GECs
MTV, PNC join item girl hunt
MUMBAI: Aspiring item number girls never had it so good.
After Zee Music and Channel [V], which have already announced their plans to hunt for an ‘item girl’ for Bollywood flicks, MTV India has decided to take the same route. In association with Pritish Nandy Communications, the music channel has made public its intent of tracking down a sizzler to star in PNC’s forthcoming Shabd.
MTV India could be getting down to the business of hunting item girls for the first time, but PNC has a history of them – Isha Kopikar in Kaante, Anusha in Mumbai Matinee, Mahek Chahal in Chameli and Jelena in Popcorn Khao! Mast Ho Jao.
The association with MTV, with its unique, irreverant style of functioning should throw up some interesting results. The auditions of the Item Girl Hunt will be held on 4 and 5 September in Mumbai.
Rival Zee Music, that’s gearing for a grand revamp, has already staked claim to being the first in the field to have launched a similar hunt. The results of Zee’s Item Bomb will result in a young girl getting the chance to star in a number opposite Sanjay Dutt in the forthcoming Musafir.
[V] has not been far behind. Disco Star – a joint venture of Star’s music arm and Subhash Ghai promoted production house Mukta Arts was also announced a few days before Zee announced its plans. A reality show, [V] Disco Star will search for a glamour girl and goes on air on Channel [V] sometime in October.
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.
