GECs
COLORS returns with ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 14’
Mumbai: Get ready to redefine your notion of a ‘tourist trap’ as COLORS presents the 14th edition of stunt-based show ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’, rewriting the script of vacationing by taking its troop of phobia fighters to Romania for the first time. With the theme ‘Darr ki Nayi Kahaniyaan in Romania…’, this fearsome getaway is sure to shake even the most daring preparations of its contestants. Amid all the novelty of this edition, one aspect of the show remains constant with filmmaker and award-winning TV host, Rohit Shetty making a comeback and mentoring the daredevils with his legendary experience. Produced by Endemol Shine India, Hyundai presents ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 14’, special partners Indica Easy Hair Color and Vicks, associate partners Smith & Jones Pasta Masala and Ambuja Cement, premieres on 27 July and thereafter will air every Saturday – Sunday at 9:30 pm only COLORS.
At the outset, viewers will be treated to a grand entrance as Rohit Shetty descends from the skies in a chopper, only to land in a high-octane car chase that leads him to board the iconic European open-air red bus. That’s not all, the daredevil contestants will hop on this bus from the popular Romanian landmarks. Little do they know; their sightseeing tour is about to become an adrenaline-packed adventure! This season’s itinerary of thrills will stamp spine-chilling moments and panic on the contestants’ passports with a new theme every week. After all, variety is the spice of fright! From planes to trains, buses to cable cars – no mode of transport is safe from its devious challenges. And in a hair-raising first, these bravehearts will come face-to-face with Romania’s fierce bears, making it an epic showdown of the khiladis vs. bears!
Viacom18 president – general entertainment Alok Jain said, “For 13 thrilling years, Khatron Ke Khiladi has been at the fore of courage-testing entertainment, reserving its place in the hearts of millions. Going from strength to strength, the flagship show has created a legacy of fearless adventures, and this upcoming season will redefine it with new themes each week. The show will be taking its tradition of fear-conquering to new heights as it touches down in Romania for the first time. Its legacy, records of high viewership, strong social media presence, and loyal audience make it an ideal platform for advertisers seeking exceptional impact and reach within their intended demographic. This season, we’re revving up the excitement with a groundbreaking partnership, welcoming Hyundai as our presenting sponsor for the first time. Together, we’ll be shifting gears, making the most of this thrilling ride of adventures. We are delighted to have Rohit Shetty mark a decade of hosting this show, bringing his signature style and blockbuster energy to inspire and guide the contestants through their adrenaline-pumping challenges.”
Host Rohit Shetty said, “Facing fears head-on has been the very essence of Khatron Ke Khiladi and as we gear up for our 14th season in Romania, we’re not just changing locations – we’re rewriting the rulebook. This season, our contestants are in for the ride of their lives as we’re cranking up the heat with challenges that will push their absolute limits. I am looking forward for viewers to experience the season’s grand premiere.”
Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India founder & group CEO Deepak Dhar said, “We at Endemol Shine India are proud to watch Khatron Ke Khiladi become the epitome of action & adventure- packed entertainment in India. Bringing the international format of Fear Factor to India in itself was an exciting stunt for us, which we have been successfully performing for 14 years now. This year, Romania’s stunning landscapes will serve as the backdrop for the most innovative challenges of its our most loved television faces. We thank our host, Rohit Shetty, who has been the backbone of this show for a decade, bringing his massive experience in action to the course of performing stunts. The stage is set for a season that will captivate and thrill like never before. Besides, we believe that our strong association with COLORS is what catapults this show to new heights every year.”
This year, an all-star lineup of 12 contestants is set to bring their unique brand of bravery to Romania. The roster includes ‘Bigg Boss’ alumni Shilpa Shinde, Abhishek Kumar, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia, Shalin Bhanot, and Asim Riaz; Marathi superstar Gashmeer Mahajani, actress Sumona Chakravarti; fitness enthusiast Krishna Shroff making her TV debut; and fiction actors Karan Veer Mehra, Kedar Aashish Mehrotraa, Niyati Fatnani, and Aditi Sharma transitioning to reality TV. In the new season, viewers can expect entertaining dynamics, with Abhishek and Shalin tagged as “Chote Miyaan Bade Miyaan” for their newfound friendship, and Karan and Shilpa dubbed “ShiKaar” for their playful pranks. Abhishek’s attempts to charm Romanian girls with his tooti-footi English and Sumona’s surprising transition from comedy queen to stunt performer will be a treat to watch. With this explosive mix of charisma and courage, ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 14’ promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, offering the only haven amid heart-racing action.
GECs
ZEEL overhauls sales structure to chase growth across TV and digital platforms
New structure sharpens digital push as viewing habits fragment fast
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. is reshuffling its sales playbook as it looks to keep pace with a fast-changing media landscape, where audiences are scattered, screens are multiplying and advertisers are following the data.
According to media reports, the rejig is anchored in the company’s push to build a more integrated, data-led monetisation engine, one that can straddle both traditional television and fast-growing digital platforms with equal ease.
At the heart of the move is a reworked sales architecture designed to deliver cross-platform solutions. With connected TV gaining ground and digital consumption surging, ZEEL is aligning its teams to move quicker, think broader and sell smarter.
The restructuring is being led by chief operating officer, advertisement revenue, Sandeep Mehrotra, at a time when the company says it is seeing tremendous growth. The idea is simple: match the right talent to the right opportunity in a market that is anything but static.
As part of the overhaul, several long-serving executives have been elevated to chief sales officer roles across regions and content clusters. Sanjoy Chatterjee will head the east market, while Gunjarav Nayak takes charge of the west along with high-margin verticals such as hmg, brand works, intellectual properties and digital sales. Rajnish Gupta will oversee bengaluru and chennai markets alongside the kannada and tamil clusters.
In other key moves, Divjyot Dhanda will lead hyderabad and kochi markets and manage zee tv, zee keralam and the telugu cluster. Roshan Vasu Kotian will supervise a diverse portfolio including Zee Marathi, &tv, Zee Punjabi, Zee Anmol, Big Magic and Zee Biskope.
The company is also strengthening its bench, appointing national sales heads across retail, regional clusters, digital and brand solutions. Ankur Kapila’s appointment to lead digital sales signals a sharper push into a segment that continues to outpace traditional formats.
Behind the scenes, dedicated strategy and operations roles have been carved out for both linear and digital businesses. Nitin Shetty, Rajkiran Shrivastav and Priya Nambiar will take on key responsibilities to ensure the new structure runs with precision.
The broader aim is clear. ZEEL wants a bigger slice of advertising budgets that are steadily drifting towards digital and connected TV ecosystems. By integrating its offerings, the company hopes to deepen client relationships while unlocking new revenue streams.
The new structure takes effect immediately, with Mehrotra continuing to report to chief executive officer Punit Goenka and steer the company’s advertising revenue strategy. Senior executive Laxmi Shetty will support the transition, with her revised role expected to be announced soon.
In a market where content is everywhere but attention is scarce, ZEEL’s latest move is less about rearranging the org chart and more about staying in the game.
