GECs
Karishma, Sridevi serials on Sahara TV in April, June 2003
MUMBAI: Sahara TV is firming up its plans to leverage its mega serials starring Bollywood stars during the forthcoming summer vacations. Also, the free-to-air Sahara channel will showcase the serials before the 14 July 2003 deadline when conditional access system will become a reality in the metros.
Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor’s TV debut Karisma The Miracle of Destiny will launch on 28 April on Sahara TV. The serial will be aired Mondays to Thursdays at prime time. According to Sahara Media and Entertainment head Sumit Roy, the serial will be of a finite duration and will not exceed 262 episodes.
The second attraction of Sahara TV will be the Sridevi starrer Hamari Bahu Malini Iyer that will go on air by end May or first week of June.
This serial too, will be aired Mondays to Thursdays at prime time, in conjunction with Karisma The Miracle of Destiny and will be telecast for a finite 208 episodes.
The end of the year will see the debut of Amitabh Bachchan in the capacity of an actor in another mega serial. Roy refused to divulge details about the Bachchan starrer.
“We will be in the top bracket of entertainment channels within a year,” promises Roy.
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.
