GECs
Sahara to pump Rs 1 bn into movie production, enter international distribution
MUMBAI: Sahara India Entertainment Management plans to invest Rs 1 billion towards movie production over the next 18 months.
The company is also stepping into international distribution of movies, for which a team is being put in place. Sahara has already handled domestic distribution with movies like Page 3 and Mumbai Express.
“We are putting up over 35 movies on the floors. We will be investing around Rs 1 billion,” says Sahara India Entertainment Management’s Motion Pictures division chief operating officer Sandeep Bhargava.
In movie production, Sahara follows different models to de-risk its business. The company has tied up with production companies like K Sera Sera for 10 movies. Sahara also has rights to 15 movies from Boney Kapoor’s production house. Sahara will provide part investment for these movies and enjoy the television telecast rights while the theatrical revenues will flow into the production houses. There will be a revenue share on the box office revenues only after a specified amount has reached.
As a second business model, Sahara has tied up with certain directors like Madhur Bhandharkar and Priyadarshan. “We will be doing two movies each with them. We are also in the process of signing up with other directors,” says Bhargava.
Sahara also produces its own movies, separating itself from the other two models. “We are following the studio model. And we want to get into all aspects of movie production, marketing and distribution,” says Bhargava.
Sahara aims to distribute 18-20 movies over the next 18 months. Some of the movies lined up are Hanuman, Home Delivery and Mumbai to Paris.
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.
