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Colors to premiere new dance reality show ‘Dance Deewane Juniors’ on 23 April
Mumbai: Colors has announced a new dance reality show called “Dance Deewane Juniors” that will see 4–14-year-olds performing solos, duos and groups and competing with each other. Produced by Frames Production, the show will premiere on 23 April and air every Saturday and Sunday at 9 p.m.
The judges for the show will be Neetu Kapoor, Nora Fatehi, and Marzi Pestonji. Television actor Karan Kundrra will be the host of the show.
“At Colors, it has always been our endeavour to offer a wide variety of content to our viewers and encourage the best of talent from across the nation,” said Viacom18 head Hindi mass entertainment and Kids TV network Nina Elavia Jaipuria. “After the outstanding success of our flagship property ‘Dance Deewane,’ we now present Dance Deewane Juniors, a dance show dedicated to kids. With an extraordinary panel of judges and an outstanding lineup of contestants, the show will raise the bar of entertainment and strengthen our weekend offerings.”
The show will feature the dance group ‘ABCD Little Angels’ including performers Rithyha, Navya, Janvi, Shanaya and Myra, the dancing duo of Urva and Ask and solo performers Geet Kaur Bagga, Aditya Vinod Patil and Anshika Dhara. The show will also have ace dancers such as Tushar Shetty, Pratik Utekar, and Sonali Kar as mentors training and nurturing the craft of the contestants.
“Kids are a powerhouse of talent and passionate about dance,” said Viacom18 chief content officer Hindi mass entertainment Manisha Sharma. “With ‘Dance Deewane Juniors,’ we aim to celebrate their spirit and give them a larger-than-life platform. We have an array of performers and a promising line-up of contestants from different parts of the country who have given their heart and soul to their art form and ‘Dance Deewane Juniors’ will give flights to their dreams.”
“’Dance Deewane Juniors’ is our promising new venture that will give a platform to young dancers that deserve to be recognised and lauded,” said Frame Production Company’s Ranjeet Thakur and Hemant Ruprell. “The juniors have packed a powerful punch with their jaw-dropping and astounding performances in the audition round itself. The viewers are in for a complete treat as we double the entertainment as the season progresses. We are certain that as we go along, these contestants will get the right nurturing and grooming under the guidance of our mentors and respected judges.”
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.
