GECs
Nachiket Pantvaidya goes back home to Sony
MUMBAI: It’s like a homecoming of sorts for senior television professional Nachiket Pantvaidya. Pantvaidya has reportedly put in his papers at Star India and will be joining Mulitscreen Media (Sony Entertaintment). He will be taking charge as the business head of the MSM Motion Pictures, which is a division of MSM. A formal announcement is expected next week sometime.
MSM Motion Pictures has a slew of films planned under its banner over the next two years. Among these: Bajate Raho (already released) and Mango among others are lined up for release.
Nachiket Pantvaidya will head the motion pictures division of MSM
Last year, Star India had elevated Pantvaidya to head its flagship Hindi general entertainment channel Star Plus as its general manager. Prior to this, Pantvaidya was heading Star India’s Marathi GEC Star Pravah.
Pantvaidya had joined Star Group in November 2009 as MD of Fox Television Studios India. Later he was moved to Star Pravah as EVP and GM.
Prior to that, Pantvaidya has worked with Balaji Telefilms, BBC Worldwide, Disney and Sony Entertainment (now Multi Screen Media).
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.
