News Broadcasting
News18 India hosts star cast of ‘Vaccine War’
Mumbai: News18 India has aired an exclusive interview with the star cast of the highly anticipated movie ‘Vaccine War’. The panel hosted by the one of channel’s top anchors Amish Devgan included the film’s director Vivek Agnihotri, producer and actress Pallavi Joshi, and actor Nana Patekar, and was featured on Aar Paar, one of News18 India’s most popular shows.
In a discussion about his films, Vivek Agnihotri underscored the significance of Indian cinema as a medium to convey India’s stories to its people. He stressed that movies like ‘Kashmir Files and ‘Vaccine War’ play a pivotal role in building the Indian narrative. Agnihotri acknowledged the challenging times faced by India’s healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic but praised the steadfast dedication of Indian doctors and scientists who, through relentless hard work, developed vaccines, ensuring the safety of the nation.
He delved into the concept of ‘Sanatan’, emphasizing India’s uniqueness as a democracy where anyone can rise to top leadership positions, a phenomenon rarely seen elsewhere. Agnihotri also raised intriguing questions about whether a country like America would allow individuals with names like Hitler or Osama bin Laden to hold ministerial positions. He criticized Bollywood for sidelining common people in films, attributing the lack of success that some films face to this, and commended South Indian cinema for keeping the essence of the common man alive.
The legendary actor Nana Patekar expressed his willingness to explore various film genres but stressed that quality takes precedence over quantity, especially at the age of 73. He candidly admitted that he might not have the capacity to take on numerous projects anymore, which is why he is dedicated to projects like ‘Vaccine War’. Patekar warmly recalled his collaboration with Irrfan Khan during the filming of ‘Salaam Bombay’, praising his extraordinary talent and humanity. He humorously recounted an incident when Irrfan suggested to him that he plant a Night-Blooming Jasmine, a task he couldn’t fulfil at that time but now intends to accomplish. Patekar concluded by emphasizing that an artist transcends any caste or creed; an artist is simply an artist.
Pallavi Joshi, a seasoned actress, vehemently denied claims that her films are driven by a particular agenda. She emphasized that her films have no political agenda.
The interview on News18 India’s ‘Aar Paar’ provided an insightful platform for these eminent personalities to share their perspectives on the film industry and their experiences with ‘Vaccine War’. The film has already garnered substantial attention, making this interview highly relevant for the viewers.
News Broadcasting
News TV viewership jumps 33 per cent as West Asia war draws audiences
BARC Week 8 data shows news share rising to 8 per cent despite T20 World Cup
NEW DELHI: Even as individual television news channel ratings remain under a temporary pause, the genre itself is seeing a clear surge in audience attention.
According to the latest data from Broadcast Audience Research Council India, television news recorded a 33 per cent jump in genre share in Week 8 of 2026, covering February 28 to March 6.
The news genre accounted for 8 per cent of total television viewership during the week, up from 6 per cent the previous week. The spike in attention coincided with escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have kept global headlines firmly fixed on West Asia.
The rise is notable because it came at a time when cricket was dominating television screens. The high-stakes stages of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, including the Super 8 fixtures and semi-finals, were being broadcast during the same period.
Despite the cricket frenzy, viewers appeared to be toggling between sport and global affairs, boosting the overall share of news programming.
The surge in genre share comes even as the government has enforced a one-month pause on publishing ratings for individual news channels. The move followed regulatory scrutiny of the television ratings ecosystem.
While channel-level rankings remain temporarily out of sight, the genre-level data suggests that when global tensions escalate, audiences continue to turn to television news for real-time updates.
