GECs
Life OK launches Baawre!
He is a director and she is a singer. He wants to stay in his own city Lucknow and make it big while she wants to tread on the path paved by her father. Nikumbh (Abhishek Rawat) is a successful playwright, a purist who believes in his talent, while Yamini (Vinita Joshi) is a singer whose career has been moulded by her father Raghavendra. She is a part of the very world that Nikumbh despises so much. As fate would have it, Yamini ends up as the heroine in Nikumbh’s play and gets drawn to his talent and ideals, falls in love with him.
What happens when these two individuals with different dreams and ideologies cross each other’s path? What happens when conflict forms the premise of love in their lives? Life OK, India’s fastest growing Hindi General Entertainment Channel is all set to launch a love story of these two opposite characters in its new show Baawre chal jahan chalen mann ke paon re.
The new series also marks the television debut of the acclaimed and hugely popular, Neelesh Misra. He has co-produced the show and will also be seen in it as the ‘sutradhar’ who links and holds the story together. Baawre will give the viewer a never seen before experience of an innovative and creative style of storytelling on Television.
Commenting on the distinctiveness of the show and the association with Neelesh Misra, Ajit Thakur, General Manager, Life OK says, “Every show that we have launched, we have introduced our audiences to new and fresh concepts and formats by experimenting, innovating and reinventing the wheel at every step. With the launch of Baawre we are redefining the way a love story is told and presented to the viewers. At the centre of the narrative are not just the two protagonists, but for the first time, a ‘sutradhar’ that is essayed by popular storyteller and Bollywood writer Neelesh Misra. We are confident that with our unique approach to storytelling and extremely identifiable characters, we will be able to connect with the audiences strongly.”
The show is produced by Sunshine Productions’ Sudhir Sharma in association with Neelesh Misra. Shot in the city of Nawabs – Lucknow, the show explores the multiple facets of the city that blend perfectly well with the storyline. With a strong line-up of much-admired and celebrated actors like Abhishek Rawat, Vinita Joshi, Akhlaque Khan and many more, the show promises to charm and capture the imagination of the audiences and make them an integral part of Nikumbh and Yamini’s journey every night on Life OK at 7pm and 10 pm, Monday to Friday from 2nd June.
GECs
Sebi sends show-cause notice to Zee over fund diversion, company responds
Regulator questions 2018 letter of comfort and governance lapses; company vows robust legal response
MUMBAI: India’s markets watchdog has reignited its long-running scrutiny of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, issuing a sweeping show-cause notice that drags the broadcaster and 84 others into a widening governance storm.
The notice, dated February 12, has been served by the Securities and Exchange Board of India to Zee, chairman emeritus Subhash Chandra and managing director and chief executive Punit Goenka, among others. At its heart: allegations that company funds were indirectly routed to settle liabilities of entities linked to the Essel Group.
The regulator’s probe traces its roots to November 2019, when two independent directors resigned from Zee’s board, flagging concerns over the alleged appropriation of fixed deposits by Yes Bank. The deposits were reportedly adjusted against loans extended to Essel Group entities, triggering questions about related-party dealings and board oversight.
A key flashpoint is a letter of comfort dated September 4, 2018, issued by Subhash Chandra in his dual capacity as chairman of Zee and the Essel Group. The document, linked to credit facilities availed by certain group companies from Yes Bank, was allegedly known only to select members of management and not disclosed to the full board—an omission SEBI believes raises red flags over transparency and governance controls.
Zee has pushed back hard. In a statement, the company said it “strongly refutes” the allegations against it and its board members and will file a detailed response. It expressed confidence that SEBI would conduct a fair review and signalled readiness to pursue all legal remedies to protect shareholder interests.
The notice marks the latest twist in a saga that has shadowed the broadcaster since 2019. What began as boardroom unease has morphed into a full-blown regulatory confrontation. The final reckoning now rests with SEBI—but the reputational stakes for Zee, and the message for India Inc on governance discipline, could scarcely be higher.
