GECs
[V] = reality: A new equation for ’04
MUMBAI: Reality works! And Channel [V] knows that better than most. After all, Star’s 24-hour music channel came back into the ratings reckoning through its reality talent hunt Popstars.
During the Mumbai launch of the model hunt [V] Get Gorgeous, channel head honcho Amar K Deb offered, “It was channel [V] that started off the reality trend in the true sense in India. With the launch of Get Gorgeous, we are just building on that brand.”
Touted as a Cinderella hunt, this eight episode-long reality show will show the transformation of the four chosen faces into models. The ‘power’ partner Elite will be grooming these ladies and managing their careers. The hunt is sponsored by self-proclaimed leaders in CDMA phones, LG CDMA.
Says Deb, “Reality has been something that [V] has believed strongly in. This is our third hugely promoted reality show after Popstars and [V] on The Run and we have a couple more aces up our sleeves.” When quizzed if [V] had abandoned plans for the third installment of Popstars, Deb hinted that something bigger was coming up and an announcement would be made within two-three weeks.
For now, the Get Gorgeous hunt has reached its last stage. The last round will be held at JW Marriott’s Enigma on Wednesday, 5 May at 9:30 pm. The music channel claims that it has received over 1,000 entries thus far and the last date for accepting entries has been extended for another three weeks.
Speaking about the reality genre and Channel [V] equation, Deb couldn’t resist taking a jibe at rival MTV. “With their latest Roadies, they have tries to ape both Popstars and our former travelogue Reality Express, but look at the results!
“We have got some excellent footage and good reviews from even the critiques for our road show [V] on The Run. Now with the launch of Get Gorgeous, I think that they will have to run off to the jungle,” he asserted.
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.
