GECs
Ramanand Sagar next epic serial Jai Maa Durga
MUMBAI: Dr Ramanand Sagar, creator of the mega mythological serials Ramayan and Shri Krishna, is planning to weave his magic again. This time it will be around female goddess Durga.
Sagar will make an official announcement of his new venture, Jai Maa Durga, tomorrow night during the grande finale of the Indian Telly Awards 2004, the annual high point of the television industry’s events calendar. Sagar will be honoured with the Lifetime Contribution to Indian Television Award 2004 on the night.
Jai Maa Durga will comprise a total of 52 one-hour episodes. “It will be produced, written and directed by Ramanand Sagar,” says Sagar Arts marketing director Prem Sagar.
Currently. Sagar’s show Sankshipt Ramayan is airing on Star Plus. “He was interested to make three sequels – Ramayan, Shri Krishna and Jai Maa Durga. The project was originally planned years back with Hema Malini as the star cast. But Sagar has the habit of taking up a single project at a time. We had Shri Krishna running for years. So we didn’t get into doing Jai Maa Durga. It was then that Malini did Jai Mata Di. We will have new faces acting in the show,” says Prem Sagar.
Can the 87-year-old Sagar still touch audiences with his new epic serial? “Sankshipt Ramayan is doing well. He is a master in mythologies. There is no reason why he shouldn’t succeed this time as well,” says Prem Sagar.
GECs
Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe win Masterchef India season finale
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor joins judges for emotional MasterChef finale
MUMBAI: The latest season of MasterChef India concluded on a high note, with brothers Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe crowned winners in the grand finale aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
The duo from Nagpur lifted the coveted trophy and donned the show’s signature golden apron after a season that celebrated India’s diverse culinary traditions under the theme “Pride of India”.
This edition of the popular cooking reality show introduced a new jodi format, with 50 pairs from across the country competing in the Masterchef kitchen. Contestants brought personal stories, regional flavours and family bonds to the competition.
The grand finale featured the final three pairs: Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe (brothers), Saisree and Chanda (mother and daughter), and Anju and Manju (sisters).
The finale was attended by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who joined the show’s judging panel comprising Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur.
Kapoor said the show has long served as a platform to celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage and provide passionate home cooks with a national stage. He noted that the current season reflected a confident India that takes pride in its roots while embracing new culinary ideas.
Judge Vikas Khanna said the contestants’ journeys and the memories created during the season would remain with the team long after the show’s conclusion. Ranveer Brar described the show as a family that continues to grow with every season, while Kunal Kapur praised the contestants’ creativity and determination.
With the finale now concluded, the latest season of MasterChef India once again highlighted how food can reflect identity, heritage and storytelling, inspiring home cooks across the country to pursue their culinary ambitions.
