Kids
Diaz, Rock, Berry to light up Nick’s Kids Choice Awards
MUMBAI: Now in its 18th year Nickelodeon US’ Kids Choice Awards (KCA) will dazzle with megastar wattage. Some of the hottest entertainers around join the host comedian Ben Stiller for the show, which takes place on 2 April.
The list of entertainment icons scheduled to appear include a Charlie’s Angel Cameron Diaz, pop star Justin Timberlake, Chris Rock who earlier this year hosted the Oscars and Oscar winner Halle Berry.
Three-time KCA winner Will Smith will mark his first award show musical performance in three years with the debut of the song Switch from his upcoming album Lost and Found. Nick has stated that it is a true testament of kid power when megastars like Will Smith choose them to be among the first to share special moments like a long-awaited live performance.
Multi-platinum selling punk-pop quintet Simple Plan will rock UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion by performing Shut Up! A highlight of the show will be a never-been-done-before stunt. This will involve shooting a human cannonball into the sky before landing in a giant pool of slime. Additionally, one special star will be presented with the Wannabe Award — an honour bestowed on a celebrity role model who kids most “want to be.” Past recipients include Smith, Tom Cruise, Adam Sandler and Janet Jackson.
In a move to continue tradition the event will end with celebrity sliming which will drench an astonished star with green goo, inciting shrieks of delight from the crowd. Past wearers of the green include Cruise, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Rosie O’Donnell, and recipients Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
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.
