GECs
Three matches already on Sony marriage-show ‘Shubh Vivaah’?
Matches they say are made in heaven or as in this case on heavenly sets. Sony Entertainment Television’s soon to-be-launched mega-programme Shubh Vivaah (happy marriage) has some happy news to report, if industry sources are to be believed.
The show, hosted by former queen bee of Bollywood Madhuri Dixit (she’s really heavenly, those who have been on the shoots will tell you), has seen three matches made on the sets in ten days of shooting, the sources say.
When contacted, however, Rekha Nigam, senior V-P programming and production, refused to either confirm or deny the news.
According to reports about the format of the show – Sony is not talking – the UTV-produced show has prospective brides and grooms being introduced to each other. They discuss their backgrounds, their families, what they are interested in and what they look for in a marriage partner. If a couple hit it off they will actually get married. Off the show, that is.
Now if Sony can just get past the “small problem” of a court case that has been slapped on it by the promoters of another matchmaking television show called Swayamvar, slated to kick off on national broadcaster Doordarshan in November. Swayamvar, a weekly show that was announced earlier than Shubh Vivaah, is being produced by former Bollywood hunk Vinod Khanna’s Taal India Communication Private Limited, and directed by Anil Gupta. Taal claims that the original concept belongs to it.
According to sources, the court case may possibly delay the launch of Shubh Vivaah.
And for those into conspiracy theories, Anil Gupta was earlier affiliated to Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee TV, while his wife, Urmila Gupta, once a senior DD official, was formerly heading I Sky-B at Star.
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.
