iWorld
Balaji Telefilms’ next show titled ‘Dil Hi Toh Hai’ to debut online on ALTBalaji after telecast on Sony TV
MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms Limited, India’s leading entertainment content producer operating across television, movies, and digital platforms, has announced the upcoming show, Dil Hi Toh Hai, will air on Sony Entertainment Television, while retaining the intellectual property to the show with itself. After its telecast on Sony, the show will be available to be consumed on the company’s OTT platform, ALTBalaji. Now, viewers of this show will be able to watch it whenever and wherever they want on their smartphones and laptops, even if they have missed watching it on TV. This is a pioneering step by the company as it aims to drive its digital future and expansion in the B2C segment through ALTBalaji.
Starring Karan Kundra in the lead, ‘Dil Hi Toh Hai’ is a family drama centered around an industrialist family that deals in pharmaceuticals. It’s a story about siblings who love and respect each other despite differences. It also stars Poonam Dhillon, Akshay Dogra, Sudeepa Singh, Gurpreet Bedi, Yogita Bihani, Nyra Banerjee, and Asmita Sood in pivotal roles.
By exploiting the digital rights of this show by itself, Balaji Telefilms and ALTBalaji have become the game changers in the Indian media and entertainment industry. As a content producer, Balaji Telefilms, for the very first time, has retained the intellectual property to a show produced by Balaji and licensed to Sony Entertainment Television to exploit the same on their TV Channel.
Commenting on this development Group COO and CEO ALTBalaji, Mr. Nachiket Pantvaidya said, “We are front-runners in creating original content and have crafted unique stories for numerous television networks. With widespread penetration of the internet and smartphones in India, we launched ALTBalaji to acquire new viewers globally, as these users are not encumbered by restrictions posed by TV – both as a device and as a format. The retention of a TV show’s rights by Balaji marks a major shift in the industry and one of many firsts for us. This strategic move is in line with our vision to transform the company from a B2B production company to a B2C consumer and digital company.”
ALTBalaji has already acquired a leadership position as India’s largest platform for original and exclusive digital shows with more than 15 million mobile plus web viewers across 90 countries. The digital platform currently offers 20 original shows in Indian languages across various genres such as romance, mystery, drama, and comedy. The platform also offers entertaining original shows for kids, along with short, hilarious regional stand-up comedy videos in Marathi, Punjabi, Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, and Telugu.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
