News Broadcasting
Neena Gupta returns to Star Plus with college romance series
MUMBAI: After venturing into untested waters with a religious band on Sundays, Star Plus is now ready with a weekly college romance and a weekday kids’ fantasy serial to begin telecast early next month.
Neena Gupta, whose last offering on Star, Saans, achieved near cult status, is back on the channel with Kyun Hota Hay Pyarr, a show around three collegians and their quest for love. Slotted in the Thursdays 8 pm time band in place of Kundali, KHHP deals with the lives of small town girl Nikki, college heartthrob Adi and flamboyant Ash as they make their way through crushes and heartbreaks on campus. According to Gupta, Kyun Hota Hai Pyarrr, is for the youth, by the youth and of the youth. My entire cast and crew – actors, director, scriptwriter – are very young. To get the real feel of this generation, of today’s youth, I needed to work with this young team.”
Neena Gupta returns to Star with Kyun Hota Hai Pyarr
The first campus series on Star Plus, KHHP is produced by Neena Gupta and Anumpam Kalidhar and directed by Nupur Asthana.
Shaka Laka Boom Boom – kids’ fantasy will take the place of daily comedy on Star Plus
Hum Saath Aath Hain, the comedy show in the 7.30 pm weekdays slot, will from 19 August make way for Shaka Laka Boom Boom, a kids’ fantasy. SLBB is about a young boy who discovers a pencil endowed with magical powers, that can bring to life anything that is drawn with it. Sanju’s escapades with the pencil, his confrontations with the anti heroes and his magical journeys make up for this series, produced by UTV and directed by Ankush, Glen and Suraj Rao.
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.
