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Zee to revamp ‘Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hain’ next month
NEW DELHI: Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hain, the celebrity talk show on Zee TV, is slated for a revamped return on 5 September at prime time with Farooque Shaikh.
“The programme would sport better looks, though the basic format would remain the same,” anchor Farooque Shaikh told Indiantelevision.com adding jokingly that he’d also look “less fat”.
Jeena and Shaikh both had taken a break from the channel for sometime. In between, Suresh Oberoi used to anchor the show. According to Shaikh, the programme’s high equity has necessitated that it comes back on air with a new set of exciting guests. “The programme has become a star in itself,” he says, hinting at its popularity.
Sad though that the TRPs of the programme cannot be flaunted as Zee does not subscribe to TAM data.
Defending the guest list that is filled with more people from the Hindi film world, Shaikh says that’s because such personalities draw more audience. The guests in the new-look Jeena include film personalities Sunil Dutt and Feroze Khan. “Moreover, film people are willing to participate in our programmes,” Shaikh explains.
The NDTV-produced talk show is planning to get interactive in the future to lure audience.
Shaikh, who has taken to small screen after essaying some charming roles in films like Chasme Baddoor, feels that the spontaneity of Jeena’ makes it a good programme.
“On the first day of shooting somebody came to me with a script and I requested them that it should be done away with”, he explains, adding that since that day the programme doesn’t have any scripts and even he is unaware what would he say next.
For Shaikh, a carefree and spontaneous guest is more fun to have on the programme as it all adds up to fun. In this regard, the anchor of Jeena feels that Shah Rukh Khan and Akshaye Kumar were good sports.
Shaikh himself, however, finds cinema more challenging that television and theatre. “Cinema is such a medium that you cannot hide anything. It magnifies everything and I think it would always remain a challenge and my first love,” he explains.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
