News Broadcasting
250 not out: Simone Singh basks in Heena’s success
MUMBAI: On November 7, Henna on Sony TV will complete 250 episodes. And who can be happier about the show’s success than it’s lead protagonist Simone Singh!
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Singh says, “It is a great feeling to be part of a show which has run successfully for so long. The fact that the show has come so far clearly exemplifies that it has created a loyal viewership base.”
Singh started her television career with A Mouthful of Sky, an Indian English show on DD Metro. She went on to do popular serials like Swabhimaan, Superhit Muqabla, Chitrahaar, Sea Hawks and Hello Friends, among others.
Over the past five years, Singh has won several awards and nominations for the Best Actress for her title role in Henna. Another feather in her cap was when she was nominated as the Most Stylish Female on Television at the MTV Style Awards 2003.
Today, Singh is extremely choosy about her work. “Television actors are working 14 hours a day, for 30 days a month. I don’t want to be a part of such hectic schedules. Leave aside social life, where would that leave my family life?” she asks.
Singh believes that working for so long robs an actor of his acting capabilities. “One tends to stagnate, no matter how hard he may try not to,” she opines.
While Singh looks forward to get into films sometime in the future, she does not seem to be in a hurry to bag a role. “I will do films if the roles and the people are good,” she says.
However, Singh has dabbled in a few movies – like Ek Rishta, Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham, Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya Hai, Sur and Sssshhh… (Cinevistaas first home-production which released last week) – albeit in cameo roles. She will also make a guest appearance in Karan Johar’s Kal Ho Naa Ho (co-starring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan) which is expected to hit the theatres on 28 November.
On television, Singh has grabbed Aandhi – the next series on the on-going Chausatth Panne in Zee TV. Aandhi will be aired from 16 November. In this series, Singh plays a girl who has to conceal her identity, because she lives under the misconception that she has killed her boyfriend accidentally. Aandhi will also see Aamir Khan’s brother, Faisal Khan making a debut on television.
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
