News Broadcasting
Shekhar Suman turns producer with two shows on Zee
Shekhar Suman, the indefatigable master of talk, is producing two shows for Zee TV under the banner of his newly constituted production house, Seven Thirty Entertainment.
Simply Shekhar, the talk show that ‘goes one step ahead of Movers and Shakers’ and which was being eyed by Star, has been snapped up by Zee.
While Suman says Simply Shekhar ‘begins where M&S ends’, he is clear that the core will remain ‘fearless stand up interspersed with humour’. To be aired twice a week from 30 July, the half hour show will have a guest section a la M&S, which will feature “not movers but people who have already moved” – in other words, people who have already become achievers in their own right. The show will also have a live audience and a band comprising three girls and three boys which will, in all probability be called The Head Band (Remember M&S’ Rubber Band?)
Suman’s production company has subcontracted the show to InHouse Productions, which had produced Movers and Shakers. While the sets and the format of the show is “drastically different” from M&S, the show will occupy the same time slot of 10:30 pm. A team of eight scriptwriters is working with Suman to drum up the pithy dialogue, while TV Vinod, who has earlier handled MTV shows and ground events, dons the director’s cap. Suman credits himself with the concept and the snazzy teasers and promos that will hit the channel soon, though. When quizzed about his choice of channel, Suman says that the channel is not as important as the “people with the right mindset” who have been open to his ideas about the show. So, Zee gets Simply Shekhar as well as XYZ, an action thriller series that will premiere in the first week of October on the channel.
The show, that will have its moments of humour, is being shot at several overseas locations including Malaysia and Australia and will feature a “leading actress from the film world” in the lead role, says Suman. Zee plans to telecast the show four times a week. Suman, who is currently busy with his forthcoming films Chor Machaye Shor and Ek Se Badhkar Ek and an album where he has lent both his voice and lyrics, says XYZ is about a crack team of detectives (X played by Suman, Y by the unnamed Bollywood heroine and Z by a dog called Zorro) and their exploits. Anant Mahadevan has directed some of the initial episodes.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
