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.
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.
