iWorld
‘Sarabhai’ stands out for wit & cast’s inimitable timing, says Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan
MUMBAI: Leading VoD platform Hotstar finally announced the launch date of the much-awaited comedy, Sarabhai versus Sarabhai, to be 16 May. “We looked at the comedy space on digital and realised that there is a glut of content that liberally uses swearing and insults to create comedy. While that has its place, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’s brand of comedy stands out in sharp contrast as content that’s best known for its wit, sarcasm and the stellar cast’s inimitable timing,” said Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan.
Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai is based on the life of a funny and quirky Gujarati family, living in Mumbai. The show’s originality and humour have earned it a spot among the best of Indian television, the sequel of which has now been made for the VoD platform.
Hotstar is a leading premium streaming platform with more than 100,000 hours of drama and movies in nine languages, and coverage of every major global sporting event.
“Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai: Take 2″ is the latest in our signature bouquet of content called — Hotstar Originals. Each show in this bouquet, be it On Air with AIB, Cineplay or Tanhaaiyan, is genre-defining in its own unique way, and we’re really excited to see the enthusiasm Sarabhai vs Sarabhai: Take 2 has already drummed up,” added Mohan.
Following a unique marketing campaign that has sent fans into a frenzy of anticipation, India’s leading video-on-demand platform, Hotstar, finally announced the launch date of the much-awaited comedy, Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai, to be 16th May.
Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai, back after a hiatus of seven years, will premiere on Hotstar as Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai: Take 2. The show features Satish Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Sumeet Raghavan, Rupali Ganguly, Rajesh Kumar and Deven Bhojani, and is produced by Jamnadas (JD) Majethia and Aatish Kapadia. The second season promises the same wit and sarcasm that became the hallmark of the show, along with some new and interesting story tracks and characters.
Hotstar, keenly aware of the consistent and passionate fandom for the show, designed an immersive marketing campaign which would allow fans to become part of the show’s journey, while giving new audiences a peek into what makes the show a smash hit.
The quirky digital campaign kick-started with a teaser on April 3rd, taking fans on a virtual tour of the show’s set for the ‘Muhurat shot’ via Facebook Live. Millions of fans immediately responded with incredible enthusiasm, resulting in the show trending on Facebook for 4 days.
Hotstar dialed up the engagement further with a digital video, inviting suggestions from audiences for naming the second season of the show.
The video went viral, attracting over 15 million views (and counting), within just 2 days of release. The suffix in the show’s title, ‘Take 2’, was selected from over 50,000 suggestions from fans.
The new name of the show was finally revealed via the official promotional film for Sarabhai vs Sarabhai: Take 2 on social media, racking up 3 million views within 10 hours of release. The film, which shows the characters diligently cleaning various objects around the house, underscores the show’s proposition as a comedy that is ‘Clean bhi, crazy bhi’.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
