GECs
Ekta Kapoor rounds off ‘Asiaweek’s’ Power 50 list
Balaji Telefilms’ creative director Ekta Kapoor is in the news again, and how. Indian television wonderkid’s hold on the popular pulse has been acknowledged by Asiaweek in its latest Power 50 list for 2001.
The Asiaweek survey on the region’s most influential communicators, technologists, artists, entrepreneurs and politicians, is all praise for the young TV serial producer, saying: “Since producing her first blockbuster television programme at 19, Ekta Kapoor has rewritten the script on TV entertainment for the masses. She has created more than 20 soaps on 10 major Indian networks; a comedy series she created ran for five years. The Indian showbiz community watches her every move, and older, more experienced producers are quick to copy any new Kapoor concept.
Being listed is the icing on the cake, literally speaking, for Kapoor, as it was only on Saturday that her staff threw a big birthday party for the soap specialist.
Other notable Indian names from the ICE world (information, communication, entertainment) on the list are Infosys chairman NR Narayanamurthy, who has has improved his ranking to 27 from 40 last year and editor of the “news and views” portal tehelka.com, Tarun Tejpal, ranked 48 because of his “expose” against government and military officials for allegedly accepting bribes.
A Malaysian of Indian origin T Ananda Krishnan, 63, who aims to become Southeast Asia’s answer to Rupert Murdoch is ranked 29.
“Having made his fortune from property, gaming and oil trading, Krishnan’s MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems offers high-quality alternatives to stodgy government programmes over 24 television and eight radio channels. His multiplex cinemas bring the latest movies to Malaysians. Ananda also plans to offer TV services featuring Web-based interactivity. The ethnic Tamil tycoon may be known as a recluse, but that has not stopped him from touching people’s lives every day.” Asiaweek says.
Talking of Murdoch, while he is not on the list son James Murdoch has been ranked 43. Installed as CEO last year Murdoch’s primary task is to work towards making the Southeast Asian operations of Star (mainland China in particular) profitable. Star’s India operations are its only profit-making venture at the moment and the younger Murdoch’s task is to change that.
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.
