GECs

Brick by Brick Zee TV Builds a Family Saga With Lakshmi Niwas

Published

4 weeks ago

January 9, 2026

MUMBAI: For India’s joint families, the wishlist is short but stubborn, a roof of one’s own and daughters settled with dignity. Lakshmi Niwas leans into that truth, launching a family drama that treats everyday sacrifice as its main character rather than a footnote.

Staying aligned with Zee TV’s ‘Aapka Apna Zee’ philosophy, the show places its lens on the emotional arithmetic of middle-class households, where traditions tug one way and younger aspirations pull another. The story centres on Lakshmi and Srinivas, a couple who have spent 35 years in a rented home, choosing family needs over personal wants. Retirement finally gives them the courage to chase two long-deferred dreams, building a house and marrying their daughters. The cost is not financial alone; the journey tests love, expectations and the meaning of togetherness.

Manasi Joshi Roy plays Lakshmi, a devoted wife and mother of six who quietly holds the family together. She describes the role as instantly familiar, reflecting women who shoulder responsibility without applause, evolve with time and draw strength from values rather than volume. Her Lakshmi is resilient, emotionally grounded and recognisable in kitchens and courtyards across the country.

Opposite her, veteran actor Rajendra Chawla essays Srinivas, the respected family head whose wealth lies in goodwill rather than savings. For him, a home is not bricks and walls but security and belonging. He frames the show’s appeal in its honesty, capturing the silent compromises of fathers who put family first and dreams later.

The narrative is supported by a strong ensemble including Gashmeer Mahajani, Akshita Mudgal, Mansi Srivastava and Sulakshana Khatri, adding texture to a layered family portrait. Producer Rashmi Sharma Telefilms calls the series a story about dreams postponed but never forgotten, crafted to feel lived-in rather than lofty.

For the channel, the launch reinforces a familiar promise. Zee TV, chief channel officer Mangesh Kulkarni atpositions the show as a celebration of relationships and everyday realities, balancing tradition with change in households navigating modern pressures.

Lakshmi Niwas premieres on January 12, 2026, airing daily at 8 pm, only on Zee TV. In an era of spectacle, it bets on something simpler and sturdier: the power of a well-told family story, built patiently, brick by emotional brick.

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Aparna Ramachandran joins Zee as EVP and head of network digital

Published

5 days ago

January 29, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited has appointed Aparna Ramachandran as EVP and head of network digital, signalling a sharper focus on strengthening its digital and streaming ecosystem.

Ramachandran joins Zee from Balaji Telefilms, where she served as head of digital originals, leading content strategy and production for the company’s digital platforms. She announced the move on LinkedIn, marking a new chapter in her career spanning more than 15 years across media, entertainment and technology.

Her professional journey includes senior roles at Viacom18 Media, Viu, FremantleMedia, Miditech, BigSynergy, BBC Worldwide, CNBC-TV18 and Bloomberg UTV. She began her career in 2005 as a software engineer at Infosys before transitioning into media and digital content leadership.

With experience across streaming media, broadcast television, content development, digital strategy, project management and video production, Ramachandran is expected to play a key role in shaping Zee’s network-wide digital growth and content innovation.

GECs

Zee TV launches on Samsung TV Plus with live German subtitles

Published

7 days ago

January 27, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

London: Zee Entertainment has launched its flagship Zee TV as a live FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, marking a first for South Asian television in Europe with round-the-clock live German subtitles.

The move takes Zee TV beyond its core diaspora audience and into the German-speaking mainstream, offering dramas, reality shows and family entertainment without subscriptions or language barriers. For FAST platforms, it sets a new benchmark in accessibility and scale.

Amit Goenka, president, international and digital businesses at Zee Entertainment, said the launch marked a turning point in the company’s global strategy.

“Zee TV Germany is a flagship launch and a defining moment in our journey to make entertainment truly borderless. By going live on Samsung TV Plus with 24/7 German subtitles, we are breaking language barriers and setting a new international benchmark for FAST streaming,” he said, adding that the partnership reflects Zee’s ambition to lead the FAST revolution through innovation and technology.

The rollout builds on the strong regional presence of Zee One and Zee5, both of which have cultivated loyal audiences across the DACH markets. The live FAST model now closes long-standing access gaps, particularly for younger diaspora viewers and first-time German-speaking audiences.

Samsung TV Plus said the partnership deepens its content portfolio in the region. Benedict Frey, country lead DACH and Benelux at Samsung TV Plus, said the addition strengthens its South Asian offering while widening appeal.
“Launching flagship Zee TV on Samsung TV Plus brings even more premium South Asian entertainment to our customers. Making this content available with live German subtitles is a meaningful step in serving diverse audiences and enriching the viewing experience,” he said.

Samsung TV Plus is Samsung’s free ad-supported streaming service, offering hundreds of live channels and on-demand titles across Samsung TVs, Galaxy devices and smart monitors.

Zee already commands a strong digital following across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with social platforms engaging hundreds of thousands of viewers. The live FAST launch is expected to amplify reach and drive appointment viewing at scale.

Zee TV is now available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus in Germany on channel 4210. With this launch, Zee TV Germany becomes the group’s ninth channel in Europe.

The signal is clear: FAST has gone mainstream—and Zee has arrived early, translated and ready to scale.

GECs

Sri Adhikari Brothers officially rebrands itself as Aqylon Nexus

Published

7 days ago

January 27, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network has formally adopted a new corporate identity, rechristening itself Aqylon Nexus Limited after receiving clearance from the ministry of corporate affairs.

The company has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that the MCA has approved the change of name, with effect from January 23, 2026. The update was disclosed in compliance with Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015.

Confirming the approval, the company said the ministry had cleared the transition from Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Limited to Aqylon Nexus Limited following the necessary regulatory process.

Aqylon Nexus said it has begun the formal exercise of replacing the old name across statutory filings and regulatory records. The broadcaster added that it is coordinating with relevant authorities and departments to complete the transition.

Under Section 12 of the Companies Act, 2013, the MCA has directed the company to continue displaying its former name alongside the new one for a period of two years.

Founded in 1994 and based in Mumbai, the company has been a long-standing presence in India’s television and content ecosystem. The rebrand reflects a repositioning effort as the media and entertainment sector undergoes rapid consolidation and structural change.

The legacy name remains on paper—for now. The business, however, is clearly turning the page.