GECs
‘Sholay’ propels Zee Cinema up ratings charts on 15 Aug
MUMBAI: Who says TV audiences are not discerning. Bollywood’s greatest movie Sholay celebrated its 29th birthday with a bang on the Indian tube. The classic, which originally released in theatres on 15 August 1975, recorded 3.7 TVRs (Tam TG C&S 4+) when it was telecast on Zee Cinema on this Independence Day.
The movie was the highest scorer among feature films in the top 100 programme list.
Sholay ranked 38 among the top 100 programmes for the week ended 21 August. Zee Cinema’s other Independence Day movie, the Salman Khan-starrer Hum Aapke Hain Kaun grabbed the 47th spot by generating a TVR of 3.2. And to round of a great day of movie action, the Amitabh Bachchan cult thriller Deewaar, which aired on sibling Zee TV, garnered a TVR of 3.1.
Sholay did a phenomenal business in some of the city’s multiplexes when it was re-released on 13 August this year. The classic gave even some of the latest Bollywood releases a run for their money.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
