GECs
Party time 2003….What they did on New Year’s Eve
Out with all that is old and in comes all thats new. That‘s how most of the telly celebrities think. Here‘s how the creme de la creme bade goodbye to 2003 and opened their arms to 2004. SAI DEODHAR:
 Papa‘s Girl |
“I was in Hotel Holiday Inn, dining and dancing with my family members and few close friends. I had lots of invitations for parties, which would have been very exciting, but I always like to bring in every New Year with my Mom and Dad around.”
EKTA KAPOOR:
 Work hard, party harder |
“I was in Goa. In fact, my friends and I had made the trip last week. We decided to stay back till the New Year. When 2003 changed to 2004, I was at Vijay Mallya‘s party.”
TINA PARAKH:
 Go Goa! |
“When the clock struck midnight, I was at a beach in Goa along with my parents, sister and brother-in-law and few close friends. It was cold, fun; it was a moment to be seen to be believed. Goa beaches are far different than those in Mumbai and the atmosphere is carnival-like.”
HANSIKA MOTWANI:
 Me a party animal |
“I came back from Udaipur, where I had gone for a holiday with my mother for a few days. Despite being tired, I did not hit the shack. Everybody was in high spirits and I could not play spoilsport. The family wanted to hop across to a friend‘s place at Juhu. I joined in. Once there, I stopped feeling my fatigue. It was great fun- good food, great dancing and lovely hospitality.”
ANUSHA:
“The in-coming of 2004 was something very special. I was in Goa. Some of very close friends and I had undertaken a six-day trip to chill. And chill we did! We said adieu to 2003 on a beach. We had a bonfire and some special arrangements for rocking music. And no prizes for guessing that we hardly slept that night!”
 In the chill out zone |
RAJEEV KHANDELWAL:
“I was in Mahableshwar with my friends. Three pegs of Bacardi, good music, lovely climate and a holiday from shooting. What more could I have asked for?”
HUSSAIN:
“I was in the ‘Golden Valley Resort‘ (outskirts of Mumbai). My friend has a farmhouse near the resort. We boozed, danced, screamed, hooted until nearly 3 am. I reached home at 6 am and hit the shack straightaway. Oh, what a night! Can we shift the clock back?”
 What no Gilbeys green label! |
MONISHA SINGH:
“I had been partying quite a bit in the last week. So I decided to stay at home and bring in the New Year. A few friends came in, that‘s all.”
AMAN VARMA:
“I had a small get-together with friends. Not too much of dhamaka and shor-sharaba. But it was fun and went on way past midnight. Sometimes, low-key parties can be more interactive because you get to talk at length.”
DEEPSHIKHA:
 Gimme more! |
“Many of my friends from the TV industry went to either Khandala, Mahableshwar or Goa. Almost all of them wanted me to join their gang. But I decided to celebrate it with my building friends. They came over home and we had a gala time, chatting, joking, dancing…”
MOULI GANGULY:
“I was in ‘Royal Garden‘- a hotel in Thane. Every New Year, they invite a guest from the film or telly world. This time, it was me. Long drive till there, but a fantaboulous party.”
 No home alone… |
CEZZANE KHAN:
“Hey, why don‘t we keep this as a secret? Many guys and gals tried to find out my ‘ata pata thikana‘ on New Year‘s Eve, but they failed. Psst! I was in Backwaters, Cochin. My friends and I had made a gateway especially to bring in the New Year away from the hustle and bustle in Mumbai.”
 Chatting away to glory |
 Partying with neighbours |
 Making public appearance |
 Party on the backwaters |
GECs
Pocket FM partners with Indian Open Pickleball 2026
Audio platform joins forces with major tournament to engage young fans.
MUMBAI: Pocket FM just served up a perfect partnership because when audio storytelling meets pickleball’s fast-paced rallies, even the sidelines start listening. Pocket FM, the world’s largest audio series platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Indian Open 2026, one of India’s biggest pickleball tournaments organised by Global Sports in Hyderabad in association with Pickl’Out and Crosscourts Sports Club.
The collaboration brings Pocket FM’s immersive storytelling to one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in India. Pickleball, known for its accessibility, energy and strong community appeal, is rapidly attracting younger, digitally savvy audiences making it an ideal platform for Pocket FM to deepen its cultural relevance.
Under the partnership, Pocket FM will enjoy extensive on-ground and digital visibility throughout the tournament, which begins on 1 April 2026. This includes centre court branding, venue-wide presence, presenting rights for select matches, player lounge branding, team jersey integration, and strong integration across live streaming and social media.
Pocket FM, SVP and global head for brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said, “Pickleball is building a strong connection with young and engaged audiences in India. This partnership allows us to connect with people in a meaningful way through strong on-ground presence and digital visibility.”
Global Sports and Indian Open 2026, founder Hemal Jain added, “Partnering with Pocket FM adds an exciting new dimension to the experience. As a brand that has built deep resonance with young audiences, Pocket FM is a strong fit for the energy and ambition of this tournament.”
The move reflects Pocket FM’s continued strategy of aligning with emerging passion points and building deeper engagement with communities driven by competition and shared experiences.
In a country where sports and stories often collide, Pocket FM isn’t just sponsoring a tournament, it’s turning every rally into a narrative, proving that the best audio moments sometimes happen when the paddle meets the ball.
