MAM
Zee TV unleashes pre-launch campaign for new 9:30 pm soap
MUMBAI: Interactive soap! That is what Zee TV calls its upcoming soap Saath Phere which replaces Kareena Kareena in the Monday to Friday 9:30 pm slot, starting 17 October. Prior to the launch, the channel has now kicked off a teaser campaign focusing on the outdoors.
Without naming the show, the hoardings ask the public to send in their viewpoints on certain issues which touch a woman’s life. The public is asked to send in their inputs through SMS to 7575. Also, the channel will be asking the viewers to send in their ideas about how they would want a certain plot to progress in the soap, at the end of each episode.
“The idea is to build intrigue around the questions. Saat Phere is going to be an interactive soap as it will be incorporating some of the best viewer feedback in its storyline. The soap will progress the way the viewers want,” states Zee TV marketing head Tarun Mehra.
Speaking on the campaign, Mehra adds, “The present campaign is the first stage of a broad marketing activity we are planning for the soap. Since Saat Phere is targeting the mass audience, the stress will be on on-ground activities. We will be tapping occasions like the Durga Pooja festival in Kolkata and the upcoming Delhi Marathon.”
Commenting on the decision to wind up Kareena Kareena, Mehra says, “The show was targeted at a specific audience and it has achieved its goal. The soap has contributed significantly to the channel in terms of sales, perception and image. Now it is time to move on.”
Digital
India leads global adoption of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in first week
From anime avatars to fantasy covers, users turn AI visuals into culture
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0, just a week after its launch by OpenAI, underlining the country’s growing influence on global internet trends.
While the tool was introduced as an advanced image-generation upgrade within ChatGPT, Indian users are quickly reshaping its purpose. Instead of sticking to productivity-led use cases, many are embracing it as a creative playground for self-expression, storytelling and online identity.
From anime-style portraits and cinematic headshots to tarot-inspired visuals and fictional newspaper front pages, the model is being used to create highly stylised, shareable content. Features such as accurate text rendering, multilingual prompts and the ability to generate detailed visuals with minimal input have helped drive rapid adoption.
What sets the latest model apart is its ability to “think” through prompts, generating multiple outputs and adapting to context, including real-time web inputs. But the bigger story lies in how users are engaging with it.
In India, trends are already taking shape. Popular formats include dramatic studio-style lighting edits, LinkedIn-ready headshots, manga-inspired avatars, soft pastel “spring” aesthetics, AI-led fashion moodboards, paparazzi-style visuals and fantasy newspaper covers. Users are also restoring old photographs, creating tarot-style imagery and experimenting with futuristic design concepts.
Local flavour is adding another layer. Prompts such as cinematic portrait collages and Y2K-inspired romantic edits are gaining traction, blending global aesthetics with distinctly Indian internet culture.
The surge reflects a broader shift in how AI tools are being used in the country, moving beyond utility to creativity. As younger users, creators and social media enthusiasts experiment with new visual formats, AI-generated imagery is increasingly becoming part of everyday digital expression.
If early trends hold, ChatGPT Images 2.0 may not just be a tech upgrade but a cultural moment, giving millions a new visual language to play with online.
