GECs
Balaji Telefilms hires new creative director, Chloe Ferns
MUMBAI: Today, folks at Balaji Telefilms are popping champagne as they welcome back senior resource and old friend Chloe Ferns as the new creative director of the company. This top change in Balaji Telefilms comes after the news that Creative director Tanusri Dasgupta has stepped down after being at the company for nearly 12 years.
It’s her first day at the job and Chloe already feels at home. “Balaji has always been home to me, and my first day at work gives me that feeling of homecoming. I am excited to work with some of the greatest creative minds in the business, and churn out compelling content,” says Ferns.
Ferns has had 13 years experience in television working with Balaji Telefilms in an earlier stint initially, followed by Chasing Ganesha Films, Nautanki Films, KeyLight, Seventy, among others.
Ferns will be reporting to joint managing director Ekta Kapoor and will be responsible for all the content being created under the production house.
Amongst the shows that are doing well for Balaji Telefilms are Ye Hai Mohabattein, Kavach, Kalash, KumKum Bhagya, Pavitra Bandhan and Yeh Kahaan Aa Gaye Hum. This apart, the production house is also churning out regional TV productions.
Meanwhile, if sources at Balaji Telefilms are to be believed, Dasgupta is leaving Balaji Telefilms to study in the US. Over the years, she has worked very closely with Ekta Kapoor.
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.
