GECs
Zee’s ‘Antakshari’ completes 11 years
MUMBAI: The mother of all antakshari shows on television, Zee’s Antakshari has completed 11 years. Produced by Sa Re Ga Ma, Antakshari is the longest running musical game show on Indian television.
An event held in suburban Mumbai to celebrate the occasion was attended by anchor of the show Annu Kapoor, Sa Re Ga Ma creative director Gajendra Singh, Bollywood’s fun man Johny Lever and actors Akhilendra Mishra and Yashpal Sharma. The Antakshari team was honoured during the occasion. Kapoor anchored the show along with Archana Puran Singh.
Speaking on the occasion, Zee TV president Abhijit Saxena said, “For us, it’s a very proud moment. The scale to which this show has been accepted is phenomenal. I would like to take this platform to thank all the participants and the viewers for their invaluable support. We hope we are able to garner the same enthusiasm in the next decade.”
Gajendra Singh, who has been responsible for the show since it’s conception, said, “For me, I regard this show as my child. I am experiencing the same amount of happiness as one would when one’s own make it big. I want to better at our effort for the coming decade. We have changed with the times, for our audiences. The acceptance and the love that the show has achieved, is mindblowing.”
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
