four candidates will be put up for a nationwide voting process via SMS / televoting, following which the final two winners will be announced at an event in Mumbai.
Finally, one boy and one girl will be chosen to act in a UTV-produced movie with Hungama TV‘s brand ambassador John Abraham and will also be presented with a cash prize of Rs 500,000 each, along with a three year contract with UTV to manage their acting careers.
Hungama TV COO Zarina Mehta says, ‘‘We are delighted to be moving into the auditions phase of Oral B John aur Kaun. We look forward to encountering some hugely talented kids, two of whom will get the chance of a lifetime to act with John in a UTV film. Excitement levels amongst kids around the country are at fever pitch, so let the show begin!”
Oral-B JAK has received an overwhelming response and UTV has announced a refund of Rs 400 to those who have applied and paid an entry fee of Rs 500.
For spot auditions, kids needs to go to the audition center with their parent/guardian and pay Rs 100 as an entry fee. UTV will get their entry forms filled and photographs taken and take the audition.
Kids
Mukta Arts and Green Gold ink MOU to animate iconic film IPs
Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan to spawn animated shows plus features.
MUMBAI: When classic hindi movie meets animation, the result is a fresh reel of nostalgia with a cartoon twist. Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on animated shows and feature films drawn from Mukta Arts’ four-decade treasure trove of iconic IPs. The partnership taps Mukta’s SGM Animation Studio launched in 2025 as its dedicated animation and games arm and Green Gold’s proven track record in building scalable, homegrown franchises. Creative teams from both sides have already kicked off discussions, with the first project currently in development.
The slate will draw inspiration from landmark Mukta films including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar and Iqbal, plus character-led spin-offs from those universes. The aim is to reimagine these stories for today’s young, global audiences while preserving their emotional core.
Green Gold Animation (home of Chhota Bheem) founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”
Mukta Arts Ltd. filmmaker and founder Subhash Ghai added, “Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”
In an industry where timeless tales never go out of fashion, this collaboration promises to bring beloved characters back to life with a modern, animated glow proving that some stories are too good to stay in live-action. Stay tuned for the first animated frame to drop.
