GECs
Jodha Akbar completes 500 episodes
MUMBAI: Zee TV’s historical magnum opus Jodha Akbar completes a glorious run of 500 episodes and the entire Mughal empire was seen rejoicing and celebrating this milestone on the sets of the show. The show began with a ruthless Mughal emperor Akbar (played by Rajat Tokas) marrying a Rajput princess – Jodha Bai (played by Paridhi Sharma) and traced the journey of how Jodha, with her power of love and humane qualities, softens the hrd edges of the Mughal emperor’s fierce personality. It has followed how two strikingly different personalities fall in love eventually. The show currently focuses on their journey as parents of the adolescent Salim and his iconic love story with courtesan Anarkali and the evil forces trying to work against Emperor Akbar.
The cast and crew of the show called in for a grand celebration on the sets. A cake cutting ceremony followed by a lot of cake smashing saw the actors along with the crew of the show having a blast. It looked like young Salim, played by actor Ravi Bhatia was the favourite prey for all the smashing.
Ruling the hearts of its audiences, the show is one of the most loved costume dramas currently on Indian Television and has been running for over a year now.. With fans in India and abroad, the show has paved its way into the hearts of millions of fans all over the globe, making actors Paridhi Sharma (Jodha) and Rajat Tokas (Akbar) household names.
Sharing her excitement Paridhi said, “”It feels great to have completed 500 Episodes! It requires a lot of hard work, endurance and Jodha Akbar is a unique show with requirements quite different and sometimes trickier than your usual shows. But the show has managed to strike a chord with the audiences since it’s beginning and we all are very happy that we have reached this milestone. I am really grateful to all our fans for showering us with so much love. It’s been a beautiful journey and I hope we celebrate many more such milestones!”
With its gripping storyline, the show has managed to hold the interest of its audience right since its launch. The show will now see the entry of the devious Laaboni (played by Melanie Pais), who with her black magic on Akbar will enter the Mughal palace to wreak havoc in their lives.
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.
