Drama Series
“‘Kyunki…’ was a trend set by Balaji Telefilms and then all the other production houses followed the same trend” : Rajesh Joshi
Jack of all trades and a master too… that's what sums up actor, director and scriptwriter Rajesh Joshi. Recognised mostly for his short role as Chirag's secretary Pinku in the popular daily soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (which is penned by him), Joshi has been involved with theater since the last 25 years or so.
After spending 10 years working as a chartered accountant with a company called N.J. Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Joshi decided in March 1999 to leave the job and plunge into directing plays.
Serials happened for him after meeting Ekta Kapoor and hence began his stint as a scriptwriter starting with the serial Koshish Ek Aasha (Zee). After that came Koi Apna Sa (Zee), Kkusum (Sony), Smriti (Channel Nine Gold), Kasautii Zindagii Kay (Star Plus) and Shenai (Doordarshan). For now Joshi is giving his undivided attention to Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
Joshi gives indiantelevision.com's Hetal Adesara a sneak peek into a serial writers' world and his reasons for writing only one soap; that too at a time when most people are writing nineteen to a dozen. Excerpts:
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You've been an actor and a director, and now you're totally involved with writing. How and when did you get bitten by the writing bug? At that time I was directing a play and then I thought over his offer and thought to myself – Why not try something which is totally new? That's when I met Ekta Kapoor for the first time and had a long discussion on daily soaps. My first daily soap was Koshish Ek Aasha. After that Ekta came with a new idea called Amma which is now one of the most popular serials on air but only with a different name – Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. |
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What are the essential qualities required to be a good writer? I don't know if there are any particular qualities that a person should have to become a writer. Every writer has different qualities in them and they work according to their own perceptions and thinking. |
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What kind of adjustments does a writer have to make in order to write for TV serials? Another adjustment is locations. Sometimes a location is available and sometimes it is not. These small things call for a major rework on our behalf and that is frustrating. |
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Amarr Upadhyay was brought back in Kyunki after popular demand. Obviously it was not in the script… |
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Is there channel interference in a writer's arena? It is known that plots change with TRPs. So, how does it affect you? |
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How do you go about writing on an everyday basis? |
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People usually crib about the 'saas-bahu' serials on TV but these are the serials that are still watched by millions of women and these serials and their characters are the ones who bag the top awards. What do you think is the reason behind this? Addiction is the other aspect. People are used to watching it by now. Of course we try to give the audience different stuff all the time but sometimes it is not possible. Also characterisation plays a major role like Tulsi, Ba, Savita. These are strong and powerful actors who are liked by the audience. |
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What in your opinion is lacking in television today? Kyunki… was a trend set by Balaji Telefilms and then all the other production houses followed the same trend. Good product is not necessarily yielded by other production houses. As a result, television as a whole is getting affected. New ideas have to come about. One example of a good trend setting serial is Aatish Kapadia's Khichdi. They have their own set of rules and creativity which is different from the rest. |
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How significant are TRP ratings for you – do they influence what you write or how you write? |
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Supposing your show is getting low TRPs, you as a writer will have to spruce up things in order to build up viewership. Right? |
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Is writing satisfying in terms of remuneration? |
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What are the problems you faced as a writer in this industry? How do you deal with them? A writer is the original creator of the serial and so he does command respect and it is given to him also. On the whole as a writer I haven't faced any problems till now. |
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At the end of the day are you happy with what you see on television in terms of what you have written? Do you feel the director is doing justice to what you have written? Then the screenplay goes to the dialogue writer who pens down the dialogues. Then that copy goes to the director who interprets in his own way. The matter of interpretation differs from person to person. So when we see the final output and compare it to original screenplay, we definitely find it different in terms of the creativity and expression. When we give an episode, we know that it is not going to come exactly as we had visualised it. But sometimes it does happen our screenplay is portrayed in a much better way by actors like Smriti, Apara and Sudhaji. |
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Why is there a difference between screenplay writing and dialogue writing? Can't the screenplay writers pen the dialogues too? Secondly there are certain departments here, the people who writes the dialogues are experts in their field. |
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Have you come across a situation where you've felt stagnated in your thought process? How have you come out of it? By stopping the work. Sometimes stagnation affects our work but sometimes it doesn't. Suppose we start out with making a bank of 20 episodes, it may happen that after writing 10 episodes we get stuck. In such a situation we don't go ahead with writing just for the heck of it. So it means that if such a mental block comes up you have the luxury of time to think without it affecting the shooting of the serial… At that time what did you do? Did you compromise on the quality of writing? |
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Are you planning to write for any other serials too? How far do you see 'Kyunki…' going? The serial has already taken a 20 year leap… what next? |
Drama Series
Eric Dane, Grey’s Anatomy’s McSteamy, dies after ALS diagnosis
Dane’s death follows months of campaigning on motor neurone disease
MUMBAI: Shakira’s hips don’t lie and neither does the buzz, the Colombian superstar is shaking up India with a long-awaited return, headlining the Feeding India Concert 2026 across two cities for the first time ever. Announced on 20 February 2026, the third edition of the music-for-change initiative organised by not-for-profit Feeding India alongside District by Zomato brings the multiple Grammy winner to Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Racecourse on 10 April and Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on 15 April. Presented by HSBC India and exclusively ticketed via District, the shows mark Shakira’s first major India gigs in nearly two decades.
Fans have been waiting eagerly for this Latin pop powerhouse known for anthems like Hips Don’t Lie, Whenever, Wherever, and the iconic World Cup hit Waka Waka to light up the stage again. But it’s not just about the beats, Shakira’s involvement amps up the national conversation on hunger and child malnutrition. Through her Barefoot Foundation, she’s long championed education and welfare for vulnerable kids worldwide, a mission that dovetails neatly with Feeding India’s push toward the UN’s Zero Hunger goal by 2030.
Shakira said, “Performing in India has always been special to me, and I’m excited to connect with my fans across Mumbai and Delhi. The Feeding India Concert is about more than music, it’s about standing together to ensure every child has access to the nutrition they need to thrive.”
District by Zomato CEO Rahul Ganjoo added, “This is a defining moment for the Feeding India Concert. Bringing an artist of Shakira’s global stature to two cities represents our commitment to scaling impact while delivering world-class entertainment. Music has the unique power to unite people across boundaries, and we’re leveraging that to drive meaningful conversations that can transform lives.”
Feeding India tackles hunger through government-backed systemic work, direct meal support in schools (low-income, government, and NGO), and a youth volunteer network that sparks awareness and action. The concerts unite artists, philanthropists, and everyday folks in collective action proving music can move crowds and move the needle on social issues.
Ticket details are rolling out fast, HSBC credit cardholders get exclusive 48-hour early access from 12 pm on 27 February to 12 pm on 1 March, with 10 per cent off up to Rs 1,000. General sales kick off at 1 pm on 1 March. District app users can hit ‘Notify Me’ for real-time updates. Plus, snag flexible payments Buy Now, Pay Later with 50 per cent upfront and the rest by 20 March 2026.
Opening acts drop soon via feedingindia and districtupdates pages on Instagram, or straight in the District app. Whether you’re there for the spectacle, the cause, or just to finally see Shakira live, this one’s got rhythm with real purpose turning dance floors into drivers of change.
LOS ANGELES: Eric Dane, best known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, has died aged 53, less than a year after revealing he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of motor neurone disease.
Dane died on Thursday afternoon, after being diagnosed in April 2025. In a statement, his family said he spent his final days surrounded by close friends, his wife, the actor Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters.
Over the past decade, Dane was closely associated with two of television’s most recognisable characters. He played Dr Mark Sloan, nicknamed “McSteamy”, on Grey’s Anatomy, joining the series for a single episode before becoming a regular for six seasons. More recently, he appeared as Cal Jacobs in Euphoria, the troubled father of Jacob Elordi’s character Nate Jacobs.
Despite his illness, Dane continued working and completed filming for the upcoming third season of Euphoria, appearing in a wheelchair as his condition progressed. Speaking to People last year, he said he felt fortunate to remain active professionally while asking for privacy for his family.
ALS is a terminal degenerative disease that progressively impairs movement, speech and breathing. While there is no cure, progression varies widely among patients. In recent months, Dane emerged as a vocal advocate for awareness and research, using his diagnosis to highlight the condition’s impact.
Tributes followed swiftly from colleagues across the industry. Sam Levinson, creator of Euphoria, described Dane as both a gifted collaborator and a close friend, praising his warmth and generosity on and off set.
Born in San Francisco in 1972, Dane appeared in more than 140 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy between 2006 and 2021 and starred in films including X-Men: The Last Stand and Marley & Me. His death marks the loss of a familiar presence in American television, remembered as much for his resilience as for his performances.
