GECs
ZEEL launches ‘Zeal For Unity’ platform for Indo-Pak filmmakers
MUMBAI: After bridging the cultural gap between India and Pakistan with the launch of the Indian Urdu entertainment channel Zindagi showcasing Pakistani serials, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has taken yet another step towards promoting Indo-Pak unity with the launch of an initiative called Zeal For Unity (ZFU).
ZEEL will bring together 12 filmmakers, six each from India and Pakistan, and fund their one-hour shorts, which will then be showcased across platforms like film festivals, television, theatre and digital under the ZFU initiative.
From India, ZEEL has roped in six filmmakers namely Aparna Sen, Ketan Mehta, Nikhil Advani, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Bejoy Nambiar and Tanuja Chandra, whereas the six Pakistani directors are Mehreen Jabbar, Oscar winner Sabiha Sumar, Khalid Ahmad, Shahbaz Sumar, Shiraj Ul Haq and Meenu Farjad.
Of the 12 films, while some are in various stages of production, some are complete. Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Baarish Aur Chowmein starring Taapsee Pannu, Vidyut Jamwal and Amit Sadh; Bejoy Nambiar’s Dobaara; Ketan Mehta’s Toba Tek Singh starring Pankaj Kapur; Mehreen Jabbar’s Lala Begum and Shahbaz Sumar’s Khaeme Mein Matt Jhankain are among the few films that will be showcased under this initiative.
ZFU’s proposition – ‘It Takes Two’ is an extension of ZEEL’s corporate philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ meaning ‘The World is my Family.’
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com on ZFU, ZEEL chief business officer Sunil Buch said, “We are launching a very unique peace initiative, Zeal for Unity. The whole idea was to bring together the creative minds, filmmakers, cultural exponents and thought leaders from India and Pakistan to facilitate an apolitical exchange environment of peace and harmony. For the first time ever in the history of India and Pakistan, 12 filmmakers, six each from both the countries will come together to showcase their work for one common interest – Zeal For Unity.”
ZEEL chief creative – special projects Shailja Kejriwal added, “Zee has the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and under that we keep doing such initiatives. In that context a couple of years back we launched the Zindagi channel and now this the second step we are taking in that direction. This time Indian filmmakers will produce Pakistani films and I think it’s a huge step because India has never produced any Pakistani films. By putting Zindagi in people’s homes, we actually put Pakistan in front of Indian audiences and that changed the common notion among people.”
ZEEL is planning to launch the films over the next six – seven months. “This August, India’s 70th year of Independence will start, so we proposed to do something with ZFU over this one year period from 14 – 15 August, 2016 to 14-15 August, 2017,” added Kejriwal.
Further explaining the idea behind the initiative, Buch said, “There is a huge cultural overlap between the countries and there is a sense of curiosity among people. ZFU’s proposition is based on the fact that it takes two to bring the change and the change can only be brought through concentrated efforts of people from both the countries. It’s a classic example whereby we share available content, which one has only heard about. With Zindagi, we were able to make people in India experience that content from Pakistan. So in line with that philosophy, demonstrating clear and visible thought leadership, we thought of taking this step.”
Kejriwal said that while doing shows for Zindagi, the company got in touch with lot of creative talent from Pakistan. “We have been inviting stories and people who have been interested in participating and we received a great response from Pakistan. We have joined hands with well-known directors because they believe that they want to get out of their couches and actually stand for a cause,” she says.
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.
