iWorld
ZEE5 unveils first look of ‘Break Point’
Mumbai: ZEE5 has unveiled first look of the upcoming non-fiction series “Break Point”, based on the lives of tennis champions Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi. The seven-episode series will be exclusively available on ZEE5 soon.
The streaming platform has partnered with award-winning filmmaker duo Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari to helm this series. It marks ZEE5’s first partnership with the filmmakers under their banner Earthsky Pictures, known for films such as “Dangal”, “Panga”, “Chhichhore”, and “Nil Battey Sannata”. This is also the first time that Ashwiny and Nitesh will be co-directing a project.
Revealing the first poster of the ZEE5 original series, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari in a joint statement said, “It’s great to bring to screen a series like this on the home-grown video streaming platform ZEE5. Working with icons Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes has been surreal. Bringing their untold story to screen is something that we will cherish forever.”
“Break Point” is a telling narrative of Paes and Bhupati’s friendship, partnership, belief, hard work and ambitions which made them one of the most feared doubles pairs during the late 1990s, ranking the world’s top position in 1999. The series also throws light on their bitter breakup and how they couldn’t hold on to their meteoric rise.
Sharing his sentiments on the upcoming series, Paes said, “I enjoyed this walk down memory lane shooting for ‘Break Point’ with wonderful storytellers like Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari in collaboration with ZEE5. While Mahesh and my on-court partnership was widely covered, our off-court chemistry was largely speculated. This is the first time that our fans will get to see and hear it all, first-hand. Mahesh and I worked really hard to put India on top of world tennis and we are glad that we are getting a chance to present our story to the world, like never before.”
Bhupathi added, “It is no secret that I am reserved when it comes to communicating, so this is a big step for me to relive the journey and put it all out there in the most candid and honest manner. But, at the same time, I am happy that our fans will get to see our journey which was a mix of sweat, perseverance, brotherhood and at times blood and tears as well. This is surely going to be a treat for all, and I am thankful to Ashwiny, Nitesh, and ZEE5 for giving it everything.”
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.
