GECs
Zee TV APAC begins auditions of ‘Dance Singapore Dance’
MUMBAI: Zee TV APAC has launched its first reality dance competition in Singapore. The channel encourages local dancers by providing them a platform to showcase their talent on international television.
Auditions for Dance Singapore Dance, held on 14-15 March at MDIS Campus received a good response. The dancers were judged by Shakti Mohan, winner of Dance India Dance Season 2, and Zaini Mohammad Tahir, artistic director and choreographer of National University of Singapore (NUS) dance Ensemble.
Dancers auditioned for an opportunity to create history and perform on one of the most celebrated dance stages. The auditions drew dancers from different nationalities and backgrounds further enforcing Singapore’s cultural diversity. The dancers exhibited original choreography, strong technique, immaculate timing, never-before-seen passion and a universal appeal. Contestants at the auditions were as young as 16 years, whereas the oldest contestant was 68 years old.
Zee TV APAC senior vice president – international business Tripta Singh said, “We are delighted to replicate Zee’s highly successful reality dance show in Singapore, but of course with a local twist. As a cosmopolitan city, Singapore has a unique blend of cultures and talent, which we believe, will stand out. We are launching this now as we wanted to celebrate the amazing talent and diversity in the 50 year of Singapore’s independence.”
Zee TV APAC business head Sushruta Samanta added, “We are thrilled to present the inaugural season of Dance Singapore Dance that will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for dancers in Singapore. This will not only give the mainstream advertisers to ride on our channel but also make the brand an household name across the various ethnicities in Singapore. The Reality show is completely targeted towards the local audience including the Indians, Chinese & Malays, as dance doesn’t have language barrier.”
Singapore’s StarHub, is the presenting sponsor of Dance Singapore Dance.
At the end of the first day open auditions, the top 50 shortlisted dancers were invited to perform on the second day.
On the second day of auditions, the Super 12 that managed to impress the judges each received a “Hat of Destiny” in recognition of their dancing talent.
Going forward the Super 12 will train with some of the industry’s best choreographers and their performances will be premiered in June on Zee TV APAC across 18 countries. The show will also be broadcasted on Zee Tamizh (Singapore feed) and StarHub’s Sensasi, a local Malay free to air channel.
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.
