News Broadcasting
Clean sweep for Netflix’s sacred games at News18’s ireel awards 2018
MUMBAI: News18.com’s iReel Awards, a platform that celebrates outstanding work in the web series space, recognised and awarded outstanding performers in the presence of renowned artists, film-makers and producers at the JW Marriot in Juhu, Mumbai on 6th September, 2018. Celebrities like Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Nikhil Advani, Hansal Mehta, Harsh Chhaya, Surveen Chawla, Kubra Sait, Rajshree Deshpande, Ameesha Patel, Tanushree Dutta, Tisca Chopra, Rasika Duggal, Vikas Gupta, Karan Wahi and Ronit Roy amplified the glamour quotient at the star-studded event.
It was Bollywood stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Nimrat Kaur who won the Best Actor (Drama) and Best Actress (Drama) awards for their commendable performances in Sacred Games by Netflix and The Test Case by ALTBalaji, respectively. With great critical acclaim and a massive mass appeal for playing the role of Ganesh Gaitonde, it was Nawazuddin who stole the show. Nimrat was also applauded for her strong performance as an army woman and was at her glamourous best as she claimed her award.
Speaking on her win, Nimrat Kaur commented, “The Test Case will always be close to my heart since I belong to an army background. As an actor, the digital medium that all of us have been witnessing has genuinely been the most exciting I been part of. Whether it’s the process or experiencing how many people get to see your work online. It’s not Friday bound nor does it come with a time limit.”
Further accolades followed for Sacred Games, directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, with the show bagging the award for Best Drama. With crisp writing, the web series -collected the Best Writing (Drama) award as well. The cast soon followed with Jitendra Joshi winning the Best Supporting Actor award for his marvellous portrayal as constable Katekar. Backed with a powerful supporting cast likes of Kubra Sait, Rajshri Deshpande, Neeraj Kabi, Sukhmani Sadana, these actors were rewarded with the Best Ensemble Cast award at the awards night.
Commenting on the win, Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap said, “There are so many good shows out there and such good content. This is truly the time for writers. We want to thank Netflix and the audience for making the show what it is today.”
Stand up-comic Sumukhi Suresh was one amongst the winners as she was awarded the Best Actress (Comedy) award for Amazon Prime’s Pushpavalli, which also went on to win the Best Comedy award. Bhupesh Singh won the Best Actor (Comedy) award for his role in Shaitaan Haveli while the Best Writing (Comedy) award went to Mr and Mrs by new-age platform Girliyapa. Ahana Kumra, for her role in Inside Edge, claimed the Best Supporting Actress award.
The esteemed jury for the awards comprised directors Nikhil Advani, Sudhir Mishra and Vice President, Content & Strategy, Book My Show – Monisha Singh Katial, who were enthralled by the content and creativity in the web series segment, and admitted it was difficult to pick one winner across categories.
Speaking about the need to instate these awards, Manish Maheshwari, CEO Network18 Digital said, “Digital content is all consuming and present everywhere today. There is a visible shift from television to digital with more people embracing the latter. The reason for this is that it allows us to make and tell different stories and present it the way we want to. The important thing for most film makers is to be able to have a voice. I think that interesting directors wanting to do interesting stories get caught in the hullaballoo of mainstream cinema. In the web space, they have the opportunity to voice out their creativity.” Adding that iReel is a great initiative to motivate creators in the digital segment he said, “A lot of thought has gone into the various categories at iReel Awards. I’m very happy that there’s an ensemble cast category that does not exist in any of the award shows, anywhere.”
It was an evening graced by the who’s who of the Indian web-series space that brought a host of Bollywood celebrities, directors all under one roof. It was a night to remember for the new-age artists who received their well-deserved awards.
Co-powered by Madame, the iReel Awards have Xoxoday as the Associate Partner. Radio City is on-board as Radio Partner, UFO Digital Cinema is the Cinema Partner, Jio Digital Life is the Digital Partner and News18 India is the News Partner.
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.
