GECs
TV, stage actress Bhakti Barve dies in car accident
Noted TV and stage actress and Mumbai Doordarshan’s most loveable Marathi newsreader of yesteryear, Bhakti Barve Inamdar, died in an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway around 5:30 am on Monday morning. Inamdar was in her fifties.
According to Maharashtra state police control, the car in which the actress was travelling between Pune and Mumbai, rammed into an electric pole. Inamdar and the driver died on the spot while a second passenger survived and is in hospital, according to the Afternoon Despatch and Courier and chalomumbai.com.
Kishore Dhargalkar, the executive producer of the popular teleserial “Gharkul” starring Inamdar, which is currently airing on Sahyadhri Marathi language channel, said it was a big blow not only to the survival of the serial but also for her millions of fans and audiences all over the state.
Wife of the late TV star Shafi Inamdar, she was last seen in “Jannat Talkies”, featured in the series Director’s Cut on Saturday on DD Metro.
Ianamdar was admired for her versatility as an actress who portrayed a variety of roles from comedy to tragedy with outstanding ease. Among her sterling stage performances were those “Ti Phularani”, “Nag Mandala” and “Aayee Retire Hote Aahe”. She had also been featured in Kundan Shah’s comedy “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro” with Naseeruddin Shah, Satish Shah and Ravi Basvani. She was also editor of the film.
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.
