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TV producer Aroona Irani celebrates the success of ‘Des mein…’
MUMBAI: It was celebration time at Mumbai’s ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton Hotel on Saturday, 31 May, 2003. Veteran actress and famed producer Aroona Irani held a bash to celebrate the success of her Star Plus soap Des Mein Nikhla Hoga Chand (DMNHC). She became the first independent producer to beat Balaji in the ratings game in recent times.
The serial conceptualised and created by AK Films has had an uninterrupted run of 84 episodes since 2001 in the prime time slot of 9 pm. The serial DMNHC had ousted the usual Balaji contenders -Kyunki ….. Kahaani … and Kasauti Zindagi Kay …..from the top position, reveal the latest TRP ratings (for the week 5 May to 10 May 2003).
DMNHC topped the chart with a TRP of 10.9, followed by Kasauti …at 10.5 and Kyunki …at 10.3. However, in the recent ratings provided by TAM (week 21 for 18-24 May), Balaji’s Kasauti… has grabbed the top three spots (10.5) followed by DMNHC with a TVR of 9.5.
In the presence of her unit and several TV stars, Irani, dressed in a blue coloured saree, attributed the unprecendent success to the gripping storyline. “The storyline has a social fervour that blends two varying cultures – the western NRI (non resident India) and our own traditionally soaked Indian ethos. Not a pebble has been left unturned to make the serial visually rich and technically up-to-date to match the core narrative. The storyline also emcompasses an interesting romantic interlude,” added Irani.
Present on the occasion were TV stars such as Sangeeta Ghosh, Shweta Keswani, Siddharth Dhawan and Varun Badola. Also making his presence felt was Amarr Upadhyay who returning to the small screen after his insipid feature film debut.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
