Television
Breaking Bad now in Hindi, premiering exclusively on Zee Café!
Mumbai:Breaking Bad, a show which has won 64 Emmy Awards and seven Golden Globe Awards will be telecast in Hindi by ZEE Cafe for the Indian audiences. Zee Café’s exclusive Hindi version of ‘Breaking Bad’ gives Heisenberg a Desi twist in a one-of-a-kind promo!
Zee Cafe has been at the forefront when it comes to bringing foreign language content and were the first ones to introduce K-Dramas and Animes in their programming. They have now hit another ball out of the stadium as they announced the telecast of the most iconic series in the history of television. The show holds its popularity even after more than 10 years of its first date of airing and has been the talking point for fans on social media. The stature of the show can be judged by the fact that celebrities like Shahrukh Khan, Rajkummar Rao, Ranbir Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Anil Kapoor, Siddharth Malhotra amongst others have expressed their desire to be a part of the show if ever it is remade in Hindi.
Zee Cafe in order to build the buzz recently made cryptic posts about the show and received a whooping number of queries from the audiences. These posts also excited Youtubers and influencers and channels like Charcha with Bhurani and Strangers Review who shared their joy in their videos.
Created by Vince Gilligan, the gripping crime drama showcases the transformation of the lead character Walter White from a high school chemistry teacher to a methamphetamine producer in order to save his family’s future. The show focusing on the themes of antihero, power and integrity makes for a riveting watch for the viewers. It answered the question middle-aged men had asked of themselves for generations: what would happen if I quit my boring job and became an outlaw? And… it was quite dynamic and engaging. As of 26 July 2023, the show has been rated 9.5 on IMDb and is one of the critically acclaimed shows loved by critics and viewers alike. It is known for its iconic dialogues, characters and very engaging storyline. Popular AI tools such as Google Bard also identifies Breaking Bad as one of the best television shows of all time.
By bringing the timeless show in the native language of India, Zee Café is reaching a larger audience in the country and catering to the cultural diversity of the country. Sharing his excitement for bringing Breaking Bad in Hindi, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. chief business officer – English cluster Rishi Parekh shared, “At Zee Café, we are committed to providing engaging and valuable content to the viewers purely based on their interests. We have been quick to recognize the trends and align with them in our programming. We were the pioneers at introducing K-Dramas and Animes in their original language and now, we are all excited to present the iconic drama Breaking Bad in Hindi. It’s a celebrated series that captivated the hearts of many across the globe and surely deserves to reach to the grassroots of India. The show’s first season aired in 2008 and is still known amongst some of the most critically acclaimed shows of all times. Zee Café is bringing the show in Hindi to ensure more penetration, and to make certain that the language barrier doesn’t keep the audience deprived of some exceptional content. The Hindi adaptation of Breaking Bad protects the original plot, characters and moral stand that made the show an international success and we are confident that the brilliant storytelling of the show brought to the Indian audience in their local language will definitely strike a chord with its viewers.”
Sports
Hardik Pandya faces complaint for lying with girlfriend while draped in tricolour during T20 World Cup celebrations
MUMBAI: Hardik Pandya has found himself at the centre of a legal storm even as India celebrates another ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumph. A complaint has been filed accusing the star all-rounder of disrespecting the national flag during on-field celebrations following India’s victory.
The complaint was submitted to police in Bengaluru by Pune-based advocate Wajid Khan Bidkar, alleging that Pandya insulted the Indian tricolour during the celebrations after India defeated New Zealand national cricket team in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium.
According to the application, Pandya had wrapped the national flag around his body while celebrating on the field and engaged in behaviour that the complainant described as “obscene” while dancing during the victory festivities. The lawyer argued that the act amounted to disrespect under provisions linked to the protection of the national flag and urged authorities to initiate legal action. The complainant also alleged that at one point during the celebrations, Pandya was seen lying on the stage with his girlfriend while the national flag remained draped over his shoulder.
Police officials confirmed that the complaint application had been submitted but did not elaborate on whether a formal case would be registered.
Videos from the celebrations have circulated widely on social media. In one widely shared clip, Pandya is seen celebrating with the tricolour draped over his shoulders while dancing and interacting with people on the field.
Should Pandya be found legally guilty, he could face punishment under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. Under Section 2 of the Act, any person who burns, defaces, tramples upon, or otherwise shows disrespect to the Indian national flag in public view faces imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both. A repeat conviction carries a minimum one-year prison term. Courts typically examine the intent to disrespect, whether the act occurred in public, and whether it constitutes a “gross affront or indignity” to the flag; deliberateness versus accident playing a key role.
The controversy has erupted just days after India successfully defended its T20 World Cup title, becoming the first team to achieve the feat and securing the trophy for a third time since winning the inaugural edition in 2007.
Pandya played a key role in the campaign. The 32-year-old all-rounder finished the tournament with nine wickets and struck two half-centuries, including a brisk 52 off 28 balls against Namibia. His performances also earned him a place in the tournament’s official team of the year.
Reflecting on the victory, Pandya described the title as the fulfilment of a personal promise. “After the win in Barbados in 2024, I promised myself that whichever tournament I play, I will play to win and lift the trophy,” he said in an interview with Star Sports. “This win against New Zealand in Ahmedabad is a validation that the promise I made to myself has become a reality. And this is just the start.”
Pandya also recalled the difficult period he faced before the 2024 tournament. “When we won the T20 World Cup in 2024, I was facing a lot of difficulties personally. Many things had happened before that tournament and things were not going my way,” he said. “Before the 2024 World Cup started, I had made up my mind that I was going for redemption. I wanted to make a dominating comeback.”
The Baroda-born all-rounder added that winning trophies for India remains his central motivation. “This is something I have always lived for. I play cricket to do well for my country and win trophies. I want to win all the trophies for India.”
For now, though, the celebrations of a historic cricket triumph have been punctured by controversy—leaving one of India’s most flamboyant cricketers juggling glory on the field with scrutiny off it.
