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A tale of a relentless Bahadarni, Choti Sarrdaarni

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MUMBAI: Womanhood is laced with many complexities imposed by culture, society, familial responsibilities and many times by self-inflicted fear. But the one who faces all the harsh realities and emerges triumphant is truly a strong woman, a Bahadarni. COLORS’ upcoming fiction offering Choti Sarrdaarnisketches the life of one such woman, Meher, who overcomes hardships and fights fearlessly to become an invincible mother. The show stands true to the fact that there is no greater warrior than a mother protecting her child and highlights the multiple facets of Meher as a ‘Bahadarni’, who will be known as the Choti Sarrdaarni.Produced by Cockcrow and Shaika Entertainment, Choti Sarrdaarni will go on air starting 1st July, every Monday-Friday at 7:30 pm.

Based in the heartlands of Punjab’s Sardool Garh, the show traces the life of Meher Dhillon (played by Nimrit Kaur), a level headed Punjabi girl who dreams of a perfect life with, Manav (played by Hitesh Bharadwaj), the one she loves. But all her dreams and hopes come crashing down due to unforeseen circumstances created by Meher’s mother Kulwant (played by Anita Raj) and she is left to fight her own battles. She then meets Sarabjit Gill, (played by Avinesh Rekhi) a politician and a single father and her life takes an unexpected turn. Fierce and full of fire, Meher emerges stronger, learns to combat her fears and becomes the protector of her family, a Choti Sarrdaarni.  

Speaking about the launch, Nina Jaipuria, Head, Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV network Viacom18, said – “COLORS is committed to championing and propagating stories of tenacious women through shows like Shakti…Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki, Udaan and now with Choti Sarrdaarni. Through this show, we want to celebrate the spirit of every woman who has been through tough times but has come out stronger. It is an ode to all those women who have empowered themselves and played a prominent role in protecting and shaping the future of their families.”

Resonating similar sentiments, Manisha Sharma, Chief Content Officer, Hindi Mass Entertainment said, “Choti Sarrdaarni is a story presented through the lens of a girl, who persists against all complexities of life, breaks stereotypes and paves the path to become a strong woman and moreover a stronger mother. Courage is a woman’s strongest armor and if we draw inspiration from our inner self, we can achieve anything and Meher’s story will remind everyone of just that. The viewers will relate to Meher’s struggles and her valor as she finds happiness, embraces motherhood and becomes a Bahadarni.”

Rajesh Ram Singh, Producer, Cockcrow said, “The show captures the transformation of Meher from being a young girl to a brave Bahadarni. It is a story of a real woman and how she achieves her true worth by eliminating all odds. The show is set against the colorful backdrop of Punjab and we will have various elements that will take the viewers into the by lanes of its gifted cities. We have been shooting extensively in and around Amritsar to bring out the true flavor and culture of the city.”

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Actor Nimrit Kaur essaying Meher’s charactersaid, “I feel honored to be giving my acting career such a wonderful start by portraying a character as impactful as Meher’s. She strives to build back her life after falling apart several times and does so gracefully while achieving remarkable feats.  She transitions from a simple girl into a Bahadarni – a shield of her children and family. The narrative of the Choti Sarrdaarni is very heart-warming and Meher’s character seemed to be a perfect fit as I am a Punjabi and it was a sweet coincidence to be playing a Sardaarni in the show. I am very excited about this new chapter of my life and looking forward to it.” 

Avinesh Rekhi playing Sabarjit Gill commented,“I will be essaying the role of a politician, Sarabjit, who is a single parent and a loving husband. He meets Meher at a crossroad but accepts her with open arms and gives a new meaning to her life.I take immense pride in the fact that I will be the first lead actor to sport turban on television with this show and I hope that I am able to carry it off with absolute grace and respect.  The concept of Choti Sarrdaarni is very promising and comes with a powerful message and I am certain that the audience will love me in this new avatar.”

Anita Raj portraying Kulwant Kaur said, “My character in the show, Kulwant, is Meher’s mother who is an authoritative Sarpnach and an ambitious woman. She wants Meher to get married to Sarabjit in a bet to find inroads into the political system and fulfill her longstanding dream of becoming a politician. It's a very strong and interesting character and I am enjoying playing the part of Sarpanch Kulwant Kaur in the show. The concept of Choti Sarrdaarni is very fresh and highlights different shades of a woman that will resonate with the audience..

Hitesh Bhardwaj playing Manav Sharma said, “I am essaying the role of Manav Sharma who is deeply in love with Meher. He comes across as a tough person but also has an emotional side too especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Meher is the centre of his universe and his love for her is unconditional. I am elated to be a part of the show that is backed by a strong concept and exceptional storyline.”

The channel has planned a series of marketing activities at the grassroots level to strike a connect with the viewers. Choti Sarrdaarni branded Chabeel vans will trial around the busy streets, interiors, markets and high footfall areas of Punjab and NCR distributing packaged rose flavored lassi known as Verka. LED screens will be put up on the vans displaying the show's promos to generate more buzz.  The vans will be led by a bike rally of Sardaarnis dressed in traditional attires wearing Paranda and Kada accompanied by Dhol beats bringing alive the theme of the show. As a part of the digital initiative, the channel along with Jam8 will also launch an upbeat music anthem celebrating the spirit and swag of true Sarrdaarnis featuring the lead of the show, Nimrit Kaur along with Punjabi artist Sara Gurpal. The viewers can tune into the show between 1stto 5thJuly at 7.30 pm and also participate in a contestant to win an all-expense paid trip to Singapore. 

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Sun TV posts steady revenue, profit dips amid rising costs

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CHENNAI: It appears there is still plenty of Sun to go around in the Indian broadcasting landscape, even if a few clouds have drifted across the financial horizon. Sun TV Network Limited, the Chennai-based behemoth that dominates airwaves across seven languages, has tuned into a steady frequency for the quarter ending 31 December 2025. While the numbers show a resilient revenue stream, the company’s latest broadcast reveals a few static-filled spots in its profit margins.

For the quarter in question, Sun TV’s total income climbed by approximately 3.31 per cent, reaching Rs 958.39 crores compared to Rs 927.66 crores in the same period last year. Revenue from operations also saw a healthy bump, rising 4.32 per cent to Rs 827.87 crores.

The real star of the show, however, was domestic subscription revenue, which surged by 8.86 per cent to Rs 472.99 crores. This growth highlights the enduring appetite for Sun’s diverse content, which spans everything from daily soaps in Tamil and Telugu to its burgeoning OTT platform, Sun NXT.

Despite the revenue growth, the picture quality of the profits was slightly blurred by rising costs. Eitda for the quarter stood at Rs 409.79 crores, a dip from the Rs 432.14 crores recorded in the corresponding 2024 quarter.

The profit after tax followed a similar downward trend, settling at Rs 316.44 crores against the previous year’s Rs 347.17 crores. Advertisers also seemed to have switched channels slightly, with advertisement revenues sliding to Rs 291.94 crores from Rs 332.17 crores.

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Sun TV isn’t just playing on home turf; its sporting ambitions are becoming increasingly global. The network now owns three major cricket franchises: SunRisers Hyderabad in the IPL, SunRisers Eastern Cape in SA20, and SunRisers Leeds Limited in The Hundred (UK).

The foray into British cricket saw the company acquire a 100 per cent stake in Northern Superchargers Limited (now SunRisers Leeds) for approximately £100 million. While these franchises brought in Rs 14.61 crores this quarter, they also incurred corresponding costs of Rs 19.89 crores. Over the nine-month period, however, the cricket business is a major player, contributing Rs 487.64 crores in income.

The company’s bottom line took a minor hit from exceptional items, including a Rs 4.23 crore charge related to India’s new Labour Codes, which consolidated 29 existing labour laws. Additionally, the consolidated results reflect the amalgamation of Kal Radio Limited with Udaya FM, a move that became effective in May 2025 and required a restatement of previous figures.

To keep investors from reaching for the remote, the Board has declared an interim dividend of 50 per cent, that’s Rs 2.50 per equity share. This comes on top of earlier dividends of 100 per cent (Rs 5.00) and 75 per cent (Rs 3.75) declared in August and November 2025, respectively.

With a massive cash reserve and a dominant position in the South Indian market, Sun TV continues to shine, even if the current quarter required a bit of fine-tuning. For now, shareholders can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
 

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SPNI hires Pradeep M with responsibility for standards and practices in the south

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MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has hired Pradeep M to handle standards and practices for its southern market, bolstering its compliance bench as content rules tighten across platforms.

Pradeep, who has nearly 13 years in the entertainment media industry, takes on responsibility for content standards in a region that is both linguistically diverse and regulatorily sensitive. His brief spans television, OTT, sports and digital platforms.

He specialises in content review and compliance across shows, commercials, on-air promotions and international feeds, ensuring alignment with broadcast, OTT and advertising codes. He has also handled brand approvals and sponsorship integrations for heavily regulated categories—including online gaming, cryptocurrency, NFTs and lottery brands—offering guidance shaped by fast-evolving rules.

Before Sony, Pradeep worked at Jiostar as assistant manager for content regulation from November 2024 to January 2026. Earlier, he spent nearly seven years at Viacom18 Media, rising from senior executive to assistant manager in content regulation between 2018 and 2024. There he served as a key compliance touchpoint for the network.

His career began on the creative side. Between 2013 and 2018, he worked as executive producer on feature films and television shows, gaining hands-on exposure to production. He also had a stint as a non-fiction show director at Star TV Network in 2017. That mix of creative and regulatory experience gives him a dual lens—how content is made and how it must be managed.

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As regulators, platforms and advertisers all tighten the screws, broadcasters are investing more in gatekeepers who can keep creativity within the lines. Sony’s latest hire shows where the industry is heading: in the streaming age, compliance is content’s quiet co-star.

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Colors Gujarati rolls out two new shows from 2nd February

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MUMBAI: Colors Gujarati has unveiled two new prime-time shows as part of its push to strengthen culturally rooted storytelling for regional audiences. The channel will premiere the devotional saga Gangasati–Paanbai at 7.30 pm, followed by the romantic family drama Manmelo at 9.30 pm from February 2.

Inspired by Gujarat’s spiritual and literary heritage, Gangasati–Paanbai: Shyam Dhun No Navo Adhyay draws from the timeless bhajans and poetry of saint-poetesses Gangasati and Paanbai, weaving devotion and human values into a contemporary narrative aimed at younger viewers.

In contrast, Manmelo explores love and responsibility across social divides, tracing the lives of three middle-class sisters whose relationships with three affluent brothers reshape their futures. The show delves into ambition, emotional conflict and the realities of married life, offering a layered family drama.

A Colors Gujarati spokesperson said the new launches reflect the channel’s commitment to authentic Gujarati entertainment that blends cultural values with modern storytelling.

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