News Broadcasting
‘Hasratein’ director ventures into film direction
After making a name for himself directing serials like Hasratein and Justujoo, Ajai Sinha is now ready to go 70 mm.
His first Bollywood directorial venture is titled The Bachelor. Produced by Mahendra Dhariwal (of Maa Tujhe Salaam fame) and written by Raghuveer Shekhawat and Sinha himself , the film is a romantic comedy, he says. As the name suggests, it’s the story of three bachelors- two collegians and one professor.
“It’s a story of youthful notoriety, fun, mischief and disguise,” says Ajai. Is the movie inspired by the success of Style? “No, not really. None of my projects even on TV have been inspired by other people’s work. Like my serials, this movie will be unique in its content and treatment.”
Has his decision to enter the movie arena got to do with his disillusionment with the TV scenario? “Yes and no. It is true that producers today have very little say as far as pushing their own stories/concepts are concerned and have no option but to do what the channels want them to. But none of my decisions in life have been taken out of compulsion. I had this story with me for the last five years. It’s just that with the small- budget movie scene looking up now, it was relatively easier for me to get a producer.
“But does that mean quits as far as his TV projects go?
“No way. Justujoo will go on for some time. So, TV will continue to be my bread and butter.”
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
