GECs
Sony to strengthen weekends with ‘Fear Factor India’
MUMBAI: Looks like Sony is now gearing up to strengthen its weekends and is going the reality way to do the same. The channel is readying to air Fear Factor India, which it recently bought from Endemol.
The show will be hosted by Mukul Dev and will be shot in Malaysia. However, channel officials refused to divulge the launch date.
Fear Factor India will be giving away Rs 1 million per episode to the winner. Also, the winners of each episode will feature in a grand finale with a mega prize of Rs 10 million for the ultimate winner.
Commenting on the launch of Fear Factor India, SET executive vice president Tarun Katial said, “It is the perfect time for the Indian audience to watch an action reality show, since Indians have an insatiable desire for action-adventure and on-the-edge thrilling stunts. Sony Entertainment Television discovers the typical Indian adventurousness and taps the latent desire by connecting with a wider viewer base, taking it to the masses.”
Fear Factor is debuting in Asia for the first time and the shoot for Indonesia, Malaysia and India is simultaneously taking place in Kuala Lumpur. The registration process for Fear Factor India commenced on 19 August. Auditions for the show were held from 27 – 29 August in Mumbai and the final selection of participants will be completed on 31 August.
The first season of Fear Factor India will playout over 13 episodes. The playout per episode is such that there will be three stunts and the winners of each episode will feature in a grand finale with a mega prize of Rs 10 million for the winner.
Fear Factor, worldwide, enjoys a very high brand loyalty with a successful track record in 106 countries. It is targeted at the 18-34 age bracket. The Fear Factor television series has a huge viewership across countries like USA, UK, Netherlands, France, Russia, South Africa, Brazil, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Australia, Belgium, Germany, Argentina, Poland and Mexico. In India, the international version airs on AXN.
The Fear Factor series won NBC’s highest rating for a summer premiere in seven years and was the highest rated show of the week in five of the eight summer episodes. It is Russia’s 15 most watched programmes and the top-rated French Canadian programme and, is being scaled up high in the Indian television entertainment market. The content of this Action Reality Show, Fear Factor India of Sony is cutting edge and enthralling with a high level of adventure quotient.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
