GECs
Zee TV enters new genre with ‘Ravan’ on Saturdays at 9
MUMBAI: In the peaceful abode of so called ‘Lanka’, Zee TV unveiled its latest mythological drama Ravan. From comedy to reality, the network aims to strengthen its hold in the general entertainment space with the addition of yet another genre, mythology. Ravan will kick off on 18 November at 9 pm to beef up the prime time weekend slot.
Unlike the customary tales of Hindu mythology, this show hopes to delve into the life of the evil one ‘Ravan’. Little is known of Ravan as a great scholar, a devotee of Lord Shiva and that he was the grandson of Lord Brahma. Backed by research, the drama will follow the events and characters that drove Ravan to emerge as the malevolent King.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com at the launch, Zee TV Sr. VP marketing Tarun Mehra said that this will add to the existing line up which will make for ‘Super Saturdays’ which kicks off with Nerolac Impressions Jama De followed by Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hain, the yet to be launched Ravan and Idea Zee Cine Stars Ki Khoj.
Expectedly, Zee will push their new property to the hilt. “We will advertise heavily on the channel itself, along with using outdoor in 10 to 12 cities, while radio promotions will also be included on Big FM and Radio Mirchi,” Mehra says.
The costs for opulent sets of the show have been pegged at Rs 10 million and it is estimated that about Rs 1.5 million to 1.6 million is spent on every episode of the show. In total, 52 episodes are being shot.
Explaining why the channel has decided to go the ‘mytho’ way, Mehra says, “There seems to be a rejuvenation of mythology as has been seen in the latest animated movies Hanuman and Krishna. Zee TV has always been known to do things differently and so we hope to lure viewers from grandparents to kids to view the story from Ravan’s perspective.”
Zee TV business head Punit Goenka said, “Ravan is the latest addition to our diverse programming consisting of dramas, comedies, reality shows and movies. This show reveals the lesser known facts about the life of Ravan; his journey from Mahamanav to Mahadanav. The script of this mythological drama has been written with authentic references and research. With Ravan Zee TV presents viewers with a mythological show that is different from the present generation of serials.”
Given, that the story narrates the life of one who is widely accepted as ‘evil’, the untold story of the Ravan may get viewers to sample the show. Even though the channel says research forms the backbone for the drama, whether it can find its hold in the given slot is yet to be seen.
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.
