GECs
Sony Ent extends Kapil Sharma’s contract by a year
MUMBAI: Speculation has been rife for several months now that Sony Pictures Networks India’s Sony Entertainment Television was going to dump the comedy man Kapil Sharma and his show. The reason: the viewership and following was consistently dropping, and the price that it was forking out for it was really high.
But, the gossip has been put to rest now with SET announcing that it has renewed its partnership with Kapil and his team at K9 Productions. The extended contract between the two is valid for another year. The channel says it decided to go ahead with Kapil as his show continues to reinvent itself as the benchmark in comedy entertainment.
Adds SET EVP & head Danish Khan: “The Kapil Sharma Show bring smiles to millions of viewer every weekend nights across the globe. Kapil is an extraordinary talent and we are delighted to have further cemented our relationship with extension of this contract. We are confident that the show and its talented cast will continue to enthrall the audiences across the globe.”
Sources indicate that the renewed contract has some caveats attached to it. For starters, they say, that its budget has been shaved by close to 25 per cent; in keeping with the shows downward trend in ratings. The cast of the show is also reportedly being pruned in keeping with the lower budget. Reports had suggested that the earlier contract was for Rs 110 crore.
However, that was at a time when Kapil was still ruling the ratings, and he had parted ways with Colors. At that time, Kapil was being paid close to Rs 1.25 crore per episode, which catapulted him into the highest paid TV star list. Forbes had stated that his earnings totted up to Rs 30 crore in 2016.
SET has expanded its weekend programming since by bringing in another comedy show called The Drama Company.
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GECs
Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe win Masterchef India season finale
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor joins judges for emotional MasterChef finale
MUMBAI: The latest season of MasterChef India concluded on a high note, with brothers Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe crowned winners in the grand finale aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
The duo from Nagpur lifted the coveted trophy and donned the show’s signature golden apron after a season that celebrated India’s diverse culinary traditions under the theme “Pride of India”.
This edition of the popular cooking reality show introduced a new jodi format, with 50 pairs from across the country competing in the Masterchef kitchen. Contestants brought personal stories, regional flavours and family bonds to the competition.
The grand finale featured the final three pairs: Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe (brothers), Saisree and Chanda (mother and daughter), and Anju and Manju (sisters).
The finale was attended by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who joined the show’s judging panel comprising Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur.
Kapoor said the show has long served as a platform to celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage and provide passionate home cooks with a national stage. He noted that the current season reflected a confident India that takes pride in its roots while embracing new culinary ideas.
Judge Vikas Khanna said the contestants’ journeys and the memories created during the season would remain with the team long after the show’s conclusion. Ranveer Brar described the show as a family that continues to grow with every season, while Kunal Kapur praised the contestants’ creativity and determination.
With the finale now concluded, the latest season of MasterChef India once again highlighted how food can reflect identity, heritage and storytelling, inspiring home cooks across the country to pursue their culinary ambitions.
