MAM
Bhansali’s TV debut ‘Saraswatichandra’ opens with 2.5 TVR on Star Plus
MUMBAI: When Bollywood names get associated with television, the aspiration of the channels airing those shows rises. Be it Aamir Khan’s Satyamev Jayate or Amitabh Bachchan’s Kaun Banega Crorepati or Salman Khan’s Bigg Boss, these Bollywood personalities have time to time proved that their charisma can pull the audience to the television screen as well.
This time it is someone who is not seen on camera but is someone who has been behind many Bollywood blockbusters like Devdas, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Black. Director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali tried out the television medium with ‘Saraswatichandra’ – and the fiction show has worked well on Star Plus.
‘Saraswatichandra’ debuted with 2.5 TVR on 25 February. The average rating of the show in its opening week stood at 2.1 TVR, according to TAM data for the Hindi Speaking Market (C&S 4+) provided by a Hindi GEC.
Helios Media CEO Divya Radhakrishnan believes the debut rating of ‘Saraswatichandra’ is pretty good. “Earlier prime-time was from 8 pm which has now shifted to 7 pm. Considering the Hindi GECs’ standards, it is a big show and the channel has spent a bomb on it. I had thought it would get a better slot on the channel but for a 7.30 pm slot, 2.5 TVR ratings is good and it has picked up pretty well,” she said.
Star Plus VP-marketing Nikhil Madhok said, “We are happy with the way the show has opened up. It is the highest rated debut amongst past few launches of our channel.”
As per TAM data (HSM including 5 new LC1 markets, C&S, 4+) sourced from a channel, Star Plus continued to maintain its leadership position in the genre with the addition of 17 GRPs to notch a total of 265 GRPs. The other shows of the channel like Diya Aur Bati Hum (5.9 TVR), Nach Baliye (2.9 TVR) and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (4.4 TVR) have seen rise in eyeballs.
Zee TV climbed to second position with 226 GRPs, despite a loss of five GRPs. The channel’s recently launched kids’ reality show India Ke Best Dramebaz notched a whopping 4.4 TVR in the week ended 2 March.
Following Zee TV is Colors that slipped to third position with a loss of 15 GRPs. The channel had earned 30 GRPs last week as it had aired Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘Khiladi 786’ on 23 January. The fiction shows of the channel recorded marginal difference in their ratings as it closed the week with 220 GRPs.
Sony Entertainment Television lost 18 GRPs to clock 170 GRPs. The channel had gained numbers last week as it had aired the Filmfare Awards. Its recently launched fiction show ‘Khubsoorat’ opened with a TVR of 1 as it averaged 0.9 TVR in the week.
Sab with 138 GRPs (same as last week) went ahead of Life OK in the ninth week of TAM. Life OK ended the week with 132 GRPs (last week 144).
Sahara One with 24 GRPs (last week 24) remained at the bottom of the ladder.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
