iWorld
Nadiadwala Grandson & Banijay Asia team up for series and films
Mumbai: In a major development for the Indian entertainment industry, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment (NGE), led by the visionary filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala, and Banijay Asia (part of Banijay Entertainment), the production powerhouse led by Deepak Dhar, have created a strategic collaboration to create original series and films as well as adaptations of popular international hits, to usher in a new era of premium content for Indian audiences.
Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment founder Sajid Nadiadwala expressed his excitement saying, “At NGE, we have` always strived to deliver top-notch entertainment to the Indian audiences and partnering with Banijay Asia to create cutting edge content across genres and formats is a thrilling venture for us. Our vision has always been to push the boundaries of entertainment, and this partnership is a significant step towards achieving that goal. This is just the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership with Banijay Asia, and we look forward to this creative synergy”.”
Banijay Asia & EndemolShine India founder & Group CEO Deepak Dhar commented: “We are excited to partner with Sajid Nadiadwala, a visionary whose contributions to Indian cinema are unparalleled. He has given audiences hit franchises like Housefull, Baaghi, and Kick, as well as content-driven films like Chhichhore and Super 30. His dedication to filmmaking and his ability to connect with the Indian & global audiences makes this partnership an interesting one. This collaboration further reinforces our commitment to produce high-quality content that resonates with audiences across the globe. With Sajid’s creative vision and our expertise in content creation, we are poised to set new benchmarks in the world of entertainment”.”
Banijay Asia & EndemolShine India group chief development officer Mrinalini Jain said, “Partnering with Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment offers a unique opportunity to blend our strengths in content development with Sajid Nadiadwala’s cinematic vision. His unparalleled expertise and creative vision are invaluable assets in this collaboration which represents a shared commitment to creativity, innovation, and storytelling excellence. Together, we aim to push the boundaries of entertainment by delivering compelling originals and adaptations that captivate audiences in India and worldwide”.”
iWorld
Rusk Media announces Battleground Season 2 on Amazon MX Player
Fitness reality show returns in April 2026 with bigger challenges and mentors.
MUMBAI: The arena is reopening and this time the competition promises even more sweat, strategy and spectacle. Rusk Media has confirmed the return of its fitness reality format Battleground for a second season, set to stream on Amazon MX Player from April 2026. The announcement follows the breakout success of the show’s debut season, which positioned itself as a high energy blend of sport, strategy and reality television. Season 1 brought together 16 contestants for a 28 day test of endurance and discipline, as aspiring athletes and fitness enthusiasts competed in physically demanding challenges and team based battles.
Divided into four teams, the participants trained under a panel of mentors drawn from the fitness and lifestyle space, with former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan serving as the show’s Super Mentor.
The format quickly found an audience among digital viewers and was listed among the most binged titles on Amazon MX Player. The show also picked up industry recognition, winning the “Most Popular Non Fiction Show” honour at the IWMBuzz Digital Awards 2025.
The first season also drew a slate of brand partnerships, including Honda Bigwing, Charged, American Pistachio Growers, Bigmuscles Nutrition, Ritebite Max Protein, Plix and Sparsh CCTV, highlighting the show’s appeal to brands targeting India’s rapidly growing youth and fitness audience.
For Season 2, the producers say the format will evolve with tougher physical challenges, a sharper competitive structure and deeper mentor involvement while continuing to focus on discovering the next generation of Indian fitness personalities.
Rusk Media, chief executive officer and co founder Mayank Yadav said the first season proved the appetite for competitive fitness storytelling. “Battleground was always envisioned as more than a show. Season 1 demonstrated that there is a massive audience for aspirational fitness competition at scale. With Season 2 we are going even bigger in ambition, intensity and opportunities for contestants and partners,” he said.
Rusk Ads lead Rahul Arora added that the series has also evolved into a strong platform for brand integration and advertiser engagement. “Season 1 showed that Battleground is not just compelling content but a powerful brand ecosystem. As we move into Season 2, we are looking to deepen brand collaborations and build more integrated partnerships,” he said.
With a larger format, an expanding fan base and a new season set to arrive in April 2026, Battleground is positioning itself as one of India’s emerging fitness reality franchises in the digital entertainment space.
