GECs
Colors launches the new season of ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ with Rohit Shetty
Mumbai: Hosted by a Bollywood filmmaker, the popular stunt-based reality show produced by Endemol Shine India Khatron Ke Khiladi is back on Colors, according to a company statement on Monday.
Last year, the show broke significant records by becoming the number one non-fiction programme in the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) space for the financial year 2022 (on 2+) reaching 168 million viewers across India.
Returning with an exciting new season, Khatron Ke Khiladi will see many electrifying contestants challenging their innermost fears and taking on many thrilling and gruelling tasks in the picturesque locations of Cape Town, South Africa. Ace filmmaker and an epitome of action Rohit Shetty will return as the host leading and mentoring the daring troop in their journey.
Extending their association for the new season, Maruti Suzuki once again comes on board as the presenting sponsor while ‘Charged’ by Thums Up has been signed on as the powered by the sponsor for the new season of the show. This season will feature popular faces including Rubina Dilaik, Sriti Jha, Shivangi Joshi, Mohit Malik, Erika Packard, Aneri Vajani, Kanika Mann, Tushar Kalia, Faisal Shaikh, Chetna Pande, Nishant Bhat, Rajiv Adatia, Jannat Zubair and Pratik Sehajpal who will set out on an action-filled journey in Cape Town.
Colors Viacom18 revenue head Pavithra KR said, “Khatron Ke Khiladi is our flagship property and has become synonymous with action on Indian television. The previous season was the number 1 non-fiction property in the Hindi GEC category, and we are excited about its return. Given the show’s popularity, it serves as a great opportunity for advertisers to engage with and reach out to their audience. We are excited to once again associate with Maruti Suzuki as the presenting sponsor and welcome onboard ‘Charged’ by Thums Up as the powered sponsor for the show and look forward to a great partnership. The new season will see a powerful ensemble of contestants experiencing the thrill and adventure with the action maestro Rohit Shetty.”
Filmmaker Rohit Shetty said, “Khatron Ke Khiladi is special to me, and I am delighted to be back. This season, the adventure and entertainment quotient is going to increase manifolds with new and innovative stunts designed by me. It’s always an honour to be such an integral part of the show’s journey and it’s always our endeavour to take the show to greater heights. Cape Town is an incredibly amazing high action ground and with this exceptional mix of daredevil contestants, it is going to be extremely exciting.”
Maruti Suzuki India senior executive director, marketing and sales Shashank Srivastava commented, “We are excited to be a part of season 12 of Khatron Ke Khiladi. This is our fourth association with Khatron Ke Khiladi in a row and the partnership has only gone from strength to strength. Khatron Ke Khiladi is an extremely popular show and has created a niche for itself, especially amongst the youth of our country.”
He added, “At Maruti Suzuki, we constantly strive to bring out more youthful and dynamic imagery. We are extremely delighted to associate the iconic Swift with Khatron Ke Khiladi, which since its launch in 2005 has revolutionized the premium hatchback segment in India. The all-new Swift stands out from the crowd and has earned the love of nearly 2.4 million customers with its upright stance, sporty performance and unmistakable road presence which emphasizes individuality. Our partnership with the show resonates with Swift’s proposition of performance and being limitless. We believe that the Khatron Ke Khiladi contestants of this season will bring ‘Limitless Action’ to the viewers through their ‘Limitless Performances’ on the show.”
Coca-Cola, India & Southwest Asia head of integrated marketing experiences Sumeli Chatterjee said, “We have recently introduced ‘Charged’ by Thums Up to the Indian market, and we are excited with the immense consumer applause and appreciation that has been received for this electrifying drink. With double caffeine and double kick, this beverage is a perfect partner to the action-packed Khatron Ke Khiladi franchise. We are thrilled to be part of this season.”
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
