News Broadcasting
‘Rendezvous’ with India’s hottest hunk- John Abraham on Star World
Tune-in to the fifth season of Rendezvous With Simi Garewal as it debuts on Sunday, February 12th at 9.30 p.m. only on Star World
Mumbai, February 6, 2006… “Gentle and romantic, also red, hot and smashing. You’re not just hot you’re on fire,” is how Simi Garewal introduces her first guest as she returns to Star World for another exciting season of her popular weekly chat show – ‘Rendezvous with Simi Garewal’. The most successful chat show on Indian television is back for its fifth season with none other than Bollywood’s hottest sensation – John Abraham. Make sure you don’t miss the first episode of this season on Sunday, February 12th at 9:30 p.m. on Star World when Simi quizzes him on his love for bikes, Bipasha, money, fame and adulation.
Excerpts from the interview:
Fame and adulation is something that happens outside of you. Does it change something inside as well?
John: It does to an extent… in the sense… it works two ways actually… either you become a little more secure about yourself or you become a little more insecure about yourself post getting a lot of fame. Because the more you get the more you want and that is where most of us fall, very honestly.
Didn’t you date a lot of girls?
John: I did date girls, but there were never one-night stands or frivolous relationships.
When you started seeing Bipasha you were quite unknown and today it’s you who gets the most attention. Has that changed the balance in your relationship?
John: Hmm. Not in the relationship… but, yes the projection outside the relationship has changed, you know, earlier I was Bipasha Basu’s boyfriend but today I am John Abraham. I have an identity of myself. It’s great to be in a relationship, but it is very important to be known singularly.
Is your relationship settled enough to withstand the pressures of Bollywood?
John: Our relationship is very settled. Because Bipasha is very mature. But there are pressures other than Bollywood … there is compatibility; there are other issues that are more important than just pressures from outside and I think that’s something we deal with in everyday life.
Are you protective or do you like to be mothered?
John: Well, I thought I was protective … But, when Bipasha and I argue, she always says that don’t treat me like your mother. Because you know I am always being pampered, I need food to be served, but I am quite self-sufficient when I am alone. But, I guess you take people for granted when you know they are there. I know Bipasha is always around.
Are you better brother, better lover or son?
John: Better son. I would like to believe so. I want to keep my parents extremely happy.
Is money important?
John: Yes, money is very important. But I don’t splurge. For me one rupee is 100 paise. I have imbibed the value for money from my father. I did my schooling from Bombay Scottish, where all my mates had cars. I used to demand my father for a car. But, he always told me, “learn to travel like a common man”. Even today my father travels by public transport in spite of me having gifted him a car with a driver.
Is Bike – a female or male?
John: She. She is elegant, graceful.
So, there are two she’s in your life?
John: Yes, one keeps changing and getting updated.
And the other?
John: The other one is constant.
So this Sunday don’t miss John Abraham on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal on Star World, Feb 12th at 9.30 p.m.
About Star
STAR is a leading media and entertainment company in Asia. STAR broadcasts over 50 television services in eight languages to more than 300 million viewers across 53 Asian countries. STAR channels cover all genres including general entertainment (Star Plus, Xing Kong, Star Chinese Channel, Star One, Star Utsav, Star World, Vijay, Phoenix Chinese), sports (ESPN, Star Sports), movies (Star Chinese Movies, Star Gold, Star Movies), music (Channel [V]), and news and current affairs (Star News, Star Ananda, Phoenix InfoNews Channel). STAR controls over 20,000 hours of Indian and Chinese programming and also owns the world’s largest contemporary Chinese film library, with more than 600 titles, featuring superstars including Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat and Bruce Lee. In partnership with leading companies in Asia, STAR businesses extend to filmed entertainment, television production, cable systems and wireless and digital services. STAR is a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation. www.startv.com
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
