GECs
Preity Zinta’s column for BBC website gets overwhelming response
MUMBAI: Actor Preity Zinta who penned her first column for the BBC’s website www.bbcnews.com/southasia on Monday 29 January, has attracted an overwhelming response from all over the world.
On the first day of its launch, the column recorded more than a hundred thousand page impressions, making it to the site’s top ten most widely read stories on the day.
Also, the BBC website www.bbcnews.com was flooded with hundreds of emails from India as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Australia, Malaysia, UK, US, Netherlands, Mozambique and Brazil.
In joining the BBC, Zinta who has starred in films like Dil Chahta Hai, Koi… Mil Gaya and Kal Ho Naa Ho has joined a heavyweight line up of some of South Asia’s most respected commentators including best selling author Ahmed Rashid, renowned economist Kaushik Basu and leading sports writer Rohit Brijnath.
Some of the comments that were posted on the website in response to Zinta’s column are:
Reema from Pakistan wrote, “I think what Preity wrote is absolutely true! She’s done an incredible job, and I hope she continues for a long time! The movies of the 80’s n 70’s were before my time but I do know that heroines were used as props back then! Its great to see the change in Bollywood! I’m truly a Hindi film fan. Its good that somebody who’s actually experienced it all is writing here!
Paval from India said, “It is great to see Preity Zinta, one of the most renowned actors to pen by herself few words on the BBC. Certainly I feel she is well qualified to give views on Bollywood and variety of subjects relating India, arts and future talks. It is inspiring and motivating me to read through Preity’s columns.”
Selwyn J Mukkath from Afghanistan said, “I am struck by the depth of this article, how it has traveled over the past years, and scanned the current era and given a new dimension to the present and future. It is remarkable to read so much in such a short piece. Congrats and Cheers.”
Looks like Zinta has been appreciated for her efforts. Although it remains to be seen whether the magic continues.
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.
