News Broadcasting
After India TV, Sharma to gear up for ent. channel
NEW DELHI: They say you really cannot forget your first love. And keeping his love story alive is Rajat Sharma, who promises to be back with his favourite Aap Ki Adalat show on India TV soon.
This time round, Sharma, chairman of India TV Pvt. Ltd., should not have much of a problem either. The channel is his own and Zee Telefilms Ltd, where Aap Ki Adalat was first conceived for Zee News by Sharma, is not making noises over copyright.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Sharma, showing child-like enthusiasm, said, “As soon as the set for Aap Ki Adalat is ready, the show would be on air.” Rubbing his hand in glee, while showing our cameraman around his state-of-the-art studio complex, he added for good measure, “This is the place (Adalat show) where I actually want to be.”
Asked, whether his former employer, Zee Telefilms, is likely to raise objections over India TV using a name of the programme that Zee had claimed to own the copyrights of, a confident Sharma said, “I don’t think either Zee or its promoter, Subhash Chandra, would stoop to such levels. The matter has been sorted out.”
So protective is Sharma about his first TV love that he even refused pictures to be taken of the in-the-making brand new set of the Adalat show. For record’s sake, the new set is being designed by filmdom’s maverick set designer, Nitin Desai, in a studio complex where even the lighting arrangements are computerised.
Sharma owes most of his claim to fame to Aap Ki Adalat, which had a successful run on Zee News — till Sharma and Zee fell apart after almost five years of association in the late 1990s.
But if Sharma’s love is blooming — “I have always wanted to start a news channel that would fight for the common man’s interest,” says he — his wife and business partner, Ritu Dhawan, is waiting for her turn under the sun.
A self-confessed low-profile person, Dhawan’s dream is to start an entertainment channel, which is next in line after India TV.
Pointing out that though for the moment India TV is the passion for both, Sharma admitted, “I have promised her an entertainment channel and she’d have one.” So, if NDTV, TV Today Network and Times TV are all thinking of having a number of channels in their respective stables, so is India TV.
“The concept for the entertainment channel that I have is different and, in all probability, work on it should start sometime next year,” Dhawan said.
The duo can afford to think big. After all, they are owners of one of the most swanky studio complexes not only in the country, but in the whole of Asia. Built on an area of 80,000 sq ft. the campus has four studios, all designed to air live programming simultaneously.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
