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TED Talks Nayi Soch on Star Plus, Hotstar: Content should feed passion for knowledge, says Uday Shankar
MUMBAI: “Television should offer a spectrum of content which includes not just the traditional definition of entertainment but also content that feeds the human passion for knowledge, which stokes curiosity and inspires people,” said Star India chairman and CEO Uday Shankar, at the unveiling of the first look of ‘TED Talks’ in India along with the megastar Shah Rukh Khan and head of TED Chris Anderson in Mumbai on Thursday evening.
Inspiring a billion imaginations is much more than a tag line, it’s a promise Star India delivers every day in ways that break away from the conventional, spark national debate and help shape the new India.
Challenging the grammar of conventional entertainment and inspiring Nayi Soch, Star India is bringing this disruption on Star Plus, produced by Fremantle India, and hosted by Khan.
Star India has always believed in powering social change through the power of its content to influence and impact people’s lives and thought. Continuing with this journey, the new programme will take forward Star’s commitment of creating a social impact.
In a global first collaboration that will make the transformative power of ideas accessible to audience across India, Star Plus unites with TED – the global platform known for spotlighting and spreading powerful ideas that transform people see the world.
It is TED’s first collaboration with a major network to produce a television series featuring original TED Talks in a language other than English.
The show will bring some of the best innovators and thinkers of Indian origin to the center stage, hosted by Shah Rukh Khan. The show captures a mix of speakers, thinkers and doers, who have questioned norms and brought forth unique ideas that have the potential to inspire billions.
All these ideas which originate from personal belief and self-motivation bear testimony to the ingenuity of Indians.
Scientists, authors, thinkers, entrepreneurs and artistes, this show provides a global platform to speakers from all walks of life, taking their ideas to every home in India with the huge reach of the Star Plus platform. It can also be viewed on Hotstar, Star’s online video streaming platform.
Shankar said: “At Star, we have always believed that conventional definitions of content exist only to be challenged. I have been a big fan of TED and felt that there is no reason why these ideas should not be made accessible to all Indians in a language of their choice.”
He added: “The timing is perfect — It is a time when the world is looking to India for the next big idea. Shah Rukh Khan whose charisma and enthusiasm will be pivotal in connecting with our viewers.”
Khan said: “Bringing the power of ideas to people’s living rooms across India, and reaching out to especially the youth of our country, is something that’s really exciting.”
Anderson said, “We have a real shot at offering millions of people the empowerment that inspiring speakers can bring.”
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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.
