News Broadcasting
Sony readies Devi in new one-hour ‘avtaaar’
MUMBAI: If a serial shows a dip in viewership, the best way is to reinvent it and then re-evaluate it in terms of its continuity. This trial and error strategy seems to be followed by most channels today. The latest serial to go in for a similar facelift is Sony TV’s weekend thriller Devi.
Devi will now be presented in an one-hour format, telecast every Friday from 9 pm to 10 pm with an added attraction- Amman Verma (note the spelling change in his name Aman Varma).
Apparently, the actor himself wasn’t aware of the change till he had a look at the press release handed out by the channel. The new format of Devi seems to have done the rounds of the astrologers as well!
Verma will play the character Vasu, earlier played by Rajesh Khera, the flamboyant gay designer Maddy in Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin.
Vasu, Vikram’s brother-in-law, had not only encouraged Vikram for his misdeeds in the past but also harboured evil designs to take over Vikram’s family business by deceit. After his true colours come to light, Devi gets him expelled from the Sharma family.
After being disowned, he vows to take a revenge and returns after acquiring mystical powers. His sole motive now is to prevent Gayatri and Vikram from bearing an offspring who is destined to be the ultimate nemesis of evil.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Varma started on a light note, “I think Sony wanted someone who had lots of hair.” (Khera is bald, out of choice).
Further, Varma revealed that he was very keen to play a negative role since a long time. “I was actually bored of the positive roles and the game shows. I wanted to do something powerful. Though my role in Kehta Hai Dil is powerful, it is quite melodramatic. Over a period of time, I have evolved as an actor and I am sure that the people will accept me in my new ‘avtaar’.”
Varma makes an entry on 20 February, which will incidentally coincide with the release of Aruna Raje directed film Tum (co-starring Manisha Koirala, Karan Naths) where he plays the role of an I-care- a-damn police officer.
While the serial was earlier directed by Anant Mahadevan, a new director will probably be roped in to assist him. With Mahadevan likely to get busy in his second directorial venture Dil Maange More… starring Shahid Kapoor, Soha Ali Khan (Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi’s daughter), Raima Sen and Ayesha Takia (the girl who gyrated in the Shake it Daddy remix), from June onwards, the new director could take on the reigns for some time.
Let’s wait and watch if the change in storyline, new addition and so called powers of astrologers can do the trick for Sony as well.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
