GECs
Malhotra’s Alchemy to launch five shows in ’17
MUMBAI: One show old in the television industry, the name Alchemy Productions might sound new to the world but the person leading the production house is definitely not new. His production house plans to launch five show in 2017.
Director-producer Siddharth P Malhotra has been in the industry for over a decade now.
Apart from the shows, Malhotra, who also directed “We Are Family,” is working on his second film now, with a leading production house. Malhotra is also planning to launch a new division in his company, which will produce plays for theatres.
Known for shows such as ‘Dil Mil Gaye,’ ‘EK Hazaaro Me Meri Behna Hai,’ ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ and many more, the producer has also been known for his family business Cinevistaas Productions. He is well-versed with the art and craft of creating shows, which were produced under the banner of Cinevistaas.
Talking about the split, Malhotra said, “Cinevistaas was getting into the development of land, studio and aimed at other things in life. I was more keen in the production aspect of it. My job was only to be a creative and not get into production. There comes a point when everybody needs to grow. And, if you are not ready to willingly give me those responsibilities, then bless me and free me. We are family, and I am not splitting away but i need to start of my own.”
2016 is the year when Malhotra decided to move out from Cinevistaas, and start his own production house Alchemy along with his wife Sapna. The production house launched its first show Ichhapyaari Naagin for Sab TV in September.
“I pretty much started from scratch, literally with almost nil bank balance. I have been lucky as the people I have been associated with for so long stood by me, including the channels. I went to Anooj (Kapoor) sir with the concept in Sab TV and I told him this is my concept, and I want to do it on my own. He knew me from the time Sab TV launched. He liked my concept and said, “Let’s do it.”
“Before that, we worked on ‘Lo Ho Gai Pooja Iss Ghar Ki.’ Raghuvir Shekhawat is writing all my shows, but I am unsure about his pay packet. From this, you would know the mutual trust among us,” he said. “I have with me Santram Sharma too; at present he is not doing any show but he stood by me like a rock. I am very fortunate to be working with such interesting people,” he added.
The four-month-old company, which started with a single show for Sony Pictures Network’s comedy channel Sab TV, is now working on five shows for all the leading Hindi GECs in India. “The struggle has been on how to put things together and getting the right people,” Malhotra said.
Alchemy is fully owned by Malhotra and his wife Sapna.
Talking about his upcoming shows, he said Alchemy was producing a family drama for Zee TV which was slated to be launched in January 2017. He is also producing shows for Sony which is a pure love story, which he is known for.
The next show in the offing is considered to be television’s biggest show ever on Star Plus, tentatively titled ‘Kya tu meri laage’ bringing on the small screen for the first time the Bollywood actor Minisha Lamba and a bunch of big television stars in the show. The show, written by Nina Arora, is already being talked about and published on various platforms.
GECs
Pocket FM partners with Indian Open Pickleball 2026
Audio platform joins forces with major tournament to engage young fans.
MUMBAI: Pocket FM just served up a perfect partnership because when audio storytelling meets pickleball’s fast-paced rallies, even the sidelines start listening. Pocket FM, the world’s largest audio series platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Indian Open 2026, one of India’s biggest pickleball tournaments organised by Global Sports in Hyderabad in association with Pickl’Out and Crosscourts Sports Club.
The collaboration brings Pocket FM’s immersive storytelling to one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in India. Pickleball, known for its accessibility, energy and strong community appeal, is rapidly attracting younger, digitally savvy audiences making it an ideal platform for Pocket FM to deepen its cultural relevance.
Under the partnership, Pocket FM will enjoy extensive on-ground and digital visibility throughout the tournament, which begins on 1 April 2026. This includes centre court branding, venue-wide presence, presenting rights for select matches, player lounge branding, team jersey integration, and strong integration across live streaming and social media.
Pocket FM, SVP and global head for brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said, “Pickleball is building a strong connection with young and engaged audiences in India. This partnership allows us to connect with people in a meaningful way through strong on-ground presence and digital visibility.”
Global Sports and Indian Open 2026, founder Hemal Jain added, “Partnering with Pocket FM adds an exciting new dimension to the experience. As a brand that has built deep resonance with young audiences, Pocket FM is a strong fit for the energy and ambition of this tournament.”
The move reflects Pocket FM’s continued strategy of aligning with emerging passion points and building deeper engagement with communities driven by competition and shared experiences.
In a country where sports and stories often collide, Pocket FM isn’t just sponsoring a tournament, it’s turning every rally into a narrative, proving that the best audio moments sometimes happen when the paddle meets the ball.
