Factual
Zee falls further as B4U, AB Corp deny any share sales
A day after Zee Network officials claimed to have advanced Rs 2200 million to several Ketan Parekh companies for acquiring shares of various media companies, the stock came under further pressure during opening trade on the stock exchanges.
The scrip was locked at eight per cent lower circuit at RS 110.10. The counter saw trade in 18,515 shares and there are pending sell orders for 2.709 million shares, according to indiabulls.com.
According to reports, the funds for Zee’s transactions were borrowed from Global Trust Bank.
Meanwhile, Zee’s claim that it made the advances to acquire 28.5 per cent in AB Corp (Amitabh Bachchan Corporation) and 15 per cent in B4U was strongly denied by both companies.
B4U CEO Ravi Gupta, speaking from his London office, rubbished the Zee claim while emphatically denying any transactions with Zee. AB Corp has also denied receiving any advances from Zee Network or its group companies for a stake in the company.
MUMBAI: India’s most famous hot seat is about to welcome an unlikely first-timer. For the first time on Hindi general entertainment television, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla will appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the iconic quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
The special episode marks a rare meeting point of boardroom heft and prime-time television, bringing one of India’s most influential business leaders face to face with the country’s most enduring screen legend. It is a crossover that blends intellect, leadership and popular culture, all under KBC’s familiar spotlight.
Birla’s appearance dovetails neatly with the show’s current theme, Jahaan Akal Hai, Wahan Akad Hai, which celebrates the confidence that comes from clarity of thought and knowledge. His presence lends weight to the idea that sharp thinking and conviction are as vital in life as they are in the quiz chair.
In a thoughtful conversation with Bachchan, Birla shared an upbeat view of India’s economic journey, pointing to the nation’s rapid growth and the scale of opportunity opening up across industries and communities. He spoke of momentum, ambition and a future shaped by enterprise and ideas.
The episode is not all serious talk. In lighter moments, Birla confessed his long-standing admiration for Bachchan, calling him his favourite actor and admitting to a touch of nervousness at answering questions in front of the Shahenshah himself. The candour adds a human touch to a man more often seen in headlines than on television sets.
The special episode airs on Monday, 29 December at 9.00 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.
