Factual
‘Kaalki’ may see launch post World Cup on Star
MUMBAI: Kaalki , the first special effects-based show from the Balaji stable, might finally see the light of day after the World Cup. The show was initially scheduled to be launched in November 2002.
“The channel is keen on Kaalki but since all the slots are full till April, the show will have to wait,” says Star India COO, Sameer Nair.
The launch of this show will thus bring an interesting twist to the talks centered around the conspicuous absence of the Balaji banner among the new shows launched on Star Plus.
“Kaalki, is targeted at the 5-17 age bracket and is based on a superhuman, somewhat on the lines of Batman or Superman,” confirms Balaji Telefilms COO, Rajesh Pavithran. Five episodes of the show have been shot till now, he adds.
Special attention is being given to the special effects for the show. “Most of the work, especially the special effects has been outsourced. We are working and reworking on the show to ensure that the superhuman character is believable and gets accepted by the young discerning audience,” adds Pavithran.
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Balaji says launching 2 shows in Q3
MUMBAI: India’s most famous hot seat is about to welcome an unlikely first-timer. For the first time on Hindi general entertainment television, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla will appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the iconic quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
The special episode marks a rare meeting point of boardroom heft and prime-time television, bringing one of India’s most influential business leaders face to face with the country’s most enduring screen legend. It is a crossover that blends intellect, leadership and popular culture, all under KBC’s familiar spotlight.
Birla’s appearance dovetails neatly with the show’s current theme, Jahaan Akal Hai, Wahan Akad Hai, which celebrates the confidence that comes from clarity of thought and knowledge. His presence lends weight to the idea that sharp thinking and conviction are as vital in life as they are in the quiz chair.
In a thoughtful conversation with Bachchan, Birla shared an upbeat view of India’s economic journey, pointing to the nation’s rapid growth and the scale of opportunity opening up across industries and communities. He spoke of momentum, ambition and a future shaped by enterprise and ideas.
The episode is not all serious talk. In lighter moments, Birla confessed his long-standing admiration for Bachchan, calling him his favourite actor and admitting to a touch of nervousness at answering questions in front of the Shahenshah himself. The candour adds a human touch to a man more often seen in headlines than on television sets.
The special episode airs on Monday, 29 December at 9.00 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.
