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Category: GECs

  • Indian film, TV, online video services garnered $49.8 billion in 2019

    Indian film, TV, online video services garnered $49.8 billion in 2019

    KOLKATA: The film, television and online video services industry in India generated a total economic contribution of $49.8 billion (Rs 348,972 crore) in 2019, indicating a total growth of 61 per cent from a similar report in 2017, according to new research by Deloitte. The report also found that the industry supported a total of 2.6 million jobs. 

    Commissioned by the Motion Picture Association (MPA), with the support of FICCI, the Producers Guild of India (PGI) and Creative First, the report was launched on 10 July, during FICCI’s E-Frames virtual event, Future Tech or Future Tense.

    PGI president Siddharth Roy Kapur said, “Our dynamic industry not only provides high-quality jobs and powers the creative digital economy, but is also a huge proponent of India’s soft power around the world. This research highlights how film, television online video production and distribution directly stimulates a range of other industries and businesses, wielding an impact far beyond the direct economic activities of the sector. For that reason, it is crucially important that all stakeholders from the industry and the government play their part in creating an ecosystem that incentivises growth, encourages creativity and rewards innovation. This industry has a tremendous amount to offer, both in economic activity to help us regain a solid footing in response to Covid2019 and to telling the stories of India around the world.”

    FICCI Media and Entertainment chairman Sanjay Gupta said, “M&E is designated by the government as a champion service sector. The Covid2019 pandemic is a setback for the M&E industry – and it will require a huge effort from both industry and government to put the foot to the accelerator, incentivise production and all forms of distribution and transport our industry to the heights we all know it can achieve. The creativity and will are there; let’s hope the policymakers and regulators match our entrepreneurial drive.”

    Deloitte India Media and Entertainment partner and leader Jehil Thakkar said, “The report illuminates for us the broader trends of the film, television, and online video services sectors. Unsurprisingly, online video services made a statement, generating a total economic contribution of $2.1 billion (Rs 15,374 crore) in 2019, up from $230 million (Rs 1,612 crore) in 2017 – an increase of 854 per cent in local currency. India has developed a dynamic video on-demand ecosystem that is satisfying the huge appetite for quality content, especially during the Covid2019 pandemic. Perhaps the biggest threats to continued growth and more job opportunities is rampant piracy and the imposition of artificial barriers that impact on the quality of a customer’s experience. Addressing these challenges is the task of the day.”

    PVR Pictures CEO and PVR Ltd chief business planning and strategy Kamal Gianchandani said, “Exhibition is a beloved form of entertainment for Indian audiences, and will continue to offer an essential means of social engagement and enjoyment for hundreds of millions of people. Right now, movie-going is an entertainment experience that is greatly missed. Once it is safe to do so, I am confident that audiences will return to patronise theatres with a passion and in greater numbers than before. That said, India’s screen density of 6.5 screens per one million remains too low. Just think of the positive effect on the industry and economy if we could double it?” 

    MPA APAC president and managing director Belinda Lui said, “India’s film, television and video on demand market is fuelled by talent, innovation and unrivalled entrepreneurship. Industry stakeholders have developed a reputation for working with the government to identify challenges and find effective solutions. This creative, indomitable spirit is likely to be called upon in the current times to overcome a range of hurdles and ultimately, continue to deliver great quality content through a variety of channels to audiences both at home and across the globe.” 

  • Digital is pushing other mediums towards accountability

    Digital is pushing other mediums towards accountability

    NEW DELHI: In the post-Covid2019 world, measuring the efficacy of advertising spends will become even more critical for companies as they navigate their recovery given the significant pressure of their cash flows and liquidity positions. How can the various M&E segments respond to these enhanced requirements on attribution? How can measurement become timelier and more precise for brands? Addressing these questions at the 21st edition of FICCI Frames, industry members discussed the ‘Attribution at the forefront of the conversation.’

    GroupM South Asia president growth and transformation Tushar Vyas asserted, “We always say that half of the advertising is wasted but we don’t know which half, it’s a problem which keeps resurfacing in a new avatar even in the digital area. One of the reasons is because of the complexities associated with this area. There are issues like brand safety, ad frauds and many markets don’t have a set of common measurement across the various channel of mediums, even tonnes of data are making it more complex."

    This year’s FICCI report released in March stated that in 2019, advertising grew by Rs 4000 crore but Rs 3700 crore were spent on digital and new media while the growth in traditional media was only Rs 300 crore.

    BARC CEO Sunil Lulla shared that the pandemic has shifted the consumption pattern of content across mediums. He said, “I don’t think ROI has always been less important perhaps but what we have today is better measurability than ten years ago. We are still not there where a market has a unified independent measure, like on TV there is an independent measure, on digital, there are many digital providers.”

    “There used to be conversation on digital vs television but the consumer is shifting from one screen to another. In the pandemic, we have seen a steep rise in TV consumption in certain categories such as kids, news and movies. As there was no original content, people started watching repeated content and Doordarshan became the no.1 channel after 1986, and digital was moving in parallel. TV is equally important that’s why July has the same volume as in January. TV is good for building brands, it’s good for targetting an entire family and digital is good for sharp targetting,” he added.

    Due to Covid2019 print and radio took a much bigger hit. “I believe when the economy opens up fully, we could see all these mediums working in a better partnership that can be a big outcome from this period,” Lulla opined.

    The panellists echoed that due to Covid2019 there are higher chances of brands shifting their spends to the digital landscape.

    Vyas said, “Advertisers are going to follow where the consumers are going. It’s all about building an entire connected environment where you’re linking the consumer to commerce.  The focus is shifted more from output to outcome now. Earlier the conversation was about reach and frequency which is now moving to a different level. The conversation today is more about what it is going to do to my business or brand. That’s the change which digital is bringing, which is resulting in that kind of accountability from other mediums as well.”

    Vyas stressed that it’s important to build a first-party data ecosystem and knowing the consumer in-depth from their perspective.

    “As an industry, we need to work together on how we report and agree on the metrics. We need some common practices to build these measurements, and then agree to the standardisation of data, and as time goes by, AI and MI can supplement these data,” he said.

    He also said that agencies will always require the TV medium. Said Vyas: “Parties can’t do without TV because it’s the entertainment and information medium of the household and digital is for the individual.”

  • Caught in the web of love and revenge, COLORS’ presents Ishq Mein Marjaawan

    Caught in the web of love and revenge, COLORS’ presents Ishq Mein Marjaawan

    All is fair in love and war says the adage. But to what extent one can go to prove their true love? What price can they pay for their love? And what happens when love becomes the biggest gamble of your life? Riddhima’s (played by Helly Shah) path to love is nothing less than a bed of thorns as she must first quench Kabir’s (played by Vishal Vashishtha) thirst for revenge before she unites with him. Mired in deceit and lies, COLORS’ romantic thriller Ishq Mein Marjaawanwill compel you to change your perception of love. Once again, it will take viewers on the journey of love and revenge through the lives of Riddhima (played by Helly Shah), Kabir (played by Vishal Vashishtha) and Vansh (played by Rahul Sudhir). Produced by Inspire Films, the show premieres on 13thJuly,2020 and will air every Monday to Friday at 7:00 pm only on COLORS. 

    Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Head, Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV Network, Viacom18, said, “At COLORS, we continue to live up to the promise of viewers first and the launch of Ishq Mein Marjaawan is an endeavor in the same direction. Having gone through multiple roadblocks owing to the pandemic, we are delighted to be back with a fresh new story. Romance and thrill are an unbeatable combination as they build a lot of intrigue and keep the audience at the edge of their seats. Ishq Mein Marjaawan is filled with drama, interesting plot twists, great performances and adds variety to our existing programming lineup.”

    As the quest for love, power, money, and revenge put Riddhima and Kabir on a tough road, shocking discoveries at every step will turn their lives upside down. An orphan but an extremely compassionate girl who craves for true love, Riddhima falls in love with an enigmatic top cop Kabir who has been on the trail to track down an extremely dangerous white-collared criminal Vansh Raisinghania. Consumed by jealousy and retribution, Kabir does not think twice before putting Riddhima’s life at risk for his motives. He asks her to prove her loyalty towards him by taking a life-threatening decision that finds her in the middle of danger, lies, and conspiracies. Will she place herself squarely in the path of danger and abide by Kabir’s wishes? How will Riddhima find a way out of this maze to reconcile with her true love? 

    Manisha Sharma, Chief Content Officer, Hindi Mass Entertainment, Viacom18,said, “Ishq Mein Marjaawan has been a successful property and we wanted to emulate the success of the show through a new storyline and equally impactful characters. The show promises dynamic characters, thrill, and many hair-raising moments that will make you rethink the definition of love. We are convinced that viewers will once again fall in love with the characters and enjoy every moment of the suspense-filled journey.”

    Mamta Y Patnaik, Producer, Inspire Filmssaid, “We are delighted to be back with Colors to present to our viewers a fresh new romantic thriller. The beauty of the show as it is filled with multiple elements like revenge, mystery, heartbreak, deceit, and much more. It will test how far can our central characters Riddhima, Kabir, and Vansh can go for love and in doing so, how their lives will get entangled. The story is high on action and therefore we have roped in a great team to direct high octane stunts that will enhance the entertainment quotient of the show.”  

    Helly Shahwho plays Riddhima said, “A thriller show was always on my bucket list and with Ek Baar Phir… Ishq Mein Marjawan, I am going to strike it off. My character is of a simple orphan girl who is trying to find her footing in Mumbai. Having craved for love and sense of belonging all her life, Riddhima’s sole dream is to find love and marry the person. Completed besotted by Kabir, Riddhima not only starts falling in love with him but also in his trap that changes her life forever. I hope the audiences like what we have to offer and appreciate our efforts.”

    Vishal Vashishthawho plays Kabir said, “Ek Baar Phir…Ishq Mein Marjawan is a quintessential love story but with a solid twist. I play the role of a top cop who is on the lookout of Vansh and becomes the bane of Riddhima’s existence. Riddhima is blinded by Kabir’s love and she takes his every spoken word as a command.

    The vulnerability of each character in the show makes it a lot more exciting.I'm looking forward to the action packed high octane drama this show will deliver.The overall plotline and the chemistry between the characters will definitely resonate strongly with the audience and I am looking forward to it.”

    Rrahul Sudhirwho plays Vansh Raisinghania said, “Vansh is unlike any character I have ever played before. He is a powerful and smart businessman who lives a life of secrecy and mystery. While playing the role I got to do some amazing stunts like ride a flyboard in Goa and be a part of a high-octane car chase sequence. While there is a lot of action involved, my character also has an emotional side to him. This is a fun role and I am happy to be a part of such an interesting project.”

    While the race is on to get back audiences, the launch of Ishq Mein Marjawan is the perfect opportunity to lure them back. Keeping the same in mind, the marketing campaign has been designed to maximize reach through a television plan across network & non-network channels, with genres that have seen an upswing in viewership during the lockdown. Focusing on the theme of  #PyaarKiHadd, COLORS will also present a series of fun, interactive activities to engage with the viewers on digital platforms. From creating a puzzle that questions whether there is actually a way out of the love conundrum, to exploring the other side of love with the help of love experts, the channel will delve deep into the subject. An interactive 360 darkroom experience will also be created on Instagram, where viewers can tap on the stories to explore the room and find various hidden symbols that tells them more about the characters. Additionally, a #PyaarKiKeemat love survey will ask India, what they believe is the thin line between what’s right and what’s not in a romantic relationship.

    While the show is headlined by Helly Shah, Vishal Vashishtha, Rrahul Sudhir in lead roles, Madhurima Tulli,  Garima Rathore will be also be seen on pivotal roles.

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  • Sony SAB to air fresh episodes of your favorite serials from July 13

    Sony SAB to air fresh episodes of your favorite serials from July 13

    Sony SAB – India’s leading Hindi General Entertainment Channel is all set to air fresh episodes of their shows starting July 13, 2020. The channel’s brand philosophy of 'Khushiyon Wali Feeling' has always been at the heart of its programming and has been embraced by the fans even during these challenging times.

    As life slowly resumes back to normal, Sony SAB plans to make it even better with exciting episodes and refreshed storylines. All shows make a comeback with some intense and mind-blowing highpoints. While it’s the challenge of the season in Baalveer Returns as superheroes gear up to battle in ‘Antim Yudh’, it’s another tough and treacherous journey for Aladdin to save his loved ones in Aladdin: Naam Toh Suna Hoga. Bhakharwadi will witness a dramatic leap and entry of a mischievous kid, son of the lead couple, into the lives for the Gokhale and Thakkar families. A new syllabus starts in the lives of Alia and Tara in Tera Kya Hoga Alia and it would be interesting to see how Alia rises to occasion to take on new responsibilities and face new challenges as the school decides to introduce an English medium section; it’s a ‘Desi vs Angrezi’ head on!

    On Maddam Sir, the team continues to solve arduous cases by showcasing courage and policing with a heart and on Tenali Rama, Rama makes a comes back and is ready to use his wit and intellect to save Vijaynagar like never before.

  • Uday Shankar stresses lowering dependence on ad rev

    Uday Shankar stresses lowering dependence on ad rev

    NEW DELHI: FICCI Frames, for the first time, conducted a digital virtual conference on the media and entertainment industry. Discussing the role of the creative economy to revitalise economic growth were The Walt Disney Asia Pacific chairman and Star and Disney India president and FICCI senior VP Uday Shankar, Google India country manager and vice president and FICCI committee chairman Sanjay Gupta, ambassador of Italy to India HE Vincenzo De Luca, minister of state for finance and corporate affairs Anurag Thakur and minister of information and broadcasting Prakash Javadekar.

    Shankar touched upon important aspects on how to tackle the challenges due to pandemic and make the industry more vibrant. He said, “When FICCI frame was launched the total size of the media industry at that time was very low across the print, TV, radio but today it is a 20-25-billion-dollar industry. From about 100 channels in the year 2000 today we have 900 channels in the country. The size of the print industry which was about $1 billion is now at $4 billion.  India remains one of the few countries where the print business is reasonably healthy. The emergence of the digital industry has already become the nucleus of the media and entertainment sector.”

    He added, “Despite all the setbacks and hurdles, what we are facing is temporary. We can easily overcome them and make a big leap. As the industry has grown, its dependence on advertising has grown and it has helped all participants. But it has been a source of distraction also. If the industry has to grow to the next level, one thing that must be fixed is our ability and desire to get people to pay for what they consume and the only way the industry can grow."

    Shankar asserted that this year the industry is going to be hurt very badly due to Covid2019 and primarily due to the dependence on advertisers.

    “The content business has gone truly global and the opportunity to scale it up is much bigger. We have not been able to invest in content and take our ambition to the global domain. The industry needs to grow its content ambition. We need to think beyond weekly ratings and aim for Indian content to travel globally,” he said.

    Gupta said, “In 2019, the industry had a revenue of $20 billion and digital media accounted for 20 per cent but in 2020, the sector has shrunk to $15 billion. It is estimated that around 20 per cent may lose their jobs in the M&E industry. We need collective efforts within the industry and from government.”

    He also mentioned a point that despite years of applause for Bollywood, it has still not managed to create a truly global market. Gupta shared, “India gets less than seven per cent revenue from overseas market. Hollywood, in contrast earns more than 70 per cent from the global markets. We can be a $100 billion global industry by 2030 if we adopt significant policies and support to accelerate films and games."

    He gave some ideas to expedite some of the policy decisions which can help in the sector recoveries.

    “We need to possibly resolve some of the critical issues like tax burden on DTH and radio. Theatres can be allowed for multiple activities i.e. showing sports games and educational activities to maximise capital utilisation. The broadcasting sector will benefit by ensuring light-touch regulation to enabling the industry to continue on the recovery path with speed," shared Gupta.

    Thakur shared that in the last three years there has been a sea change in the entertainment industry as far as digital media is concerned. 

    “The creative economy is an interplay between human creative ideas, intellectual property, knowledge and technology. If we look at the global market of the creative goods it has doubled from $208 billion in 2002 to $509 billion in 2015. India needs to have a bigger chunk of this pie. While we create volumes, we also must create value and set our goals higher. From simply made in India, we must also aim to be designed and conceptualised in India," he said.

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  • Colors to air fresh episodes of key shows from tonight

    Colors to air fresh episodes of key shows from tonight

    MUMBAI:  Hindi GEC Colors has announced its content resumption strategy by presenting fresh episodes of marquee shows. Soon after Khatron Ke Khiladi last week, the channel will air new episodes of Shakti Astitva Ke Ehsaas Kii and Barrister Babu starting 6 July at 8 pm and 8.30 pm respectively. Subsequently, Choti Sarrdaarni, Shubharambh, Naati Pinky Ki Lambi Love Story, Pavitra Bhagya’s new episodes will air from 13 July at 7.30 pm, 9 pm and 9.30pm 10:00pm slot respectively. On the heels of the lineup of all-new episodes, Colors will also launch a new romantic thriller, Ishq Mein Marjaawan slated to go on air on 13 July 2020 at 7pm. 

    Viacom18 Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV network head Nina Elavia Jaipuria said, “During the lockdown, viewing habits have undergone a change. With the situation slowly normalising, we are delighted to be back in action after a brief hiatus and present viewers with fresh content of their favorite shows. While we focus on entertaining our viewers, we are making sure that the recommended safety norms are being adhered to and strictly followed.”

    Viacom18 Hindi Mass Entertainment chief content officer Manisha Sharma said, “During the lockdown, we innovated and adapted to the new environment by coming up with interesting content ranging from erstwhile hit shows to curating special programming vignettes. We are delighted to yet again be ahead of the curve to satiate viewers’ entertainment needs and air new content starting with Shakti… Astitva Ke Ehsaas Kii and Barrister Babu followed by Choti Sarrdaarni, Shubharambh, Naati Pinky and Pavitra Bhagya. Along with this, we will also be launching a new show Ishq Mein Marjaawan adding a romantic thriller to our existing show lineup. With renewed energy and excitement, we hope to continue to entertain the audience and reconnect them to their favorite characters.”

  • 5 million cable TV subscribers cut the cord during Covid2019

    5 million cable TV subscribers cut the cord during Covid2019

    KOLKATA: The lockdown and its lack of content on television seem to have had an impact on viewers. About 4.5 to five million subscribers have gotten off TV and DTH services since lockdown started. Additionally, several others have downgraded their subscription packages. Coupled together, they have held back revenue income for companies.

    Star and Disney India distribution and international business president and head Gurjeev Singh Kapoor shared the numbers in a webinar hosted by Indiantelevision.com. Kapoor attributed the loss to two reasons – one is commercial establishments cutting the cords and the other is migrants returning home. While he agreed that loss of subscribers coupled with the downgrading of packs led to a revenue loss, he is confident that the ecosystem is in a position to get those consumers back, especially when the economy opens fully. 

    Even though subscribers left or changed packs, the existing viewers provided more eyeballs, most likely because of movies and news keeping them entertained and informed. “During the lockdown, we had 1.2 trillion minutes a week which was the number during the month of April and May and prior to that 0.9 trillion was during January, February. The average time an individual was spending before the lockdown was closer to 20 hours and after lockdown, the number of hours was 27. Television became a good mode of entertaining,” he said.

    The first lockdown with its strict rules made it difficult for cable operators to collect subscription even though TV and cable services were provided uninterrupted. The government even classified them as essential services. To help them out, Star India started a digital recharge campaign to help the fraternity. IndiaCast Media Distribution Ltd president Amit Arora also spoke of initiatives like running tickers and scrolls to push subscribers to pay digitally. There were several reports indicating a drastic fall of DPO collection by 40-50 per cent but Arora said it was not down by such a huge number.

    The lockdown period has been a boon for OTT platforms that saw a surge in users, motivated by free premium packs. This is likely to be a challenge for television. “The whole set of subscribers which came in March have started trickling away in April. So, now we are more preoccupied with how to take this entire journey forward. The business and revenue have to grow for the entire value chain. The customer is going to be very stingy. This time he has discovered new content on OTT.  Is he really going to loosen the purse to hand over money to the traditional platform and broadcasters, these challenges will come as time goes by. It’s more and more partnering between platforms and broadcasters to see us through the entire time of crisis and the bigger challenges that pose ahead of us,” Arora added.

  • Zee TV to show fresh episodes of primetime shows from 13 July

    Zee TV to show fresh episodes of primetime shows from 13 July

    MUMBAI: With the lockdown gradually lifting and people across the country stepping out into the new normal, Zee TV is gearing up to resume shoots in line with government directives and bring all-new episodes of its popular shows back into the lives of its loyalists starting 13 July.

    The latest season of Zee TV’s widely followed non-fiction franchise Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs that had connected strongly with audiences with its remarkable talent including Zaid, Sai, Saksham, Aryananda and Madhav as also the easy-going camaraderie between host Maniesh Paul and the judges will be back with fresh episodes starting 18 July.

    Picking up the narratives unfolding across shows before lockdown, Zee TV's popular primetime dramas like Kumkum Bhagya, Kundali Bhagya, Tujhse Hai Raabta and Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega will return  with their protagonists keeping people engaged with unprecedented twists and turns in the fresh episodes.

  • Dangal to entertain viewers with fresh content

    Dangal to entertain viewers with fresh content

    MUMBAI: Hindi general entertainment channel Dangal will begin airing fresh content for its original show Pyar Ki Luka Chuppi starting 2 July 2020. A part of Enterr10 Television, Dangal was one of the first channels to begin production for its show Pyar Ki Luka Chuppi with production house Rashmi Sharma Telefilms. Latest episodes for fiction drama series Pyar Ki Luka Chuppi will air daily starting Thursday, 2 July 2020 at 7 pm.

    On steadily moving back to normal, a channel spokesperson said, “We are very excited to resume airing of fresh episodes for our viewers. Over the past few months, we re-ran interesting shows like Ramayana, Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo, Chandragupt Maurya, which kept our viewers engaged and entertained. Now that lockdown restrictions have been relaxed, we have begun shoots for our shows with all guidelines and norms being followed on sets. We will begin airing new episodes for Pyar Ki Luka Chuppi on 2 July. The show will restart with a new turn of events that is sure to keep viewers gripped. We are also working towards launching some more fresh content that will keep viewers entertained. We urge our viewers to stay safe and follow best practices while adapting to this new normal.”

    Pyar Ki Luka Chuppi returns to Dangal with a new story twist. The story will also see the entry of a new character. In addition to Pyar Ki Luka Chuppi, Devi Aadi Parashakti has also resumed its shoot.

  • Hindi GECs get back in business

    Hindi GECs get back in business

    MUMBAI: Ground zero of the entertainment industry, Mumbai, has been on standstill for over three months. Finally, the wheels have begun moving as production across film, TV and OTT have resumed. GECs, which had resorted to showing re-runs and movies during the lockdown, have begun reshooting their shows.

    &TV's Ek Mahanayak Dr BR Ambedkar and Santoshi Maa Sunaye Vrat Kathayein have also resumed shooting. Zee TV shows Kundali Bhagya and Kumkum Bhagya have restarted shoot with a limited crew. Star Plus popular daily soaps Ye Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Kasauti Zindagii Ki, Yeh Rishte Hai Pyaar Ke and Ye Hai Chahatein have resumed shooting.

    Enterr10 Television Network’s Dangal TV has resumed shooting for Pyar Ki Luka Chuppi and Devi Adi Parashakti. The shooting is taking place at Naigaon and Umbergaon.

    Enterr10 Television Network head of marketing Arpit Machhar says, “While we are very excited about resuming shoots and enthusiasm levels are very high, we all have a responsible role to play. Safety and well being of all present on sets is extremely important. We are constantly communicating with our on-set production teams and have briefed and advised them on introducing additional necessary measures that might be required in addition to following the guidelines that have already been laid down. Our production teams are well equipped and will ensure that while the shoot has resumed, all guidelines and rules will be adhered to.”

    Dangal TV gained significant viewers and today, it is one of the most popular Hindi GECs. It emerged as the undisputed leader in the rural Hindi speaking market (HSM), while maintaining a decent hold in urban areas as well.

    Colors also started TV shoots for its show Shakti-Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki, Choti Sarrdaarni and Barrister Babu in Palghar and Thane. Its tentpole show Khatron Ke Khiladi 10 also returns on the channel. New episodes have started airing from 27 June. KKK10 airs on Colors at 9 pm every Saturday and Sunday.  It aired the last episode on 29 March 2020, a few days after the nationwide lockdown was imposed.

    A source from Viacom18 told indiantelevision.com that though it aired some episodes in the first few days of the lockdown, upon realising that there is no fixed date when normalcy will return, the makers decided to halt the show. As all the episodes are pre-shot, the makers didn’t want it to get consumed before the last episode is ready. The final few episodes are likely to be shot by the end of July.

    KKK season 10 features contestants namely Karan Patel, Karishma Tanna, Shivin Narang, Dharmesh Yelande, Tejaswi Prakash, Adaa Khan, Balraj Syal while contestants who are evicted from the show are Amruta Khanvilkar, RJ Malishka and Rani Chatterjee.

    The channel announced the airing of new episodes with a video of contestant Dharmesh Yelande on social media.

    Last week Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) issued an official statement saying that the network has obtained all required government permissions to resume production.

    It read, “The network is working closely with its production partners to ensure shoots resume in a controlled environment with strict compliance to all necessary government rules, regulations and safety protocols. At SPN, health, hygiene and sanitisation are taken very seriously, and the network is doing all that it can to ensure the safety of its cast, crew and production partners. Other than cast and crew members, visitors will not be allowed on the sets.”  

    The network also informed that effective from July 2020 to December 2020, full payments of the cast and crew will be released within a 30-day time frame, unlike the usual 90-day period. The channel will also bear 100 per cent of the Covid2019 insurance cost for its cast and crew. It has also asked the producers working with Sony TV to strictly adhere to all government guidelines. 

    Barrister Bahu producer Shashi Mittal told news agency PTI, “All this is new to all of us. It is the new normal, but it is not normal. It was essential to make it a habit, so we trained our crew members for ten days before shooting began. There is a small team, so there is warmth. We will become more comfortable slowly. This is a difficult time, and everyone is being cautious.”