GECs
Zee launches star hunt ‘Cinestars Ki Khoj’
MUMBAI: Glamour+reality is a big crowd puller.
Close on the heels of Sahara’s Mr and Miss Bollywood, Zee TV has launched India’s Best’ -cinestars ki khoj – a nationwide talent hunt to discover potential artists from all over India.
Armed with a tagline, “Kya aap tayyar hain apne big break ke liye”, the teasers promotions have been on air for quite some time now. The entire selection process will be televised and aired on Zee TV in 16 weekly episodes.
The jury will screen the participants and select the potential candidate for a series of grooming process. One male and one female deserving candidates will be crowned as India’s Best. Besides bagging the crown, the winners will get a chance to perform as lead star in a film.
Announcing the launch of India’s Best, Zee TV president Sunil Khanna, was quoted in a company press release saying, “Zee TV has always put forward path-breaking steps in showcasing novel ideas and themes to the viewers. For the first time a mammoth activity is planned to identify a budding talent across the country. India’s Best is a platform for viewers to showcase their latent talent but due to circumstances don’t get an opportunity from Bollywood”.
“Zee Network has been for a long time associated with filmmaking, movies like Gadar- Ek Prem Katha the mega blockbuster has ruled the hearts of the Indian audience. For India’s Best we have roped in stars like Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Salman Khan and Bhumika Chawla. The two lucky winners will get a chance to pair opposite these stalwarts,” he added. The competition is open for citizens of India from today onwards.
The channel has hosted a website www.zeeindiasbest.com, especially for the contest. Interested candidates can log on to the site to participate in the contest, says the release. Contestants can, alternatively, also call on call on 1600 33 2220 from 11 am to 11 pm.
If neither is accessible, then the participants can register through the ground event that will be flagged off in 20 cities across the country.
A specially designed promotional van will be travelling across these cities promoting the contest. After the first round of process 80 candidates will be selected, four each from these 20 cities. In the second round out of the 80 candidates 32 will be selected by the jury and will be travelling to Mumbai for the final steps of grooming, adds the release.
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.
