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Sahara TV to go slow on ‘Karishma’
NEW DELHI: The Subrata Roy promoted Sahara TV has decided that it would not start telecasting Karishma: The Miracles of Destiny serial, featuring Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor, till the hearing of the case is fully over.
On 30 June, the Kolkata high court had said that Sahara can air the serial from mid July. The Calcutta High Court had allowed the telecast of the controversial mega-serial when Justice MHS Ansari had vacated the injunction on the telecast of the serial produced by Sahara Media Entertainment Limited.
At that point of time, the court had directed Sahara to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 250,000 with the Registrar (original side) of the High Court.
Contacted by indiantelevision.com, today, a senior executive of Sahara’s media business said: “The hearings are on today and have been continuing almost daily for the last 14 days or so. We have decided that until the full argument is complete, we’d not start telecast as we want to wait for the outcome of the case.”
This new perspective also indicates to a likely change in the strategy on part of Sahara because of the fluidity in (conditional access system) CAS case where the implementation (that would have meant all pay channels like Star Plus and Sony would have had to go through a set top box) has been deferred and chaos at present is reigning supreme.
The Sahara executive also pointed out that the company is not interested in any out of court settlement and has full faith in the Indian legal system.
A case against the serial and its producers had been filed by British author Barbara Bradford who had alleged that the serial was based on her best selling novel A Woman of Substance and was a fit case of plagiarism.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
