Kids
Zee Zest’s ‘Junior Masterchef Australia’ returns with season 3
Mumbai: Lifestyle channel Zee Zest has announced the third season of ‘Junior Masterchef Australia’, starting 16 August. Melissa Leong, Jock Zonfrillo, and Andy Allen return as judges for the show which will air every Monday and Tuesday at 11 a.m.
The cooking reality show features 14 contestants who were selected after beating almost 2,000 young aspirants by cooking up the best food. These talented young chefs will be tasked with unimaginable challenges in the hopes of materialising their dreams. The contestants will have the opportunity to showcase their best dishes to judges from across the globe, said the channel in a statement.
“We are elated to air ‘Junior Masterchef Australia’ – a show that is an adequate representation of ‘age is just a number.’ The dishes and meticulous plating by the kids will leave viewers awestruck and wanting for more! With contestants from diverse backgrounds and skillsets that match up to established culinary legends, the show is set to keep viewers on their toes as one winner emerges as the champion,” said Zee Zest’s business head, Amit Nair.
Kids
Mukta Arts and Green Gold ink MOU to animate iconic film IPs
Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan to spawn animated shows plus features.
MUMBAI: When classic hindi movie meets animation, the result is a fresh reel of nostalgia with a cartoon twist. Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on animated shows and feature films drawn from Mukta Arts’ four-decade treasure trove of iconic IPs. The partnership taps Mukta’s SGM Animation Studio launched in 2025 as its dedicated animation and games arm and Green Gold’s proven track record in building scalable, homegrown franchises. Creative teams from both sides have already kicked off discussions, with the first project currently in development.
The slate will draw inspiration from landmark Mukta films including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar and Iqbal, plus character-led spin-offs from those universes. The aim is to reimagine these stories for today’s young, global audiences while preserving their emotional core.
Green Gold Animation (home of Chhota Bheem) founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”
Mukta Arts Ltd. filmmaker and founder Subhash Ghai added, “Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”
In an industry where timeless tales never go out of fashion, this collaboration promises to bring beloved characters back to life with a modern, animated glow proving that some stories are too good to stay in live-action. Stay tuned for the first animated frame to drop.
