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
Samsung TV Plus launches Kings of Comedy channel
New free FAST channel brings iconic Hindi comedy shows to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners.
MUMBAI: Samsung TV Plus has just turned up the laughter volume and it’s completely free. The leading free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service in India has launched Kings of Comedy, a premium comedy channel featuring some of the country’s most beloved primetime shows. Available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus, the channel delivers back-to-back hits including Comedy Nights with Kapil, Khatra Khatra Khatra, and Comedy Nights Bachao, with no login or subscription required.
The launch marks a milestone for free streaming in India, offering audiences a dedicated comedy destination directly from their Samsung TV home screen. It arrives as Samsung TV Plus India celebrates its 5th anniversary, during which the service has grown its monthly active users by 42 per cent and more than doubled its total viewing hours. The platform now offers over 180 free channels across 14 languages.
Samsung TV Plus India general manager and head of business development Kunal Mehta said, “Comedy is the heartbeat of Hindi entertainment, and Kings of Comedy brings together the shows Indians already love, completely free on their Samsung TV. Our focus remains the same take the content people know and make it effortless to access.”
Globally, Samsung TV Plus has surpassed 100 million monthly active users across more than 4,500 channels, solidifying its position as one of the world’s leading free streaming services.
Kings of Comedy is now available on all compatible Samsung Smart TVs. For viewers seeking non-stop laughter without any cost, this new channel delivers a royal treat proving that sometimes the best entertainment really does come with no strings (or subscriptions) attached.
