News Broadcasting
Kunika Lall calls it day at Sahara Samay
MUMBAI: Doesn’t seem like glamour works for Sahara. Film and television actor- turned television procuder Kunika Lall, who was appointed as senior producer by Sahara Samay Mumbai in September last year, has called it quits.
The lady, erstwhile in-charge of day to day operation at the news channel, told indiantelevision.com that she is opting out because of some creative differences.
According to Lall, “It was an interesting portfolio, unfortunately things didn’t work out. I don’t think that I was allowed to be an asset to the company. I was making no contributions and yet taking fat cheque home. I saw no point in doing that. Although I have moved out, I still have to put in my papers. I will be on ‘leave without pay’ for the next six months, starting 1 February. If something works with the channel till then, well and good.”
Lall, responsible for the news content on the channel, was reporting to the Mumbai head Rajiv Bajaj.
When contacted Bajaj offered, “Kunika is a talented lady. That is precisely the reason why I asked her to join the organisation but unfortunately things didn’t work out. We wanted some fresh perspective so we got her in. But she could not adjust to the pace of journalism I guess. Journalism is about pushing yourself to the limit, banging it first, which is definitely unlike films and she couldn’t acclimatize to it.”
“We aren’t looking for her replacement. We have sufficient people in the team right now, and I think we can manage pretty easily,” he added
As for Lall, she has film production on her agenda next. She had earlier dabbled with television production with Strivers and Achievers on DD 2, which was taken taken off after 12 episodes due to lack of sponsors. She offered that her maiden venture titled Karmic Connection under her banner Vinayakaa Entertainment will be an Indo-US co-production directed by her brother-in-law Deepak Tijori and financed by Ramesh Goyal and Divya Deep Patel. Karmic Connection is a rebirth story of two lovers, written by Sujata S Sabnis.
The venture was launched at Intercontinental The Grand, yesterday evening. While the cast is yet to be finalised, Lall announced that they would start shooting in June and the movie should hit the theatres before December 2004. She plans to shoot in San Francisco, Chicago and Mumbai.
Besides, she also plans to take up acting offers, both in television and films. She has spoken to producer of Zee’s Kittie Party to revive her role in the serial. She also plans to produce another film and a music album before the end of this year. “The story of my second film is ready. The music album would be a remix, but not racy,” she concluded. In the past, Lall has actually sung for two music albums Lakhon Mein Ek and Kunika (2002 Times Music).
Just recently, Lall launched an event management company Karma Events and Entertainment.
Lall’s husband, Vinay, who is director of operations at the California division of a restaurant chain Olive Garden, specially flew down from the US for the announcement of his wife’s film.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
