GECs
Karuna Samtani appointed COO SaharaOne Television
MUMBAI: Karuna Samtani has been appointed as the chief operating officer of SaharaOne Television, the television wing of SaharaOne. Sahara India has brought together its motion pictures, radio, television and special identity concerns under the single entity SaharaOne.
Samtani was earlier associated with Nimbus Communication Ltd., Pratham Media entertainment Pvt. Ltd., Star TV, Zee Telefilms Ltd. and advertising agencies including Contract, Hindustan Thompson, Enterprise Nexus and Ambience Advertising.
She had successfully launched and managed Zee TV, El TV and Siticable, says an official release. She has been the woman behind a range of shows like Antakshari, Tara, Banegi Apni Baat, Campus, Philips Top 10, Zee Horror Show, Hasratein, Hum Paanch, Sailaab, Amanat, TVS SaReGaMa, and Purush Shetra among others, the release adds.
Samtani has been quoted in the release as saying, “The challenge in TV always has been to make programmes that talk with the audience and that audience can relate to. At SaharaOne, we strive to create content that is entertaining, interesting and touches a chord in the viewer’s heart. There’s a new set of expectation arising from Indian audiences and we want to fulfill their expectations.”
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.
