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Balaji Telefilms ready to repeat ‘Kool’ success with ‘Koi Aap Sa’
MUMBAI: After the remarkable box office success of Kya Kool Hai Hum, soap factory Balaji Telefilms is ready with its next ‘K-toned’ offering Koi Aap Sa.
Slated for a 9 September release, the movie features Aftab Shivdasani and Kkavyanjali fame Natassha in the title roles. Made on a budget of Rs 50 million, the Parto Mitra-directed family drama is targeting a global release. According to a source close to the company, the distribution deals are being finalised now.
Interestingly, Koi Aap Sa is officially Balaji Telefilms’ maiden production. It is learnt that, during the making of Koi Aap Sa , Ekta Kapoor came upon the Kya Kool Hai Hum script and decided to make it first. The production number two Kya Kool Hai Hum thus became Balaji Telefilms’ first release. Kapoor went on to deliver her first ever box office hit with the movie which is now celebrating its fifty days.
Tusshar Kapoor is not featuring in the movie as he was pre-occupied with the Kya Kool Hai Hum assignment while Koi Aap Sa was being made.
Marketing innovations to continue
One of the key aspects of the financial success of Kya Kool Hai was the various marketing tie-ups Balaji had woven around the movie with brands including Spykar outlets, Pantaloons, Barista, Fun Replublic, INOX, Fame Adlabs and PVR Cinemas. Now for Koi Aap Sa, Balaji is chalking out its marketing strategies. According to sources, the company is also in talks with broadcaster Star India and it is given to believe that Balaji wants to promote the movie through Star Plus.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
