GECs
Goquest and Rains Pictures spark drama with new Turkish saga Arafta
MUMBAI: When love meets vengeance, sparks aren’t the only things that fly. Fresh off the global success of Kuma (The Other Wife), Goquest Media has greenlit its next premium Turkish drama, Arafta, teaming up with acclaimed production house Rains Pictures for what promises to be one of the most explosive sagas of the year.
Arafta, derived from “Araf,” meaning a fateful crossroads plunges its characters into a storm of love, betrayal, revenge, and redemption. At its centre is Mercan, played by İlsu Demirci, a young woman battling fate and survival, and Ateş, portrayed by Emin Günenç, whose intensity adds a raw edge to the tale. Their turbulent relationship forms the beating heart of this sweeping generational saga.
Goquest, already riding high on the acclaim for Kuma and its licensing success, is partnering with Rains Pictures, the studio behind Turkish hits Rüzgarlı Tepe (Winds of Love) and Kan Çiçekleri (Vendetta). Together, they aim to build on Turkey’s soaring global drama wave, where family feuds, star-crossed romances, and high-stakes storytelling have struck a chord with audiences from Latin America to South Asia.
“After the success of Kuma, Kan Çiçekleri, and Rüzgarlı Tepe, we’re thrilled to join forces with Sevda Kaygısız and Rains Pictures,” said Goquest Media managing director Vivek Lath. “With Arafta, we’re not just telling a story, we’re creating an unforgettable experience for global audiences.”
For Sevda Kaygısız of Rains Pictures, the collaboration is another step in cementing Turkish dramas’ dominance on the world stage. “This is a story where love, revenge, and destiny intertwine. With Goquest’s reach and our storytelling vision, Arafta will resonate far beyond Turkey,” she noted.
With Kuma already proving the make-to-sell model works in a crowded content market, Arafta signals Goquest Media’s growing ambition to marry local depth with international scale. The show is set to premiere globally soon, promising to tug at heartstrings and ignite debates in equal measure.
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.
