GECs
Cricket with the tadka of a daily soap
MUMBAI: Whether it was being the first satellite channel to launch in India in 1992 or introducing non-fiction formats of singing & dancing talent hunt shows or producing fiction shows that addressed social issues in a poignant manner, Zee TV has been a pioneer in the Hindi GEC space, setting trends for competition to follow. The channel has also led the way in the marketing domain with path-breaking innovations such as the first-of-its-kind on-ground shaadi of the leads of its primetime show ‘Pavitra Rishta’, inviting the masses to bless Manav-Archana as they tied the nuptial knot. The channel further went on introduce the phenomenon of Mahasangams that captured an exciting interplay between the ongoing tracks and the actors of two of its shows. After setting several such precedents, Zee TV is all set to achieve yet another first on Indian television with its exciting new property – Zee 20 Cricket League.
For India, Cricket is a passion. A celebration. A religion. And…your favorite families on television are all set to bring you the most entertaining cricket tournament of this season! In an exciting coup, Zee TV will have the most sought-after actors from all its primetime shows come together on a cricket field, be split into two teams led by Raj (Mishkat Varma) and Samarth (Navi Bhangu), the protagonists of its show ‘Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya’ and battle it out in a nail-biting 20-over match packed with high-voltage drama. The man who wins the match will walk away with the heroine Avani! With half of your favorite stars backing Raj and the other half rooting for Samarth, wonder who will win the Zee 20 Cricket League and walk away with the girl? To find out, watch this cricket tournament with the tadka of family entertainment on 24th and 25th May at 6:30 PM on Zee TV.
So, who’s on whose team, you ask? Raj’s team is called Raj Ke Challengers and includes Mrunal Thakur (Bulbul of Kumkum Bhagya), Ankit Gera (Mayank of Sapne Suhaane Ladakpan Ke), Neha Marda (Urmi of Doli Armaanon Ki), Arhaan Behl (Raghu of do Dil Bandhe Is Dori se), Baburam of Do Dil Bandhe Is Dori se and Ashish Chowdhry (who plays Raghav in Ek Muthi Aasman). Samarth’s team called Samarth ke Daredevils includes Shabbir Ahluwalia (Abhi of Kumkum Bhagya), Rachana Parulekar (Kalpi of Ek Muthi Aasman), Roopal tyagi (Gunjan of Sapne Suhaane Ladakpan Ke), Mohit Malik (Samrat of Doli Armaanon Ki), Supriya Shukla (Sarla of Kumkum Bhagya) and Aahil of Qubool Hai. Watching your favorite stars in stylish cricket jerseys instead of their usual looks will be a delightful treat for every viewer!
Zee TV Programming Head Namit Sharma said, “The Cricket fever is at its peak at the moment. Television audiences in India love their stars, the drama surrounding their lives and they love Cricket. What we have in store for them is a double whammy of drama and Cricket with some of their most favorite faces on television playing their favorite sport. This is the first time ever that a Hindi GEC has managed to assemble the most popular stars from all its shows and get them to play a 20-over match. The game will be peppered with interesting twists and turns that blend seamlessly into the ongoing tracks of each of our shows. There will be so many interesting aspects such as the commentary, performances by cheerleaders, locker-room dynamics between the characters that form a team, issues like cheating, sabotage & match fixing. Each of our actors will be completely in character. The entire drama of Zee TV’s most popular shows will unfold against the canvas of India’s favorite sport and we’re certain that the audience will relish this most entertaining spectacle!”
The pretty young girls of every show – Pooki of Ek Muthi Aasman, Pari of Pavitra Rishta, Shivani of Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se, Payal of Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, Aalia of Kumkum Bhagya and Shazia of Qubool Hai will doll up as the cheerleaders and do a lively routine to motivate and charge up their respective teams. With comedian Suresh Menon donning multiple avatars ranging from Amitabh Bachchan to Sachin Tendulkar to … hold your breath, Usha Nadkarni’s character of Savita Tai from Pavitra Rishta, audience is bound to be in splits!
Do not miss the Zee 20 Cricket League on 24th and 25th May at 6:30 PM on Zee TV!
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
