News Broadcasting
BBC America is co-producing TV drama ‘Sharpe’s Challenge’ in India
MUMBAI: BBC America and Picture Palace Productions will co-produce the two part television miniseries Sharpe’s Challenge which will star Sean Bean who played the villain in the Bond film Goldeneye. The miniseries will be shot in India in Rajasthan from 3 November 2005 till Christmas and tells a story set during the time of the British Raj.
Written by Russell Lewis and produced by Malcolm Craddock and Muir Sutherland, Sharpe’s Challenge sees Sean Bean reprising his role as the swashbuckling hero. This is a prequel to the television series which had a succesful run in the UK on ITV and other territories in the 1990’s. In the story of the new project a year after Wellington crushes Napoleon at Waterloo, dispatches from India tell of a local Maharaja who is threatening British interests there. Wellington sends Sharpe to investigate on what turns out to be his most dangerous mission to date.
When a general’s daughter is kidnapped by an Indian warlord, the tension mounts, leaving Sharpe no option but to pursue the enemy right into its deadly lair. Deep in the heart of enemy territory he also has to keep at bay the beautiful but scheming Regent, Madhuvanthi, who is out to seduce him. the production crew will take advantage of
fort and palace locations that will showcase Rajasthan’s exotic locales. Needless to state there will be fight sequences featuring thousands of extras.
BBC Worldwide has completed a deal with Celtic Films Entertainment / Picture Palace Films to distribute both the ITV1 drama and the above mentioned international version of Sharpe’s Challenge. BBC Worldwide head of commercial development, independents Matt Forde said, “We are delighted that we have agreed a deal to distribute Sharpe’s Challenge. We feel this has all the ingredients to be a major international hit and we are thrilled to be taking Sharpe to the global market.”
Producers Muir Sutherland and Malcolm Craddock said, “We are excited to be making a new Sharpe production on location in India and are delighted that it will be shown in the UK on ITV1 and in the USA on BBC America. We also look forward to working closely with BBC Worldwide and 2|entertain in maximising Sharpe’s international value.” Meanwhile Bean who has gone on to star in high profile Hollywood films like Flightplan opposite Jodie Foster which will be released in India in a few days time is said to be keen to reprise his role as Sharpe.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
