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Friends: The Reunion set for Indian TV premiere on 1 August
New Delhi: This International Friendship Day, Zee English cluster is set to delight its viewers and stir nostalgia with one of the most popular TV shows. The much-anticipated reunion- FRIENDS: The Reunion will air across several channels of the ZEE network on Sunday, 1 August.
According to the announcement, the show will premiere across 12 ZEE channels – Zee Cafe, &flix, &PriveHD, Zee TV HD, Zee Cinema HD, &Pictures HD, &xplorHD Zee Marathi HD, Zee Telugu HD, Zee Bangla HD, Zee Kannada HD and Zee Keralam HD.
Audiences will be able to watch it on Zee Cafe, &flix and &PrivéHD at 12PM, 5PM and 9PM on Zee Café and 1PM and 9PM on &flix and &PriveHD.
ZEEL, business head, premium channels, Kartik Mahadev said, “Circa early 2000, Zee Cafe was amongst the first few English English GEC channels and ‘FRIENDS’ grew in its popularity in India with Cafe. Today, FRIENDS returns home with this iconic reunion. It brings us immense joy to present the Indian TV premiere of FRIENDS: The Reunion. It’s a show that has stood the test of time, grown in popularity, it’s iconic moments passed on through generations as it truly reunites friends and peers to spend quality we-time together. We couldn’t be more delighted to bring This content as part of the Friendships Day block on Zee Cafe.”
For a generation and after, Friends, which ran from 1994 to 2004, had a massive following. To date, it is one of the more popular series on Netflix, even after almost 27 years since its first episode was aired on TV.
This May, the cast of the show- Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer had reunited for a special celebration of the beloved comedy series for the first time in 17 years. The show honors the iconic series with a hilarious and heartfelt night full of laughter and tears. Taped on the original soundstage, FRIENDS: The Reunion finds the cast and a star-studded roster of special guests as they relive the show’s unforgettable moments. There are special appearances from David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Larry Hankin, Mindy Kaling, Tom Selleck, Reese Witherspoon and Malala Yousafzai.
Making the wait worthwhile, the ZEE English cluster has also announced an exciting two-week Friendship fiesta leading up to D-Day. On Zee Café, prepare to hang out with Seinfeld and his friends in the show about nothing starting 1 July, weeknights at 7. From 19 to 25 July every day at 7PM, &flix and &PriveHD will present a special friendship-themed curation that features tales that are sure to take you on a trip down memory lane. Closer to the premiere of FRIENDS: The Reunion, the English movie channels will air a special curation of movies featuring the cast of FRIENDS such as Easy A, The Whole Nine Yards, The Bounty Hunter, Charlie’s Angels and more!
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.
