GECs
Zee strengthens its primetime band with ‘Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se’
MUMBAI: ‘Adjustments in a marriage’ is a universal topic as all around us, we see couples striving hard to have a harmonious relationship with their spouses. Adjustment in the relationship occurs between an individual and the environment that he/she lives in. Couples face difficulties when they have to share their lives with a partner who was raised with different values, morals and rules. Whether united by love or an arranged marriage, the adjustment period of a marriage is the crucial litmus test of a relationship.
Come 12 August at 8:30 pm, Zee TV’s upcoming primetime drama Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se lends to this thought beautifully and delves a little deeper into the heart of one such woman who marries a man who is unequal to her in every respect. The story unfolds in Jodhpur where Shivani and Raghu share a master – servant equation respectively. Hailing from two very different strata’s of society, Shivani is a privileged girl who lives a luxurious life with her grandfather Balwant Chauhan. He is an overprotective guardian who an aide in the house has named Raghu. Circumstances conjure up a situation where Shivani, the girl born to riches is married to an underprivileged Raghu.
Zeel content head Ajay Bhalwankar said, “The beauty of Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se is its simplicity. The protagonists from two different backgrounds had different dreams while destiny etched out quite another plan for them. The story outlines the lives of Raghu and Shivani who are suddenly bound together by the design of destiny. It’s a wonderful and poignant story that showcases Raghu and Shivani’s journey from resistance to acceptance and embracing their destinies.”
Producer Kalyan Guha and his wife Rupali of Film Farm Productions have signed on an impressive cast for the show. Said Rupali on the occasion, “It’s with Zee TV that we began our television journey with a series called Chausat Panne followed by Tumhari Disha and Rakhi. It’s an honor to produce our next show Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori for Zee TV.”
Arhaan Behl will enact the role of Raghu and Mansi Shrivastav will play the female lead, Shivani. Shivani’s grandfather will be enacted by veteran actor, Alok Nath as Balwant Rana. Rucha Gujarati and Vikas Sethi will be seen as Mahima and Jaswant Rana (Shivani’s bhabhi and bhaiyya) respectively.
At the time of telecast, the drama series will complete shooting of 10 episodes. There are two studios setup at Elora Studios, Dahisar one Raghu’s house and second Shivani’s house. The channel promises to go big on digital platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
The launch campaign of the show will include the use of audio visual mediums such as TV, DTH and cable in the Hindi speaking markets (HSM). Differentiated properties will be used in DTH such as Shifting LCN, whereby a new channel will be created between any two existing channels where the show related content will be telecast, and Live streaming where as soon as one switches on their set top box, they will be diverted to the channel.
This phenomenon will be on Dish TV and Airtel on the launch day of the show. Marketing initiatives have also been aligned around upcoming movies like Chennai Express. The sustenance campaign will highlight how destiny plays a catalyst in bringing two people together through both on-air as well as off-air mediums.
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.
