GECs
Applause Entertainment and Sudhir Mishra hold Ronit Roy, Tisca Chopra and Parvin Dabas, ‘Hostage’
MUMBAI: Applause Entertainment, the content studio from the Aditya Birla Group brings its audiences a premium drama series that will be a bolt from the blue. ‘Hostages’ is a potent conspiracy thriller fueled by several twists, strong performances and sharp direction. ‘Hostages’ brings together a stellar star cast of Ronit Roy, Tisca Chopra, Parvin Dabas and Dalip Tahil playing key roles. Acclaimed widely by audiences around the world, the Indian remake of this Israeli high stakes thriller from Armoza Formats, will be produced by Banijay Asia.
Internationally, ‘Hostages’ generated a great deal of buzz before it even came out and the nail biting series has been hugely appreciated by the audiences. Ronit Roy, a renowned personality of the big and the small screens, who has impressed audiences with his outstanding performances in ‘Udaan’, ‘2 States’, ‘Kaabil’, ‘Adaalat’ and many others is now all set to rule the digital space with his performance in ‘Hostages’. Tisca Chopra who is best known for her work in ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Rahasya’, ‘Ghayal Once Again’ among many films will be seen essaying a crucial role in the show. The ‘Khosla ka Ghosla’, ‘Ghanchakkar’ and ‘Indu Sarkar’ actor Parvin Dabas, who has charmed the audiences with his unique performances is also one of the key members of the cast. Dalip Tahil one of India’s renowned actors, known for his work in ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, ‘Salaam Mumbai’ and the BBC soap opera ‘EastEnders’ will also be seen playing an important role. And for Sudhir Mishra, the creator of classic films like ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’, ‘Chameli’, ‘Khoya Khoya Chand’ and the very recent ‘Daas Dev’, this will be his first web series as a director.
Sameer Nair, CEO Applause Entertainment commented, “’Hostages’ is an enthralling and captivating concept, which will hook viewers. There is a clear demand for a show like this in the digital space and with a brilliant director like Sudhir Mishra, an exceptional producer like Deepak Dhar and a host of talented actors like Ronit, Tisca, Parvin and Dalip, this show will definitely take the premium conspiracy series bar a notch higher.’’
Deepak Dhar, Founder and CEO Banijay Asia said, “I am grateful for the support and belief that Sameer has shown in me and my endeavor. We at Banijay Asia are glad to be associated with Applause Entertainment for a prestigious and an acclaimed international thriller like ‘Hostages’. With Sameer Nair and Banijay Group coming together we aim to produce some groundbreaking content across genres for the audience.”
Sudhir Mishra, director, ‘Hostages’ added, “I treat each and every film/show of mine as the first one, which helps me think of the plot in a new and fresh way. ‘Hostages’ is one such example. For me, every element and every person who is involved in the project forms an integral part, including the actors, producers, writer, cameraman and the whole team. On ‘Hostages’, having a mind like Sameer Nair and a house full of extraordinary actors and writers, I’m enjoying directing this’’.
Ronit Roy said – “‘Hostages’ is a show which had me arrested in front of the screen when I watched it. It has been hugely appreciated all over the globe and my character in the series is very intriguing. I constantly strive to keep my audiences engaged and entertained with each of my performances. I’m delighted to work with an excellent director like Sudhir Mishra for this series”.
Tisca Chopra added – “My character in the series is very demanding and it will be challenging to live up to the high hopes set by the original show. But I’m sure that having a director like Sudhir Mishra and a cast full of brilliant actors, this journey will be an interesting one. A show like this has never been made before and ‘Hostages’ will give a fresh turn to the Indian digital space.”
Parvin Dabas commented – “I like taking risks when it comes to playing characters and my role in ‘Hostages’ challenges me as an actor. The script of ‘Hostages’ is spell binding and I’m very thrilled that I’m getting directed by Sudhir Mishra and collaborating with actors like Ronit Roy and Tisca Chopra for this wonderful project”.
The shoot of ‘Hostages’ is currently going on in Mumbai and the other actors in this digital series are Malhaar Rathod, Sharad Joshi, Aashim Gulati, Surya Sharma and Anangsha Biswas. The show is expected to stream later this year.
Applause Entertainment has recently announced an exciting line up of shows that includes ‘The Scam’ with Hansal Mehta, ‘Criminal Justice’ & ‘The Office’ with BBC, ‘City of Dreams’ with Nagesh Kukunoor, and has another 20 premium shows lined up for the year. With this ‘Hostages’ announcement, Applause Entertainment has given its audience one more show to look forward to in the coming year and we can’t wait for it to release!
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.
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.
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.
Mukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive
Nielsen launches co-viewing pilot to sharpen TV measurement
Netflix celebrates a decade in India with Shah Rukh Khan-narrated tribute film
Delhivery chairman Deepak Kapoor, independent director Saugata Gupta quit board
Meta appoints Anuvrat Rao as APAC head of commerce partnerships
Brnd.me enters Europe as haircare brands power global expansion
TechnoSport taps quick commerce with launch on Slikk’s 60-minute platform
These ’90s fashion trends are making a comeback in 2017
The final 6 ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes might feel like a full season
According to Dior Couture, this taboo fashion accessory is back
The old and New Edition cast comes together to perform
Phillies’ Aaron Altherr makes mind-boggling barehanded play
Uber and Lyft are finally available in all of New York State
Disney’s live-action Aladdin finally finds its stars
Mukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive
Nielsen launches co-viewing pilot to sharpen TV measurement
Netflix celebrates a decade in India with Shah Rukh Khan-narrated tribute film
Delhivery chairman Deepak Kapoor, independent director Saugata Gupta quit board
Meta appoints Anuvrat Rao as APAC head of commerce partnerships
Brnd.me enters Europe as haircare brands power global expansion
TechnoSport taps quick commerce with launch on Slikk’s 60-minute platform
-
iWorld4 days agoNetflix celebrates a decade in India with Shah Rukh Khan-narrated tribute film
-
I&B Ministry3 months agoIndia steps up fight against digital piracy
-
iWorld3 months agoTips Music turns up the heat with Tamil party anthem Mayangiren
-
iWorld12 months agoBSNL rings in a revival with Rs 4,969 crore revenue
-
MAM3 months agoHoABL soars high with dazzling Nagpur sebut
-
News Broadcasting2 months agoCNN-News18 dominates Bihar election coverage with record viewership
-
News Broadcasting9 hours agoMukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive
-
MAM3 months agoKapil Sethi joins Network18 as head of technology