iWorld
ZEE5 kicks off march mania with a line-up of new originals for its global markets
MUMBAI: As part of its line-up of 72 originals for 2019-20, ZEE5 has unveiled an exciting set of Originals across languages premiering in March for its global audiences.
The Sholay Girl aptly premiered on 8th March 2019 and follows the journey of Reshma Pathan, the first stunt woman in the Hindi film industry who was the body double for Hema Malini. Few, except for die-hard ‘Sholay’ fans around the world know that she was Basanti’s stunt double in the famous ‘tanga’ chase scene in the blockbuster film.
Mrs. Subbalakshmi is a Telugu Original about a woman who escapes from her workaholic husband but lands in the middle of a diamond heist. Lakshmi Manchu, Tollywood actor and television host, makes her digital debut in this hilarious new web-series.
Sex, Drugs and Theatre is a high strung, fast paced Marathi Original created by National Award-winning film-maker, Sujay Dahake. The series is a coming of age tale about six college students on their journey to self-discovery.
Sec 377 is based on true events and will premiere on 19th March 2019. The movie follows the lives of five Individuals from the LGBTQ community who come together with a singular mission, to abolish the infamous sec 377 act
“With the launch of these Originals across multiple languages, we’re further strengthening our presence across global markets. We have a lineup of 72 Originals this year, with definitive, edgy stories, and this will help us further build on the already phenomenal response we are getting across global markets.” said Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer – ZEE5 Global
Also lined up for March are new episodes of The Final Call (Arjun Rampal) Abhay (Kunal Kemmu) and Parchayee – Ghost Stories by Ruskin Bond. ZEE5 Tamil Originals, Kallachirippu (produced by Karthik Subbaraj) and D7 are now also available in Hindi, Telugu, Bangla, Kannada, Marathi and Malayalam.
With over 1,00,000 hours of Indian TV Shows, Movies, News and Videos, ZEE5 offers the largest bouquet of content across 12 languages to South Asian audiences and beyond globally. ZEE5 also offers 60+ popular Live TV channels, including ZEE’s best loved channels.
ZEE5 is available on Google Play Store, iOS App Store, www.ZEE5.com as well as on Samsung Smart TVs, Apple TV, Android TVs and Amazon Fire TV.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
