GECs
Brick by Brick Zee TV Builds a Family Saga With Lakshmi Niwas
MUMBAI: For India’s joint families, the wishlist is short but stubborn, a roof of one’s own and daughters settled with dignity. Lakshmi Niwas leans into that truth, launching a family drama that treats everyday sacrifice as its main character rather than a footnote.
Staying aligned with Zee TV’s ‘Aapka Apna Zee’ philosophy, the show places its lens on the emotional arithmetic of middle-class households, where traditions tug one way and younger aspirations pull another. The story centres on Lakshmi and Srinivas, a couple who have spent 35 years in a rented home, choosing family needs over personal wants. Retirement finally gives them the courage to chase two long-deferred dreams, building a house and marrying their daughters. The cost is not financial alone; the journey tests love, expectations and the meaning of togetherness.
Manasi Joshi Roy plays Lakshmi, a devoted wife and mother of six who quietly holds the family together. She describes the role as instantly familiar, reflecting women who shoulder responsibility without applause, evolve with time and draw strength from values rather than volume. Her Lakshmi is resilient, emotionally grounded and recognisable in kitchens and courtyards across the country.
Opposite her, veteran actor Rajendra Chawla essays Srinivas, the respected family head whose wealth lies in goodwill rather than savings. For him, a home is not bricks and walls but security and belonging. He frames the show’s appeal in its honesty, capturing the silent compromises of fathers who put family first and dreams later.
The narrative is supported by a strong ensemble including Gashmeer Mahajani, Akshita Mudgal, Mansi Srivastava and Sulakshana Khatri, adding texture to a layered family portrait. Producer Rashmi Sharma Telefilms calls the series a story about dreams postponed but never forgotten, crafted to feel lived-in rather than lofty.
For the channel, the launch reinforces a familiar promise. Zee TV, chief channel officer Mangesh Kulkarni atpositions the show as a celebration of relationships and everyday realities, balancing tradition with change in households navigating modern pressures.
Lakshmi Niwas premieres on January 12, 2026, airing daily at 8 pm, only on Zee TV. In an era of spectacle, it bets on something simpler and sturdier: the power of a well-told family story, built patiently, brick by emotional brick.
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.
