News Broadcasting
Entertainment One, Sahar still together: production house clarifies
MUMBAI: Entertainment One, Manmohan Shetty’s film production house, has issued a notice yesterday stating that all is well between them and their associates Sahara India Mass Communication.
The production house unwittingly found itself at the centre of an imbroglio, when Sahara withdrew its involvement from the Ketan Mehta/Bobby Bedi-produced film Mangal Pandey – The Rising, last fortnight.
The reason: Entertainment One was financing the film and Sahara has a stake in the company.
In an attempt break the ice, the production house has issued a company release stating, “Sahara India is very much an integral part of the The Rising and ‘not mere guests at the mahurat of the film’ as misquoted by some section of the media.”
The problem between Sahara and the producers began when the lead actress Aishwarya Rai, who is incidentally a director with Sahara, was ousted from the film by Bedi.
Immediately, Sahara decided to sever ties with the film and issued a press statement saying, “We shall never continue any association where the concerned people shall not care for the respect of our Pariwar and Pariwar people… We should have been intimated and consulted before Rai was so unceremoniously thrown out of the project.”
Dragging Entertainment One into the issue, media reports had quoted Bedi as saying, “Entertainment One is still financing the film and that is what matters to us.”
However, the company release issued by the production house clarifies, “Probably due to lack of communication, some issues have been misinterpreted regarding the role of Sahara in the film. We would like to bring to light that we had entered a memorandum of understanding with Sahara to financially assist a few film projects including The Rising.”
The release says, “It is unfortunate that due to a certain issues related to Ms Rai, Sahara has had to take a stand to pull out of the project, and we respect the decision.”
The release concludes saying, “Entertainment One and Sahara Pariwar would like to have a longstanding relationship in time to come.”
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
