GECs
Zee TV tries to recapture the 8.30 pm slot with Do Dil…
MUMBAI: Indian soaps have in the past brought stories from the big screen to the small screen and Zee TV is doing so for its upcoming show – Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se. The story – loosely based on the Hollywood film The Bodyguard – revolves around the adjustments one needs to make in his/her married life. Do Dil…will replace the long-running Hitler Didi from 12 August at 8.30 pm.
The 8.30 pm slot is reportedly not a big one for most Hindi GECs and apart from apart from Sab’s Tarak Mehta ka oolta chasma and Madhubala ek ishq ek junoon on Colors, the others aren’t getting high ratings.
However, Zee is optimistic about its upcoming primetime drama which delves a little deeper into the heart of a 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. Circumstances conjure up a situation where Shivani, the girl born to riches is married to an underprivileged Raghu.
Says Zeel content head Ajay Bhalwankar: “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. Raghu and Shivani 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 ‘Pintoo’ Guha and his wife Rupali of Film Farm Productions have signed on an impressive cast for the show. Says Rupali: “It’s with Zee TV that we began our television journey. We had produced Chausat Panne followed by Tumhari Disha and Rakhi. It’s an honor to produce our next show 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 be having 10 episodes in the can. There are two sets at Elora Studios, Dahisar – one being Raghu’s house with the second being Shivani’s house.
The channel promises to go big on digital platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Apart from that 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 TV set and set top box, they will be diverted to the channel. Dish TV and Airtel subscribers will be able to experience this on the show’s launch day. Marketing initiatives have also been aligned around upcoming movies like Chennai Express.
Media professionals say that Do Dil will do well, if the storyline and treatment is gripping and that is maintained through its life cycle. . Explains Maxus national director (insights) Priti Murthy: “Today there are two kinds of storylines which grace the screen – progressive and regressive. If the show has “entertainment” value and is able to excite the people it will work. It doesn’t matter if the show is old school or not. It should be able to excite people.”
The folks at Zee TV and Film Farm clearly have their task cut out for them.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
