GECs
Zee shelves movie production business
MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms Limited (ZTL) has shelved its movie production plans. Last year, the company had scrapped its film distribution deal with Rajshri Pictures after the eight movies that were channelised through the pipeline did not turn out profitable.
Nitin Keni, who has been looking after ZTL’s film operations in the capacity of Zee Telefilms Ltd Films Division CEO, has quit. Keni, who is currently pursuing independent projects including films and telefilms, is now associated with ZTL as a film consultant.
The focus will be now on television. “I personally feel, even if the board wishes to pursue films, there is a lot that needs to be done on the television side. The sky is the limit (as far as films are concerned), but the core business (TV) is not in place. I don’t think it is worth adding whole lot of other things to the kitty. Right now, I am concentrating on the core business,” ZTL CEO Pradeep Guha has said in an exclusive interview with indiantelevision.com.
Guha added that the company would go ahead with the Bhagmati project. “Bhagmati will be marketed. The sale is going on at the moment.”
As reported by indiantelevision.com, Zee Telefilms is finally unveiling the 2D animation-cum-live action film by mid-June. Zee has plans to tap the international market by going for a global release.
Speaking on the company’s experience with Gadar – Ek Prem Katha, Guha said the movie had failed to bring much money to the producer despite its box office success. ‘Yes, it was a great property, but didn’t bring too much money for us. Somewhere, we got the model wrong perhaps. But I am not ruling out cinema for ever.”
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.
