GECs
Zee reschedules Delhi’s ‘India’s best’ auditions due to overwhelming response
MUMBAI: There is no biz like show biz! Over 20,000 Delhiites had reportedly gathered for the Zee Televisions India’s Best- Cine Star Ki Khoj auditions held at the Kalka Public School in Delhi on 7 June. Although the officials were expecting a high turn out, the overwhelming response caught the management off guard.
Apparently, the organising committee had to call the police to control the crowd. After that, Zee was forced to change the venue and hence the dates for the auditions.
Auditions will now be held at Mittal Farms, Annuvarth Marg, between Ahimsa Sthal and Andheria Modh, Mehrauli Gurgaon Road, New Delhi, from 8 to 9 June, from 9 am to 6 pm.
According to a company release, hordes of youngsters gathered at the venue yesterday from 2:30 am. By 9:30 am, more than 20,000 boys and girls were patiently awaiting their ‘Big Break’.
At the venue, Essel Group’s Corporate Brand Development Group’s vice president, Ashish Kaul said, “We have been completely overwhelmed by the humungous response from the people of Delhi. Till now in other cities, we had had close to 4000 to 5000 participants for the auditions but this was totally unexpected. Considering this responce, the venue of audition has been shifted.”
To date, India’s Best – Cine Star Ki Khoj has completed auditions in 16 cities. The last phases are being held in New Delhi, Rajkot, Varanasi and Kolhapur. More than 8,00,000 entries have been received so far, adds the release.
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.
