GECs
‘Achanak’ back on SET – with new look, new format
MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is making a return to the tried and tested as far as the supernatural thriller format is concerned.
Taking a leaf out of the success that the earlier Aahat had achieved as a weekly, SET has launched a new season of Achanak -37 Saal Baad in a weekly one-hour episode format. The serial airs every Monday from 10 pm to 11 pm.
The last season of Achanak…, which was a half-hourly daily show, concluded with the end of the evil Ajinkya in a battle with hero, Ajay. An official release informs that the battle between good and evil rages on in the new series when Ajay comes back to life and Ajinkya’s malicious spirit returns in search of a human form, causing terror and mayhem.
indiantelevision.com spoke to Shreedhar Raghavan, the writer of the series, who said, “We have changed the entire format of the show and made it more flexible. The new season contains several mini-stories. Every story in this series will stretch only up to three to four episodes. After that we’ll have another story with the same central characters but a different plot.”
Raghavan said that while the central characters – Ajay and Ajinkya – remain the same, they have added a lot on new characters to the show.
“We have worked out 12 such short stories presently,” he said, “If they do well, we will work on another 40-45 plots.” The screenplay is handled by Rajat Arora.
SET’s executive vice president Sunil Lulla said, “We have successfully entertained TV viewers with our range of thrillers like CID, Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat, and Aahat. Achanak, in its all new format, retains the essence of good versus evil in a contemporary gripping series.”
With the introduction of Achanak at the 10 pm -11 pm slot on Mondays, it seems like SET is reserving the band for supernatural psycho thrillers. From Tuesday to Thursday, the channel shows one-hour reruns of Kya Hadsaa… in the same band.
When queried on this, Raghavan said, “Thrillers are pacy and can keep the audience hooked. That’s why, SET has cashed in on so many thrillers.”
GECs
Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe win Masterchef India season finale
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor joins judges for emotional MasterChef finale
MUMBAI: The latest season of MasterChef India concluded on a high note, with brothers Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe crowned winners in the grand finale aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
The duo from Nagpur lifted the coveted trophy and donned the show’s signature golden apron after a season that celebrated India’s diverse culinary traditions under the theme “Pride of India”.
This edition of the popular cooking reality show introduced a new jodi format, with 50 pairs from across the country competing in the Masterchef kitchen. Contestants brought personal stories, regional flavours and family bonds to the competition.
The grand finale featured the final three pairs: Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe (brothers), Saisree and Chanda (mother and daughter), and Anju and Manju (sisters).
The finale was attended by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who joined the show’s judging panel comprising Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur.
Kapoor said the show has long served as a platform to celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage and provide passionate home cooks with a national stage. He noted that the current season reflected a confident India that takes pride in its roots while embracing new culinary ideas.
Judge Vikas Khanna said the contestants’ journeys and the memories created during the season would remain with the team long after the show’s conclusion. Ranveer Brar described the show as a family that continues to grow with every season, while Kunal Kapur praised the contestants’ creativity and determination.
With the finale now concluded, the latest season of MasterChef India once again highlighted how food can reflect identity, heritage and storytelling, inspiring home cooks across the country to pursue their culinary ambitions.
