GECs
‘Antakshri’ makes 400th episode splash for Gujarat’s earthquake-affected
MUMBAI: Close Up Antakshri, the successful game and entertainment show from Zee TV which completed its 400th episode this week, has just added another feather in its cap.
As part of the celebrations marking the occasion a series of special shows have been organised, the proceeds of which are going towards the rehabilitation efforts in earthquake-hit Gujarat.
That is not all. Children from Aasra, a home for underprivileged orphans in Mumbai, also benefited and took away Rs 100,000 in winnings from the show on Wednesday at Water Kingdom in Esselworld, Mumbai’s premier amusement park.
Shooting for the forthcoming 14 special episodes of Close Up Antakshri are being shot at Water Kingdom to mark its seventh consecutive year on air. Though the children from Aasra won a total of Rs 200,000, half of the winnings went towards the earthquake relief fund and the remainder to Aasra, a CRY-funded (Child Relief and You) organisation. The winning amount was presented by model Aditi Gowatikar who recently lifted the Mrs World title, another one of India’s rapidly increasing tribe of international beauty pageant winners. Half of the winnings of all the episodes are going towards earthquake relief.
Close Up Antakshri introduced the game format in October last year, and has given out Rs 12.8 million as winning amounts since joining the bandwagon of game shows dominated by the likes of Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Anchored by Anu Kapoor and actress Rajeshwari Sachdev, the show had its lows and highs. The audience went dead silent at times when the pace of music slowed and had to be rescued by Kapoor who is an old hand at this. Kapoor has been on the show since its inception. Nevertheless, with the serene ambience of Water Kingdom, the show received a good response from people.
The brainchild of director-producer Gajendra Singh, the stage was created amidst the waves. Also participating in the event were personalities from the film world like Asrani, Sashikala, Joy Mukherjee, Johra Sehgal, Vishwajeet, and Shobha Khote.
Zee is all geared up for the grand finale episode where Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal will be a participant. Various aerial camera angles of this show will be shot though the Deccan Aviation-sponsored (India’s largest helicopter company) helicopters on Friday when the fund raising will rest on Bhujbal’s shoulders. Fourteen earthquake-affected families will be benefited from the contributions collected.
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.
