News Broadcasting
Jay Mehta to produce show for Zee, Sahara
MUMBAI: Jay Mehta, the son of film producer and distributor Pranlal Mehta, will be producing two new TV shows: Vishwas in the afternoon slot for Zee and another one for Sahara TV which is in the early stages of conceptualisation.
Mehta has acted in films such as Muskurahat and produced feature films such as 100 Days. On TV, he has earlier done shows such as Mujhe Door Koi Kiche (Zee), Jung (Doordarshan), Zara Suneye To (Sahara) and a Gujarati serial Karo Kankuna for Alpha Gujarati. Mehta is also waiting for the right script for his Gujarathi theatre project which he bills as his dream.
“Vishwas is a social thriller which will be aired in the afternoon. I have already finished shooting some episodes and am waiting for Zee’s officials to give me the exact telecast timings,” says Jay Mehta. Mehta however, states that that the Sahara project is in the early stages of conceptualisation.
Vishwas stars Vijayendra Ghatge, Gautam Chaturvedi, Anang Desai, Raju Kher and Usha Bachani amongst others. Mehta states that he has worked with Zee and is comfortable working with the programming team.
When queried about the difference between feature films and TV productions, Mehta says: “Both are similar in the sense that the hard work and creativity are part and parcel of the two separate mediums. On TV, one has to make some adjustments as the channel officials have a say in the scheme of things. In the case of films, one has a lot of freedom.”
Mehta also states that the channel’s creative team provides the independent producers with invaluable inputs about the look and feel of the show. “It is a combined effort. However, the independent producers have to assert themselves in certain creative aspects. The channels’ programming team shouldn’t interfere much in the scripts,” he adds.
Mehta has his own creative team and script-writers. The panel of experts comes up with various story ideas based on current affairs, literature and other sources.
When asked as to why he has no projects on DD, Mehta states:”I have had some good experiences during my earlier stint with Doordarshan. However, I don’t have much time on hand now to complete the extensive paper work and formalities. Also, I used to visit DD’s headquarters in Delhi often but haven’t done so in a long time.”
Mehta’s afternoon show on Zee will be eagerly awaited as it would fill in the void created by Balaji Telefilm’s production Kohi Apna Sa!
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
