GECs
Zee TV rolls out ‘Aapka Apna ZEE’ with a heartwarming mohalla moment
MUMBAI: Zee TV has unveiled a refreshed brand identity with its new campaign ‘Aapka Apna ZEE’, celebrating the power of connection, community and collective resilience.
Rooted in the emotionally resonant tagline “Saath aane se baat banti hai”, the campaign serves as a love letter to the everyday stories that unite India — the bonds that go beyond biology, and the strength found in shared joys and struggles.
The campaign’s flagship brand film centres on an army officer called away on duty days before his daughter’s wedding. In his absence, the entire neighbourhood rallies behind the family, orchestrating every detail — from Genda Phool decor to the sound of the dholak — creating a wedding as heartfelt as any kin could imagine. On his return, the officer is overcome with emotion, his wife gently saying, “Itna bada parivaar hai, aaram se ho gaya.”
Set in the vibrant alleys of Faridabad, the film is as much a cultural portrait as it is a brand message — complete with sangeet nights, Boondi Ladoos, rooftop camaraderie and the unmistakable warmth of North Indian mohallas. It features a mix of beloved Zee TV artists like Devansh, Vasudha, Neel, Riddhi, Reet and Raghav, further grounding the story in familiarity and shared nostalgia.
The channel’s content slate is also getting a viewer-first refresh. Shows like Saru, which follows a village girl chasing big-city dreams, and the upcoming Tumm Se Tumm Tak, a mature love story that challenges age-based norms, reflect Zee’s push toward storytelling that feels personal, progressive, and rooted.
With Aapka Apna ZEE, the network isn’t just rebranding — it’s re-bonding with audiences, one shared story at a time.
Speaking about the logo transformation and content lineup, Zee TV chief channel officer Mangesh Kulkarni said, “As we deepen our connection with viewers, our content palette grows richer, more diverse, and more reflective of contemporary India. ‘Aapka Apna ZEE’ reflects our dedication to genuine storytelling. We carefully created this brand film to authentically capture the Indian cultural fabric, ensuring every detail, from landscapes to rituals, it mirrors the lived experiences of our viewers. While the film draws inspiration from North Indian culture, the emotions and relationships it portrays are universally relatable. We are building a content ecosystem that’s rooted in cultural familiarity but speaks to today’s sensibilities. We want to reflect not just who our viewers are today, but who they’re becoming, navigating new family dynamics, career ambitions, and social transformations with resilience and hope.”
The campaign was unveiled with great impact during the telecast of the 23rd Zee Cine Awards 2025, where all seven versions of the brand film premiered simultaneously across ZEE’s channels and digital platforms, allowing viewers to experience one powerful idea through seven unique regional voices, all at once.
With ‘Aapka Apna ZEE’, the network emerges as a companion that reflects every home, every voice, and every lived emotion. A brand that belongs to its audience, because it speaks their language, shares their values, and grows with them.
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.
