GECs
Afternoon soap ‘Bhabhi’ launches on Star Plus Monday
Don’t fiddle too much with a formula that works. Star India and UTV keep these parameters top of the mind in the making of Bhabhi, a daily afternoon soap set to launch on Monday, 18 March.
Bhabhi (brother’s wife), a half hour family drama, replaces Sanskruti, which has completed it’s year-long run, in the 1:30 pm slot and continues in the tradition of the the great Indian soap. The USP of this particular serial appears to be that there are no scheming in-laws plotting each other’s downfall. The twists and turns in the plot are provided by happenstance.
With the launch of Bhabhi, both the main afternoon soaps on Star Plus are UTV productions. And if the serial brings in anywhere close to the kind of ratings that UTV’s other offering Shagun delivers, then all concerned with the project will have more than enough reason to smile.
The serial, which has been mainly shot on sets in Mumbai’s Gemini Studios as well as some outdoor locations, is sceduled to run for a year, UTV creative director Neeraj Naik says.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
