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MTV Splitsvilla X6 is back with big drama and bigger brands
MUMBAI: MTV Splitsvilla is back in business and Season X6 is playing for keeps. The long-running youth reality favourite returns with a sharper format, louder emotions and a formidable line-up of six sponsors, underlining the show’s continued grip on young India.
Instax by Fujifilm steps in as presenting sponsor, while Sofy, Newme Asia, Envy and Philips join as co-powered by sponsors. Matrix rounds out the roster as a special partner. The show streams on JioHotstar and airs on MTV India.
This season, titled MTV Splitsvilla X6: Pyaar ya Paisa, leans into a question as old as romance itself. Do you follow your heart or cut the smarter deal? With 32 contestants navigating alliances, attraction and ambition, the game raises the stakes by forcing choices between emotional connection and financial advantage. The result is a faster, fiercer version of Splitsvilla where feelings and strategy collide at every turn.
JioStar head of entertainment sales Mahesh Shetty said, the show’s staying power lies in reinvention. According to him, Season 16 sharpens both emotional and strategic gameplay while keeping brand integrations organic and engaging rather than intrusive.
For Instax by Fujifilm, the partnership feels like a natural match. Fujifilm India associate director Arun Babu said, Splitsvilla captures raw emotion and spontaneous moments, values that align closely with the brand’s focus on preserving real memories.
Returning partner Newme Asia also sees continuity as a win. CEO and co-founder Sumit Jasoria notes that the collaboration’s second year promises fresh ideas at the intersection of content and commerce.
Sofy’s assistant general manager Ai Mizushima highlights the show’s ability to open honest conversations with Gen Z, particularly around confidence and hygiene, while Envy’s managing director and CEO Saurabh Gupta points to Splitsvilla as a cultural space where identity, attraction and first impressions matter.
Philips views the association as a natural extension of modern dating culture. Senior general manager for male grooming and skin care Sakshi Jha said, confidence should be effortless and grooming should not add to the drama. Matrix, part of L’Oréal India, echoes the sentiment, with general manager Amrita Sundar calling the show a powerful platform for self-expression through style.
On screen, the familiar faces return. Sunny Leone hosts her tenth season, joined by Karan Kundrra, while Nia Sharma and Uorfi Javed stir the pot as mischief makers, entering the game to unsettle equations and test loyalties.
Premiered on January 9, 2026, the show airs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7 pm on MTV India, with streaming available on JioHotstar. With a refreshed format and strong brand backing, MTV Splitsvilla X6 looks set to reclaim its place at the centre of youth pop culture conversations.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
