GECs
Annu Kapoor returns to the small screen with ‘Family Antakshri’
NEW DELHI: Sab has become the most profitable channel of the Sony chain with a revenue growth of 900 per cent in the last seven and a half years, according to senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor.
Speaking on the sidelines of a new series being launched by Sab, he said viewership had gone up by 600 per cent in the same period in what he termed as the only channel that telecasts comedy and light-hearted family entertainment in the country.
While the daily original programming is around three hours, the weekly programming is of twenty hours.
Renowned character actor Annu Kapoor who is remembered for his ‘Antakshari’ series he launched, said he had always had an interest in music and ran the original series for thirteen years before other channels came up with other ideas for music-filled reality shows.
Anooj Kapoor accompanied by Annu Kapoor announced the launch of a special Antakshari show on Sab that will involve the entire family from the youngest member to the grandparents in a fun-filled melodic musical game show titled Family Antakshari- Baithe Baithe Kya Kare.
The show by Gajendra Singh from Saaibaba Productions will have Annu Kapoor seated on the prestigious position of Shri Antakshari, to be hosted by the talented Mantra and multi-faceted Sugandha Mishra.
The one hour show will be aired on weekends at 8 pm from 27 September. The game will involve multiple interactive rounds with the contestants and the audience.
Anooj Kapoor said,“At Sab we are always eager to offer innovative content to our loyal viewers. With Family Antakshari, we are presenting the traditional activity in a different style to involve every member of the family in the game. True to the channel’s brand ideology of ‘Asli Mazaa Sab Ke Saath Aata Hai’, the show will highlight the positives of the joint family system. Participating families will enjoy Antakshari as they will be taken through a joyful ride of symphonies along with Annu Kapoor, Mantra and Sugandha. Gajendra has tasted success with his music shows across different genres and I am positive he shall repeat the same with Sab’s Family Antakshari. ”
Singh said that the activity is loved by all irrespective of age. Says he, “We have designed innovative rounds to test the knowledge of our participants. Families across the country shall love to watch the show and be a part of the musical fest.”
Family Antakshari will comprise multiple unique rounds for the contesting families such as the karaoke round ‘bol ho gaye gol’ where the participants will be shown songs with missing words and they would need to sing the complete version. Another round, ‘Nautanki’, involves anchors enacting a famous scene/dance step from a movie and the participants need to guess and sing any song from that particular movie. A competition is not over without a fast-paced buzzer round, ‘Har Dhun kuchh kehti hai’ where participants need to identify the tune and sing the correct song. Another round would be ‘Aao Twist karein’.
‘AnnuJi Ki Googly’, a special round will have the judge fielding different questions and clues about Hindi movies and songs to the participating families and they will have to identify the same and sing the correct song to win points.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
