GECs
TV artiste heads for Bollywood
MUMBAI: The small screen has lost another actor to Bollywood. Ashish Choudhary, who has acted in serials such as Hum Pardesi Ho Gaye(Sony TV) and Wajood (Star Plus) has bid adieu to the TV screen.
Choudhary has bagged a role in producer-director Harry Baweja’s Qayamat – City Under Threat. Moon Moon Sen’s daughter Riya Sen stars opposite him. The co-stars include big guns such as Ajay Devgan, Suniel Shetty, Aayub Khan, Sanjay Kapoor, Arbaaz Khan, Chunky Pandey and a host of other heroines. Won’t he get lost?
Choudhary justifies: “Well, I have made my transition and there is no turning back. I have refused all the TV serials offered to me. I have no regrets about acting in serials because they gave me acclaim and elevated me to where I am now. But, TV takes too much time.”
Choudhary has three films on hand, including a commercial English film made by Delhi based director duo Siddharth-Ankhush. The film is produced by Quartet Films, in which Javed Jaffery and Rajan Shah (Bharat Shah’s son) have stakes.
What about modeling? “I hope my films become blockbusters and I get endorsement offers instead of modeling assignments,” Choudhary quips.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, director Baweja says: “I needed a fresh face and Choudhary showed a lot of promise in the screen tests. I must say that he has delivered.”
The small screen’s loss is the big screen’s gain.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
