GECs
Star India acquires four films including ‘Rang De..’ from UTV for Rs 160 million
MUMBAI: Star India has acquired the telecast rights to the Aamir Khan starrer Rang De Basanti from UTV. The block buster film has been bought over along with three other UTV productions as a package for around Rs 160 million, according to market sources.
The other three movies Star has acquired are Chup Chup Ke, The Blue Umbrella and an un-titled David Dhawan project.
Confirming the acquisition to indiantelevision.com, Star Entertainment India CEO Sameer Nair said Star channels would premiere Rang De Basanti in the last quarter of the calendar year. “We have acquired four movies, including Rang De Basanti, from UTV through a package deal. We will telecast Rang De Basanti some time around October 2006,” says Nair. However, Nair refused to confirm the acquisition price.
Rang De Basanti has been the biggest grosser for UTV Motion Pictures this year. The movie, starring the ensemble cast of Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Kapoor, Siddharth, Sharman Joshi and Alice Patten, is directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
Scheduled for a 9 June release, Chup Chup Ke will see popular director Priyadarshan delivering yet another South remake. The film is the Hindi version of the Malayalam blockbuster laugh riot Punjabi House. Chup Chup Ke stars Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Neha Dhupia, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav and Om Puri.
The Blue Umbrella, directed by Vishal Bharadwaj has Pankaj Kapur donning the title role. Released in December 2005, this low-budget movie had won a lot of critical acclaim. The fourth movie in question is a David Dhawan venture which is about to go on floor.
The new UTV collection beefs up Star India’s blockbuster bank. The network has already acquired titles such as Krrish, Taxi No.9211 and Bluffmaster. Some of the other movies Star has acquired this year include Apaharan, Ankahee, Shikhar, Family and Aksar.
While Star India has pocketed a significant number of big movies to telecast this year, competitiors Zee Cinema and Max are gearing up for some tough fight. Zee Cinema has re-branded its driver property Shaniwaar Ki Raat Amitabh Ke Saath and recently telecast the big movie Garam Masala. Other key telecast rights the channel holds include Umrao Jaan, Pyare Mohan and Home Delivery, according to sources.
On the other hand, Max is banking on some of the 2005 blockbusters such as Salaam Namaste, Kalyug and Zeher. It is expected that Yash Raj Films’ latest release Fanaa and the upcoming biggy Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna will also go to Max.
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.
