News Broadcasting
Sony readies Devi in new one-hour ‘avtaaar’
MUMBAI: If a serial shows a dip in viewership, the best way is to reinvent it and then re-evaluate it in terms of its continuity. This trial and error strategy seems to be followed by most channels today. The latest serial to go in for a similar facelift is Sony TV’s weekend thriller Devi.
Devi will now be presented in an one-hour format, telecast every Friday from 9 pm to 10 pm with an added attraction- Amman Verma (note the spelling change in his name Aman Varma).
Apparently, the actor himself wasn’t aware of the change till he had a look at the press release handed out by the channel. The new format of Devi seems to have done the rounds of the astrologers as well!
Verma will play the character Vasu, earlier played by Rajesh Khera, the flamboyant gay designer Maddy in Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin.
Vasu, Vikram’s brother-in-law, had not only encouraged Vikram for his misdeeds in the past but also harboured evil designs to take over Vikram’s family business by deceit. After his true colours come to light, Devi gets him expelled from the Sharma family.
After being disowned, he vows to take a revenge and returns after acquiring mystical powers. His sole motive now is to prevent Gayatri and Vikram from bearing an offspring who is destined to be the ultimate nemesis of evil.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Varma started on a light note, “I think Sony wanted someone who had lots of hair.” (Khera is bald, out of choice).
Further, Varma revealed that he was very keen to play a negative role since a long time. “I was actually bored of the positive roles and the game shows. I wanted to do something powerful. Though my role in Kehta Hai Dil is powerful, it is quite melodramatic. Over a period of time, I have evolved as an actor and I am sure that the people will accept me in my new ‘avtaar’.”
Varma makes an entry on 20 February, which will incidentally coincide with the release of Aruna Raje directed film Tum (co-starring Manisha Koirala, Karan Naths) where he plays the role of an I-care- a-damn police officer.
While the serial was earlier directed by Anant Mahadevan, a new director will probably be roped in to assist him. With Mahadevan likely to get busy in his second directorial venture Dil Maange More… starring Shahid Kapoor, Soha Ali Khan (Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi’s daughter), Raima Sen and Ayesha Takia (the girl who gyrated in the Shake it Daddy remix), from June onwards, the new director could take on the reigns for some time.
Let’s wait and watch if the change in storyline, new addition and so called powers of astrologers can do the trick for Sony as well.
News Broadcasting
WITT Summit 2026 concludes in New Delhi
Babar Azam’s comical diving attempt goes viral as league introduces anti-dew measures.
MUMBAI: The WITT Summit just wrapped up with enough big ideas to fill a policy playbook because when India’s leaders, thinkers and icons gather under one roof, even the conversations hit sixes. The eighth edition of TV9 Network’s flagship What India Thinks Today (WITT) Summit 2026 concluded on Saturday after two days of dynamic discussions at its New Delhi venue. India’s largest multi-domain public policy and culture summit brought together political leaders, policymakers, sports icons, artists and technology innovators to examine the forces shaping contemporary India and its global standing.
Prime minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address on the theme “India and the World” for the third consecutive year. In a wide-ranging speech, he addressed the ongoing conflict in West Asia, calling for restraint and compassion while highlighting India’s continued development trajectory despite global turmoil.
The summit featured candid conversations with state leaders. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy articulated a people-first governance model and contrasted it with other development approaches. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav declared that Left-wing extremism had been effectively eliminated in his state and highlighted preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended his government’s record, citing the closure of 19 toll plazas and creation of the Sadak Suraksha Force. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed confidence in Congress prospects in Assam and addressed recent allegations against him.
On geopolitics and national security, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlined India’s ambition to become a builder of trusted digital infrastructure for the world, citing the rapid 5G rollout and village-level 4G connectivity.
Cricket received significant attention. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly praised player freedom and trust as hallmarks of great leadership and named MS Dhoni as the greatest captain due to his World Cup successes. India women’s team bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi credited the BCCI and Women’s Premier League for building a pipeline of world-class talent behind the team’s recent ODI World Cup triumph.
The summit also hosted the inaugural AI² Awards 2026, celebrating the convergence of human creativity and machine intelligence in storytelling and content creation. Poet and kathavachak Kumar Vishwas delivered a nuanced take on India’s concept of Dharma and criticised the recent arrest of an 80-year-old Shankaracharya. Veteran lyricist Sameer Anjaan and storyteller Neelesh Misra reflected on changing music trends and artistic responsibility in the wake of a recent controversy involving Nora Fatehi.
In a country where conversations often run as deep as the Ganges, the WITT Summit proved once again that when leaders, thinkers and storytellers come together, the real winner is public discourse lively, layered and refreshingly unafraid to tackle the big questions shaping India’s tomorrow.
