News Broadcasting
Zeel relaunches Zindagi with new shows; dual audio feed
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd’s alternative Hindi GEC Zindagi, as announced earlier, is going in for a refresh. And in its new avatar Zindagi is rolling out a programming line up consisting of South Korean, Latin American, Spanish Italian, Turkish and home grown Indian shows from 3 October. For the first time, it will be available with a dual audio feed – in English and Hindi.
In another innovation, the channel will be streamed live on Periscope, along with the live television feed.
The channel has garbaged the Pakistani shows for which it has been known. The new programs include a light-hearted Turkish drama, ‘Little Lord’ at 7.30 pm, which is an endearing tale of a parent-child relationship seen through the lens of a six year old, Mehmet. And, the Turkish blockbuster Fatmagul is the story of an innocent girl whose fairytale life is turned into a nightmare when she is raped and is forced to marry the accused will continue to entertain viewers at 9.00 PM.
Three Indian originals that push societal thinking are being introduced. These include a rip-roaring comedy by Sunjoy Wadhwa’s Sphere Origins’ titled ‘TV Ke Uss Paar’ at 8.30 pm that is a tongue-in-cheek sitcom on the world of daily soaps and a reality check on how today’s society is obsessed with television. The three endearing romances from India includes Anupam Kher’s first fiction production on TV called ‘Khwaabon Ki Zamin Par’ that will air at 10.00 pm and produced by his company, An Actor Prepares.
It is the story of a 24 year old boy, Arya, who leaves behind his girlfriend, Niyati, and his family to come to Bombay to fulfill his dream of being a star! Gulshan Sachdeva’s Film & Shots has produced the next love story, ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’ to air at 7.00 pm. It centres around the journey of a rich Delhi girl, Neema, who marries a simple, middle class boy, Ravi, much against her father’s wishes and how they deal with her meddling father.
After the phenomenal success of Feriha, Zindagi will soon premiere its second season. Coming soon for the movie buffs on Sunday, ‘Zindagi Awesomes’ will feature the most iconic films that have defined Indian cinema.
Since launch, Zindagi has garnered discerning and premium audiences. A press release states that it has maintained its No 1 premium entertainment channel position over the past 27 weeks with 710 average GTVTs. (Source: BARC Alpha Club ratings; TG: NCCS A1, 6 Metros, Period: WK5’ To WK 32’2016, AV GTVTs).
It originally began as a channel aimed at building creative ties between India and Pakistan.
“We at Zee, have tried for the past 24 years to bridge the gap, however, the one-way street is not working. We at Zindagi want to respect the sentiments of our viewers, and of our country. It’s an unfortunate decision we had to take to stop all programming from Pakistan,” said ZEE & Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra. “Zindagi has been the reason for the rise of a number of stars from Pakistan but when we requested them to at least condemn the attacks without naming their country, none of them came forward.”
Added ZEEL chief business officer Sunil Buch said: “Zindagi presents finite world stories with bold narratives which unveil universal emotions. What sets the channel apart is its consistent commitment to show finite, real, vibrant, and premium world stories. The channel’s positioning ’Yeh Lamha Hi Hai Zindagi’ does justice to the brilliant brand name, and mirrors the essence of the word Zindagi.”
A robust marketing campaign is planned around digital and traditional media like print, cinema, DTH, TV, and OOH to push the new promise of Zindagi. It is being initiated with a simple yet thought provoking catchphrase ‘#ZindagiKehtiHai’ that is designed to create conversation around people’s life, or “Zindagi.’ And finally a high impact road block has been planned across the 33 channels of the Zee Network on 30 September
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
