GECs
Deepti Naval returns to small screen with Sahara’s ‘Mukkammal’
MUMBAI: The 80s ‘chamko’ girl Deepti Naval will make a return to small screen this week. She will be joining the celebrated cast of Sahara Manoranjan with a new show titled Mukkammal. Debuting on 5 September, this weekly is scheduled to air every Friday at 8:30 pm.
Produced by Sahara India Mass Communication Ltd (SIMCL) along with Samay Creations, Mukkammal is a woman-oriented serial. It will tell the tale of a woman’s search for the complete man.
While Ravi Pandit and Ashok Pandit are the assigned producers, Raman Kumar, of Tara fame, will be the writer of the show. Drawing inspiration from Mahabharat, the show claims to be the story of a modern day Draupadi .
The protagonist Sumeesha, played by Naval, is a woman strong in her values, yet vulnerable in her needs. The story is about how she is attracted towards different men, five to be precise, for their qualities, and of her struggle to change their views about platonic relationships. Besides Naval, the cast includes Lalit Parimo, Anup Soni, Rahul Vora, Amit Behl and Bharat Kapoor as the five men; and Achint Kaur, Kiran Juneja, Nilima Azim, Meghna Malik in pivotal roles.
The theme song of the serial is composed and sung by Tauseef Akhtar and Nirja Pandit. Mukkammal will be replacing Bhagyashree’s Kagaz Ki Kashtti, yet another women oriented show, which has apparently completed its run. Although this isn’t her television debut, since the actor has previously worked in shows like Thoda Sa Aasman (as director-cum-actress) and as a lead in the first megaserial on AIDS Tanav, the show marks her return on the tube after a long time.
Speaking about the show Sahara Manoranjan, vice president (publicity and PR) Priya Raj says, “After award-winning serials like Kadam and Draupadi, Mukkammal, is yet another meaningful serial with a woman’s theme which our discerning viewers can really look forward to.”
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.
