GECs
Star One’s launches four new shows in ‘Fantastic Friday’ band
MUMBAI: In a bid to strengthen its weekend line-up, Star One has unveiled a host of new shows for Friday night. Designed and packed as Fantastic Friday, it caters to various genres.
The channel has lined up a series of shows for Fantastic Friday night including D.O.N., The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 2, Mano Ya Na Mano and Jet Set Go.
Announcing the same, Star India creative director Shailja Kejriwal says: “Star One today is recognized for its innovative and differentiated concepts. Fantastic Friday brings unique new ideas spread across a variety of genres. These shows have universal appeal.”
Although, all the four shows are part of the Fantastic Friday programming block, they will launch on different dates. All the shows will be on air and by 10 March, are slotted sequentially running from 8 pm to 11:30 pm.
On 10 February, the one-hour detective show D.O.N. (Detective Omkar Nath) will air from 9 to10 pm.
On 24 February, the channel will launch two shows. The second edition of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge is slated to air from 10 to11 pm followed by Mano Ya Na Mano from 11 to11:30 pm.
Mano Ya Na Mano brings back Siddharth Kak, the man behind the show Surabhi, which aired on the national network DD. In every episode of the show, the host Irrfan Khan will narrate two stories, which are mystical and revolves around real and unbelievable stories from all corners of the country. Interestingly, Zee TV had a similarly titled programme in 1995, which was the first show from the Balaji Telefilms’ stable.
While in the month of March the channel brings in the one-hour travel show Jet Set Go! from 10 March at 8 to 9 pm. The show has four television actresses hosting the show. This travel reality show showcases the four who will try and persuade people from the general public to take an all-expense paid vacation. The interesting aspect is that the four anchors with their respective contestant will compete amongst each other to reach the airport first, as there is only one ticket. The show will also have comedian Raju Srivastava as the studio anchor who traces the progress of the four anchors.
Last month, the channel had launched a daily fitness show Figure it Out on 3 January, which airs at 7:30 am.
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.
