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SET pitches Madhuri show as next big thing after ‘KBC’
NEW DELHI: In a conference hall which had the festive look of a wedding pandaal, including facilities for girls to put on mehndi and an astrologer, Sony Entertainment Television India today announced in Delhi the launch of four new shows led by what the company hopes will be the small screen’s next BIG blockbuster – the Madhuri Dixit-hosted marriage reality show Kahin Naa Kahin Koi Hai.
Such was the hype and excitement around KNKKH, three other big-ticket shows that were announced along with it almost failed to get a nary ripple from the assembled audience. There is the Balaji weekender show – Kya Hadsa Kya Haqeeqat – a thriller series launching 16 August (39 episodes over 13 weeks). Then there is the Indian version of gameshow Russian Roulette – Bachke Rehnaa – with Mohnish Behl in the hot seat. And lastly Kuch Kehti Hai Yeh Dhun – a musical quiz show with Raageshwari hosting.
KNKKH is launching on 29 July and will air four times a week, Monday through to Thursday. With an estimated Rs 200 million already sunk in and around 40 episodes in the can, there is a whole lot riding on the show, which is produced by the Ronnie Screwvallah-promoted UTV.
“Yeh sacche logon ke jazbaat or emotions ki kahani hain (this is the story of true people’s emotions),” Madhuri Dixit, filmstar-hostess and probably the best dancer Bollywood has ever seen, said after emerging from a backdoor on the stage amidst artificial “cloud” and a showering of what looked like rose petals.
As the jampacked hall, full of advertisers, cable operators, corporates and media people, `oohed’ and `aahed’ over the dhak-dhak girl in a crimson red sari, SET India chief executive, Kunal Dasgupta announced that this was not a game show, but India’s biggest reality show.
It was again Madhuri’s turn and she coyly said, “I hope you people like me on television the same way as you liked and appreciated my work on the big screen.”
Clapping over, the journalists got down to some questioning which ranged from why Madhuri is not in the family way to her views on the institution of marriage, to the technical and entry aspects of the programme.
While Madhuri handled even awkward questions with aplomb, Dasgupta added that this was not Sony’s attempt to “commercialise the institution of marriage.”
“We are not commercialising marriage. It has always been part of our commercial entertainment (like in films),” Dasgupta said to a question on whether Sony was trying to exploit commercially the institution of marriage.
Dasgupta also announced the three new programmes and aired an audio visual for which very few had time as everybody wanted to see Madhuri on a “jhoola” where she was, again, accompanied by Dasgupta and not her husband Dr Nene, who, however, sat in the audience quietly and went mostly unnoticed.
Sony’s Madhuri show launching 29 July as ‘Kahin Naa Kahin Koi Hai’
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
