GECs
Zee to salute ‘Army behind the Army’ at Cine Awards
MUMBAI: We are protected by the strength of the Indian army. But, have we ever pondered over the source of their strength? Their strength is an army behind them in the form of mothers, wives, sisters, daughters who silently toil day and night making up for their sons, husbands and fathers who are busy protecting the nation. Zee salutes this real Army behind the Army.
It is not with medals and trumpets but with respect and recognition, Zee acknowledges their huge contribution and sacrifice.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises is a global content company which has always focused on Women Empowerment, either through its content offerings or social initiatives. In this journey of empowering women, Zee has launched a special initiative called ArmybehindtheArmy, which aims at recognizing the selfless women behind our brave soldiers and who are the true source of their inspiration.
Tune into Zee Cinema on 1 April at 7 pm to catch the launch of this special initiative at the Zee Cine Awards by Anushka Sharma.
#ArmyBehindTheArmy has been created and conceptualised by Zee’s creative agency – FCB Ulka Advertising. Going beyond a mere advertising idea, this initiative is rooted in real life and aims to give army wives and mothers the honor they truly deserve for their role in nurturing families, building strong communities and a healthy nation. It also brings to light the epic work which this real army behind the brave soldiers does, to support its families.
For the past 25 years, Zee has supported and given Indian women a voice onscreen through its content as well as sought betterment for them through on-ground social initiatives. #ArmyBehindTheArmy is another major step taken by Zee in this direction.
Zee MD & CEO Punit Goenka said, “I’m extremely thrilled to launch this initiative which salutes the real army behind our brave soldiers. In our journey of 25 years, Zee has always stood for Women, and we’ll continue to do so forever.”
FCB Ulka Advertising chief creative officer Swati Bhattacharya says, “When we think of the word ‘soldier’ we always think of a man. When we hear the word ‘patriotism’ we think of loud slogans, louder gunshots and again men.
For me this idea is about two important words, ‘respect’ and ‘recognition’. For me the mothers, wives and daughters of the army are the stronger army. They are our Paramvirs and our Mahavirs. Let’s celebrate their strength and their nationalism. Let’s salute the #ArmyBehindTheArmy. I’m grateful to Zee for their support in launching this initiative.”
This special initiative will be launched at the Zee Cine Awards on 1 April 2017. A 2-minute salutation anthem video capturing the idea will be presented by Anushka Sharma who herself hails from an army family.
Zee Live & Zee Talent head – corporate brand & communications and CEO Sunil Buch said, “While our brave soldiers Respect & Recognize, the women behind their bravery, it is time that every citizen of our nation salutes them and applauds their contribution.”
The salutation anthem film shot by director Ken Rolston from Story Tellers, a leading film production house brings alive the grit and inner struggle of these women through a powerful and emotive narrative – Hum Hain. The film is a montage of portraits of real wives, widows and mothers of the forces. We see them in the fields, in their homes, with their children, with the wedding album, going through life… alone.
The strong visual cue – a unique visual identity designed by FCB Ulka for the initiative – is inspired by army fatigues, with a camouflage design that is derived from women in various acts of nurturing and caring. This lends a strong visual and emotive character to the communication.
Subsequently a multimedia campaign will be launched that will include social media, mass media, and across the leading channels of Zee backed with on-ground activities. The campaign will culminate in a grand salute on Republic Day next year.
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
