GECs
Comedy power to buttress Zee’s 8 pm
MUMBAI: Zee seems all set to tickle that funny bone. The next big launch to buttress the line-up is Sanjay Chhel Telefilms Pvt Ltd’s Hum Sab Baraati, which will launch on 4 April 2004.
Zee’s latest sitcom, airing Sunday-Wednesday at 8 pm, is a light and frothy sitcom with ‘a touch of a soap opera’ revolving around a family of wedding planners.
A quirky look at marriages in India- complete with the sangeet- mehndi- shaadi- bidaai (wedding specials-wedding-farewell) routines, never-ending dahej (dowry) problems- Sanjay Chhel’s maiden television venture has its heart in right place.
Launched at a media meet in Juhu Hotel organised by the production house, the event started unsually late, but the opulence had to be seen. The host Chhel had hired a music band, palmists, mehendiwalli, flower sellers, all that and more in addition to the overflowing bar.
Speaking about the venture Chhel said, “Every story will be split into either two or four episodes. It’s a feel good comedy with integrally woven songs and dances.” In addition to the dialogues, Chhel has also penned songs for the show.
What did strike the eye at the event was actor Delnaz Paul’s optimism. She said that Hum Sab Baraati Hai would be as big as her last release, Karan Johar’s blockbuster Kal Ho Na Ho!
Starring Dinyar Contractor, Tiku Talsania, Bhavna Balsaver, Dilip Joshi, Sulbha Arya and Raju Kher, besides Paul, in main roles, the show has been commissioned by Zee for a year.
In a release issued by Zee, Zee Telefilms president Sunil Khanna was quoted saying, “Hum Sab Baraati has all the ingredients of being a successful comedy show. Keeping in mind the multi-combination of the audiences we cater to, we plan to very carefully built and expertise on multi-genre programming. Hum Sab Baraati is filled with spicy characters, which are interconnected with each other, and they create lot of possibilities for a hilarious comedy to tickles the ribs to no end. Join us with the Baraati parivar and keep smiling always.
However, quite a few goof-up were noticed in the dialogues. Something that is definitely not expected from veteran television script-writer Chhel.
According to Chhel, the road to its telecast has been easy. “I spoke to other channels as well about this show, but somehow thought that Zee TV was the least interfering of all.”
Present at the meet was also BAG Films films division head Mejoo Khan and actor Rajiv Paul escorting his wife Delnaz. In addition to Hum Sab Baarati, Zee will also be premiering next edition of 64 Panne on the same day at 8:00 pmLavanya , starring Shilpa Saklani, Rohit Bakshi and Gaurav Chopra is journey of a young adolescent girl to a matured woman completely in control of a situation.
Speaking about Lavanya Khanna said, “Lavanya is another feather to our popular slot, 64 Panne, the prime time band which has offered captivating heart tugging stories like Dil NA Jaane Kyun, Mansha and Aandhi, which has captured tremendous response from viewers. Lavanya portrays a riveting saga of the protagonist caught between a non-committed love and fulfilling the wishes of her parents. Lavanya also exhibits the thinking of an independent woman from the new generation who is looking forward to her Mr. Right, who will get into terms with the new paradigm.”
The show is jointly produced by Rajiv Mehta’s Dream Team Software and Moving Pictures Company.
Lets see if April launches bring any luck to Zee’s flagship Hindi entertainment channel.
GECs
‘I wasn’t enjoying it’: Why ex-Colors CEO Raj Nayak quit at his peak
Former TV and media executive says happiness, not hierarchy, defines leadership
MUMBAI: Former television executive Raj Nayak, once among the most powerful figures in Indian broadcasting, has offered a candid reflection on leadership, ambition and the decision to step away at the height of his career.
Speaking on the ThinkRight Podcast, Nayak dismissed corporate titles as hollow constructs, arguing that designations are often mistaken for identity. Leadership, he said, has little to do with hierarchy and everything to do with character.
Despite holding senior roles across Star TV, NDTV and Colors, Nayak described his career as largely unplanned. He said progress came not from strategy but from effort, adding that his only constant was giving each role his full commitment.
One of the most formative moments, he recalled, came in 2001 when he quit his job and spent nine months fighting a non-compete case in the Mumbai High Court. The sudden loss of structure and support, he said, exposed how dependent he had become on corporate machinery.
That period also shaped his public persona. The nickname “Raj Cheerful”, later adopted across social media, became a defining trait within the industry, with actors such as Hrithik Roshan embracing it as part of his identity. Over time, Nayak said, the label evolved from an affectation into a lived philosophy.
Nayak also addressed his decision to leave his role at the peak of his influence, a move he described as deeply counter-cultural in corporate India. From the outside, he said, everything appeared perfect. Internally, it was not. After months of unease, a conversation with his family proved decisive, pushing him to act on values he often spoke about publicly.
“People don’t quit jobs at their peak… I was doing everything perfect… but I knew I was not enjoying it,” he added.
Reflecting on success, Nayak argued that power and visibility offer no assurance of fulfilment. Happiness, he said, is a more reliable measure. Overcoming fear and greed, he added, remains the hardest test of leadership and of life.
