GECs
Rajeev Khandelwal begins new innings with chat show on Zee TV
MUMBAI: The makers of popular chat show Koffee with Karan are back with a new one. Bringing back Rajeev Khandelwal in a new chat show is Zee TV with Juzzbatt…Sangeen Se Namkeen Tak. Co-produced by Sandip Sikcand Telefilms and Sol, the show will premiere on 5 May and will air on weekends at 7 pm.
Khandelwal, who was last seen in ALTBalaji’s original Haq Se, is returning to television after three years. After anchoring the controversial show, Saach Ka Saamna, the new show promises to take audiences on an exhilarating whirlwind ride. The show is likely to also be shown on its digital platform Zee5.
“The show will reveal the journey of celebrities from what they were to what they are now in their respective fields. It will be a mixture of drama and reality. There is no exact format for this show because every person comes with a different story irrespective of who they are. Every show, whether it is fiction or non-fiction, has got a different texture. Likewise, in this show every person has got a different story to tell. So there can’t be any proper format. And also there will be a surprise element in each episode,” said Zee TV deputy business head Deepak Rajadhyaksha.
“Though Zee makes content for every category of audience, this time the primary target audience will be women between 30 and 40 years of age,” he added. In keeping with the channel’s brand philosophy, ‘Aaj Likhenge Kal’, this weekend primetime offering is going to be a 26-episode series.
A while ago, Zee TV celebrated its 25th anniversary and this show is one special offering for audiences. “We had a celebrity chat show many years back called Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, but this time we thought of coming up with something that we haven’t done before. Though Juzzbazz will have some glimpses of Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, it’s not a carbon copy of it,” said Rajadhyaksha. Commenting on marketing strategies, he said that focus will be on social media, print, radio and outdoor.
Sol co-producer Fazila Allana said that the show will mainly rope in TV actors as they haven’t been given their due. “Their fans are very curious to know as to who the people behind these celebs are. Juzzbaat is trying to make audiences see the real human beings the actors are behind the TV. The celebrities are no different than us. They pretty much face the same challenges in their daily lives that we face,” she said.
The choice of anchor couldn’t have been better than Khandelwal who has an aura that people trust. “He is such a face whom people don’t often see on television. But at the same time he is experienced, mature and is in that stage of his career where he knows a lot of people – old and the new ones. It’s necessary that the host should know more people so that the guests can open themselves freely,” she added.
Some of the faces that will be seen on the show include Rohit Roy, Ronit Roy, Divyanka Tripathi, Vivek Dahiya and Dheeraj Dhoopar.
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GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
