News Broadcasting
Jay Mehta to produce show for Zee, Sahara
MUMBAI: Jay Mehta, the son of film producer and distributor Pranlal Mehta, will be producing two new TV shows: Vishwas in the afternoon slot for Zee and another one for Sahara TV which is in the early stages of conceptualisation.
Mehta has acted in films such as Muskurahat and produced feature films such as 100 Days. On TV, he has earlier done shows such as Mujhe Door Koi Kiche (Zee), Jung (Doordarshan), Zara Suneye To (Sahara) and a Gujarati serial Karo Kankuna for Alpha Gujarati. Mehta is also waiting for the right script for his Gujarathi theatre project which he bills as his dream.
“Vishwas is a social thriller which will be aired in the afternoon. I have already finished shooting some episodes and am waiting for Zee’s officials to give me the exact telecast timings,” says Jay Mehta. Mehta however, states that that the Sahara project is in the early stages of conceptualisation.
Vishwas stars Vijayendra Ghatge, Gautam Chaturvedi, Anang Desai, Raju Kher and Usha Bachani amongst others. Mehta states that he has worked with Zee and is comfortable working with the programming team.
When queried about the difference between feature films and TV productions, Mehta says: “Both are similar in the sense that the hard work and creativity are part and parcel of the two separate mediums. On TV, one has to make some adjustments as the channel officials have a say in the scheme of things. In the case of films, one has a lot of freedom.”
Mehta also states that the channel’s creative team provides the independent producers with invaluable inputs about the look and feel of the show. “It is a combined effort. However, the independent producers have to assert themselves in certain creative aspects. The channels’ programming team shouldn’t interfere much in the scripts,” he adds.
Mehta has his own creative team and script-writers. The panel of experts comes up with various story ideas based on current affairs, literature and other sources.
When asked as to why he has no projects on DD, Mehta states:”I have had some good experiences during my earlier stint with Doordarshan. However, I don’t have much time on hand now to complete the extensive paper work and formalities. Also, I used to visit DD’s headquarters in Delhi often but haven’t done so in a long time.”
Mehta’s afternoon show on Zee will be eagerly awaited as it would fill in the void created by Balaji Telefilm’s production Kohi Apna Sa!
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.
