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Star primed to pump in some ‘Josh’
NEW DELHI: Star India probably is trying to re-invent itself and find alternatives to the tear-jerkers revolving round women on Star Plus, which has helped the whole Network retain its No. 1 spot. And Ak.tion Unlimited Josh, touted by Star as “television’s(?) biggest series.”
Welcome to the world of ex-cop (Salil Ankola), ex-conman (Vinod Sharawat) and a former police commissioner (Saurabh Shukla). All three get together to fight crime. What’s more, they glide through pulsating techno-clubs, bluster their way through casinos, out in the night. Wolfish and hungry, they are up for anything that will make them feel alive — and helping them are techno nerds with special effects that are said to be almost unbelievable.
A case of John Wu meets Sunny Deol’s The Hero? Well, why not?
Salil Ankola
“Josh is an attempt to do something daring, bold and different. It has been a dream project for all of us at Star and we hope the viewers will also like it,” says Star India’s COO Sameer Nair. Though Nair and gang (the pun is completely unintentional) are absolutely not saying a word on the cost of this cop-robber 13-epsiode action routine — “the biggest and the boldest show” as a press release from Star said — industry insiders say Rs 1.5 million per episode is Star’s payout.
If that’s any indication of the resources that have gone in the making of Josh, produced by Zeitgeist Motion Imaging Co. Pvt. Ltd., no wonder director Anil Naidu is brimming with confidence. According to him, “Josh will change the face of fiction in India forever — that’s the idea.”
Vinod Sharawat
Josh will replace the gameshow Khulja Sim Sim which is in the Friday 9 pm slot. However, Khulja …. is not going off air. It simply moves up a day into the Thursday 9 pm slot and replaces Kashmeer, which is ending its run.
Josh is meant to be a 13-episode mini-series. Star looks to be hedging its bets with the show. If Josh takes off, the option is there to extend it, if not, Star can move on to something else without the hassles linked to a premature wind-up.
Josh has the advertising support of leading brands including Coke, LG, Samsung, Hero Honda, Hyundai and Ambuja Cement. Though the new series seems an aggressive attempt by Star Plus to lure the male audience that are interested in such action oriented programmes, Nair feels that Josh would be liked by all sorts of audience.
“It is only the media that keeps on saying that audiences have got sick of saas-bahu serials. The TRPs don’t support such so-called fatigue. So, it’d be wrong to say that Star is attempting to woo any particular section of the audience. Josh is for the whole family,” Nair quips when asked whether the K factor has started giving diminishing ROI (return on investment) and the likes of Josh are an attempt to arrest the slide in fortunes.
Whether the Indian audiences are ready to accept MI and Matrix-type stunt-filled TV serials on the small screen remains to be seen. But the whole Delhi media is still guessing whether a journo challenging the three main characters of Josh to some `live’ action during a press conference was play acting or for real. Many journalists feel that bit was also a stunt like the parda phaar kar entry of the three main protagonists of Josh.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
