ITV

Tag: Aap Ki Adalat

  • India TV’s Rajat Sharma wins ‘Media Icon 2022 from India Award’ in London

    India TV’s Rajat Sharma wins ‘Media Icon 2022 from India Award’ in London

    Mumbai: At a glittering ceremony in London, India TV chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma was conferred with the Media Icon of 2022 from India Award by World Consulting & Research Corporation (WCRC).

    The event was organised by WCRCINT & WCRC leaders at the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster and The Carisbrooke Hall at Victory Services Club, London.

    India TV managing director Ritu Dhawan was conferred with the World’s Best Leader 2022 award, while India TV was identified as the World’s Best Brand 2022 for being the most credible and meaningful source of information.

    In the presence of industry experts, corporate stalwarts, and luminaries, more than 50 best global companies and individuals were honoured.

    India TV is the nation’s leading Hindi news channel and has consistently topped the news charts. Its success has been possible due to its fast-paced consistency and credibility in reporting events that take place in India and the rest of the world.

    Rajat Sharma, one of the pioneers of TV journalism in India, has been leading India TV from the front with his two most popular shows, the longest-running TV show, Aap Ki Adalat, and the daily prime-time news show, Aaj Ki Baat. A Padma Bhushan awardee, Rajat Sharma has been grilling political leaders, prime ministers, film stars, godmen, and artists for the last 27 years, while his prime-time show Aaj Ki Baat encapsulates the happenings of the day in a fast-paced format.

    Dhawan is the livewire behind-the-scenes person who has been directing the Aap Ki Adalat show since its inception in 1993. Apart from her onerous responsibilities in management, she has been the brain behind the new look of the India TV channel, heading the massive team effort between anchors, producers, reporters, camerapersons, graphics designers, video editors, and programmers, lending panache to the overall news telecast.

  • Rajat Sharma to relinquish the presidentship of NBDA

    Rajat Sharma to relinquish the presidentship of NBDA

    Mumbai: India TV editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma has decided to relinquish the presidentship of the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA). Currently, ABP Network’s CEO Avinash Pandey has taken over the reins of NBDA. 

    In addition to this, MV Shreyams Kumar will take over as vice president & Anuradha Prasad Shukla will be the new treasurer of the broadcasters association. 

    The NBDA is the country’s largest news broadcasting organisation, representing nearly all of the country’s major news networks.

    In a voluntary decision, Sharma, who has led news broadcasters’ largest body for the last six years, is likely to convey to the board his desire to focus his energies on creating new shows.

    Rajat Sharma is likely to revive his iconic show Aap Ki Adalat soon.

    During his tenure as president of the NBDA, Sharma led the broadcast industry, attempting to make it more accepting of newcomers and promote healthy competition.

    On 13 August 2021, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), India’s largest body of news broadcasters, changed its name to the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA).

    The NBDA is committed to editorial standards that ensure objectivity, neutrality, fairness, and accuracy in reporting.

  • India TV editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma conferred ‘Most Influential Indian’ award in London

    India TV editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma conferred ‘Most Influential Indian’ award in London

    Mumbai: On the eve of India’s 75th Independence, Rajat Sharma was identified and honoured as the “Most Influential Indian” at an event hosted by the British monarch at the top of London Bridge.

    Under the capable guidance of ELITE Magazine’s managing director, Puraskar Thadani, who planned the event. Sharma was joined on the important occasion by India TV MD Ritu Dhawan. At the ceremony, personalities such as Sonu Sood and Sadhguru were also honoured.

    Behind this accolade is the affection and faith of crores of India TV fans, who have helped India TV become the country’s most popular Hindi news station.

    For the past 28 years, Rajat Sharma’s show “Aap Ki Adalat” has been the most popular show in the country.

    Upon receiving the award, India TV editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma said, “Any award always gives a sense of responsibility. This award inspires me to fulfil the responsibility given to me well. At the London Bridge, he said that every Indian is proud of celebrating ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Together, everyone should say ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ as it is a proud moment in itself.”

  • Delhi HC orders Zee Hindustan to stop using Rajat Sharma’s name in ads

    Delhi HC orders Zee Hindustan to stop using Rajat Sharma’s name in ads

    MUMBAI: Delhi HC has restrained Zee Hindustan from using the name of India TV editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma in any of its advertisements, stating that its latest ad campaign is prima facie illegal. It has directed the channel to remove any hoardings or ads that use Rajat’s name.

    Zee Hindustan, to promote its anchorless news channel, had started an advertisement campaign that made reference to some of the popular news anchors including Sharma and Republic’s Arnab Goswami using slogans like “India mein ab Rajat ki Adalat band!” (Rajat’s Adalat is now shut in India!), and “Ab Anchor nahin khabarein khud bolengi, Kyunki aap samjhdaar hain” (Since you are intelligent, news would speak for itself, without any news anchor).

    Sharma and his channel India TV filed a suit for an injunction against Zee,  claiming that the advertisement is being used to deliberately and maliciously misrepresent and disparage the image of India TV and Rajat Sharma, who has been running the show Aap Ki Adalat on different channels since 1993.

    Justice Jayant Nath of Delhi High Court impugned the advertisement saying, “The Hon’ble Court while granting the injunction in favour of Sharma and India TV, refrained Zee from using Rajat Sharma’s name in their advertisements in the electronic and print media or in any other form. The Hon’ble Court has further directed Zee to take down all hoardings containing the impugned advertisements.”

  • 9X Media sale: Pradeep Guha & Rajat Sharma rubbish reports

    9X Media sale: Pradeep Guha & Rajat Sharma rubbish reports

    MUMBAI: The entities that were said to be involved in acquisition talks have no clue about the development. It seems to be pure speculation.

    The media and entertainment industry was since morning rife with speculation that India TV promoter Rajat Sharma is acquiring a controlling stake in the New Silk Route (NSR)-backed 9X Media. Reports emerged in the last few hours that also state the value of the deal was Rs 200 crore (Rs. 2,000 million).

    9X Media’s CEO Pradeep Guha, however, rubbished this news. He told Indiantelevision.com, “All the reports are absolutely rubbish. We are not selling 9X Media.” When Rajat Sharma was contacted, he retorted: “I have no idea where these reports are coming from. I am out of the country. All these reports are absolutely false.”

    Though, Sharma has been keen on evaluating several opportunities to diversify the business portfolio of Independent News Service, which depends entirely on advertising revenue from India TV, acquiring 9X Media is not in his list. Yet. Sharma and his wife Ritu Dhawan are the largest shareholders of INS, which is the parent company of India TV. They own close to 60 per cent stake in the company.

    According to reports that are making the rounds in the industry, Sharma may seek help for the fund transaction from existing investors in INS like the Silicon Valley-based media investor Keyur Patel who also owns a stake in NDTV through his CV Global Holdings, a Mauritius based investment arm.

    NSR was earlier looking to sell its 80 per cent stake in 9X Media to Sony Pictures Networks in August. Its CEO Pradeep Guha directly owns five per cent stake whereas 9X Media Employee Trust has a 13 per cent stake. NSR has Drag Along/Tag rights over Guha’s shareholding and can cause him to sell his entire holding if the transaction materialises.

    9X Media was founded in 2007 by Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea and owns a bouquet of music channels that include regional language channels in Marathi and Punjabi. Its flagship channels are 9XM and 9X Jalwa.

    The rise of India TV as India’s leading news channel within a fairly short span of its existence owes a lot to the vision of its chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma who, along with his wife Ritu, leads a team of professionals.

    Sharma, considered close to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, co-founded India TV with his wife Ritu Dhawan in April, 2004 from a swanky studio-cum-office in Film City, Noida. Sharma and Dhawan had set up their own production house, Independent News Service (INS), the parent company which owns India TV, in 1997 that has now transformed into a broadcasting company — a la NDTV and TV18/Network18.

  • 9X Media sale: Pradeep Guha & Rajat Sharma rubbish reports

    9X Media sale: Pradeep Guha & Rajat Sharma rubbish reports

    MUMBAI: The entities that were said to be involved in acquisition talks have no clue about the development. It seems to be pure speculation.

    The media and entertainment industry was since morning rife with speculation that India TV promoter Rajat Sharma is acquiring a controlling stake in the New Silk Route (NSR)-backed 9X Media. Reports emerged in the last few hours that also state the value of the deal was Rs 200 crore (Rs. 2,000 million).

    9X Media’s CEO Pradeep Guha, however, rubbished this news. He told Indiantelevision.com, “All the reports are absolutely rubbish. We are not selling 9X Media.” When Rajat Sharma was contacted, he retorted: “I have no idea where these reports are coming from. I am out of the country. All these reports are absolutely false.”

    Though, Sharma has been keen on evaluating several opportunities to diversify the business portfolio of Independent News Service, which depends entirely on advertising revenue from India TV, acquiring 9X Media is not in his list. Yet. Sharma and his wife Ritu Dhawan are the largest shareholders of INS, which is the parent company of India TV. They own close to 60 per cent stake in the company.

    According to reports that are making the rounds in the industry, Sharma may seek help for the fund transaction from existing investors in INS like the Silicon Valley-based media investor Keyur Patel who also owns a stake in NDTV through his CV Global Holdings, a Mauritius based investment arm.

    NSR was earlier looking to sell its 80 per cent stake in 9X Media to Sony Pictures Networks in August. Its CEO Pradeep Guha directly owns five per cent stake whereas 9X Media Employee Trust has a 13 per cent stake. NSR has Drag Along/Tag rights over Guha’s shareholding and can cause him to sell his entire holding if the transaction materialises.

    9X Media was founded in 2007 by Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea and owns a bouquet of music channels that include regional language channels in Marathi and Punjabi. Its flagship channels are 9XM and 9X Jalwa.

    The rise of India TV as India’s leading news channel within a fairly short span of its existence owes a lot to the vision of its chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma who, along with his wife Ritu, leads a team of professionals.

    Sharma, considered close to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, co-founded India TV with his wife Ritu Dhawan in April, 2004 from a swanky studio-cum-office in Film City, Noida. Sharma and Dhawan had set up their own production house, Independent News Service (INS), the parent company which owns India TV, in 1997 that has now transformed into a broadcasting company — a la NDTV and TV18/Network18.

  • India TV regains top slot with strong programming

    India TV regains top slot with strong programming

    MUMBAI: India TV’s Aap Ki Adalat episode featuring comedian turned actor Kapil Sharma has seen a 101 per cent rise in its ratings as compared to the show’s previous episode. This subsequently played a pivotal role in taking the channel back to the number one slot in week 38 in Hindi News channels segment. Kapil’s humour quotient paired with India TV chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma’s array of clever questions seems to have worked like magic. What’s more, alongside the flagship show, the channel’s weekday prime time show Aaj Ki Baat with Rajat Sharma as well as Chunav Manch – India TV’s Bihar Conclave, also garnered good ratings during the same week.

     

     

     

    As per data shared by BARC India on Indiantelevision.com’s request, the channel’s ratings jumped from 1967 in the last four weeks (week 34 to 37) to 3948 in week 38 from a sample of over 1 lakh viewers in the Hindi Speaking Market (HSM). This makes India TV the most viewed channel in the Hindi news segment in week 38.

     

     

     

    The good ratings, however, doesn’t faze the editor-in-chief. Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, he says, “We have always focussed on content. Ratings come automatically.” In fact, Sharma had an inkling that the episode with Kapil would be a hit with the audience. “The first indication that the show would be a hit was when I noticed the audience present in the studio enjoying Kapil’s answers,” he adds.

     

    According to Rajat Sharma, Kapil’s interesting anecdotes won the audience over during the show. “Kapil in Aap Ki Adalat was spontaneous. While answering my questions, he narrated some interesting anecdotes, which the audience liked. The presence of Bhojpuri star Manoj Tiwari in the studio and his ‘jugalbandi’ with Kapil helped in making the show a bigger hit,” he informs.

     

    It is interesting to note that the two Sharmas have previously made an appearance together on screen last year on Colors’ Comedy Nights with Kapil Sharma, where Rajat Sharma was invited as a guest.

      

    In the Hindi News channels space, Zee News has been at the number one spot as per BARC for the last two weeks. On the other hand, India TV has also been at top of the ladder many a times over the last few months

  • Subhash Chandra knew I had a winning concept: Rajat Sharma

    Subhash Chandra knew I had a winning concept: Rajat Sharma

    “In the 21 years of this show, nobody has been forced to reply, Rajat knows the art of extracting a reply through his sweet questioning. Another big quality of Rajat is that he uses his tongue sparingly in his show, but he uses his heart to the fullest. A clever mind works behind this,” is how Prime Minister Narendera Modi described the man who has been for 21 years making the icons of the country answerable.

     

    Rajat Sharma’s journey with ‘Aap ki Adalat’ began with Zee TV in 1994 and from then there has been no stopping. The talk show has seen politicians, sportspersons, celebrities and others pour out their heart as well answer some of the trickiest questions.

     

    Amidst the celebrations, indiantelevision.com’s Meghna Sharma in a freewheel chat with Sharma spoke about what keeps him ticking, his favourite interview and much more.

     

    Excerpts…

     

    21 years is a long time, what do you have to say about the journey? What keeps you ticking?

     

    It still feels that the journey has just begun; all my memories with the show are still very fresh. The type of guests we have hosted on ‘Aap Ki Adalat,’ their replies, the viewers’ response, the in-studio audiences, the ambience that makes me feel at home every time I step into the Adalat Studio, the affection showered upon me, probably the never-ending love of my viewers…all makes me feel really blessed and probably gives me the strength to keep going.

     

    When did you come up with the idea of starting ‘Aap ki Adalat’? Any glitches faced while launching the show?

     

    The idea came up in a casual conversation with Zee TV owner Subhash Chandra on a flight from Delhi to Mumbai, 21 years ago. Without much thinking I told Subhash Chandra how the interviews should be done for TV. I told him about putting politicians in the dock and making them accountable to public. After we landed I forgot about the conversation. Subhash Chandra, however, was quick to realise that I had come up with a winning concept.

     

    Your most memorable interview so far and why?

     

    Like I said, all of my interviews have been really special and still very fresh in my memory, however if you tell me to pick one, I would pick the one with the then PM candidate, Narendra Modi. The reason for my pick is not only did the show created a huge ripple in the broadcast media Industry, when almost India’s 85 per cent news audiences watched the show’s first telecast with competition reduced to negligible numbers but also because of spontaneity and ease with which Mr. Modi responded even to the trickiest questions…given the fact that he had a really bad throat after addressing six-odd election rallies during the hectic campaign spree. We weren’t expecting more than 15 minutes of shoot. We ended up shooting him for over two hours and the result was breathtaking.

     

    Whom/what do you attribute this success to? How do you still maintain the charm of the show?

     

    Talking of success, I am very sure that it wouldn’t have been the way it is now if the director of my show, who also is my wife, Ritu Dhawan wouldn’t have been around. She is the one who has been standing like a rock behind my success…taking care of everything, from my looks to the positioning of the show, she is everywhere.

     

     

    I have always believed in doing my job right and just focus on that. We have been able to create the right mix of depth, detailing and research mixed with the right amount of humour, we have ensured to keep the show relevant to the changing preferences of the audiences over the last two decades, probably that’s what you are referring to as charm.

     

    After 21 years, will we see any changes in the format?

     

    Change is inevitable, however more than planning any such change we would rather keep ourselves adaptive to what our audiences would prefer.

     

    From President to PM to celebs, everyone attended the celebrations. What do you have to say about the support?

     

    One word, I am overwhelmed. Feeling deeply humbled. While just focusing on my work, I never expected the amount of affection and respect showered upon me by all including country’s topmost icons. I am more than grateful to all and most to my viewers who have backed me all through as their advocate while I tried to amplify their voice with who mattered.

  • A blockbuster evening marks 21 years of ‘Aap Ki Adalat’

    A blockbuster evening marks 21 years of ‘Aap Ki Adalat’

    MUMBAI: India’s longest running television show ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ saw a gathering of icons including those from politics, sports, business and spirituality who came together to celebrate the 21 years of the show, with Rajat Sharma.

     

    The attendee list sported names like President Pranab Mukherjee, PM Narendra Modi, Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Smriti Irani, Venkaiah Naidu, Suresh Prabhu, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Prakash Javadekar, Ram Vilas Paswan, Dharmendra Pradhan, Rajyavardhan Rathore and Najma Heptullah. BJP president Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and former LS Speaker P A Sangma also attended the event. Chief Ministers Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Vasundhara Raje Scindia, and Harish Rawat were also present.

     

    The three Khans of Bollywood, Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir, along with others like Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Hema Malini, Anupam Kher, Sonakshi Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha, Rani Mukerji and cricketer Gautam Gambhir also attended the celebration.

     

    PM Narendra Modi talking on what makes Aap Ki Adalat so distinct and unfading observed, “In the 21 years of this show, nobody has been forced to reply, Rajat knows the art of extracting a reply through his sweet questioning. Another big quality of Rajat is that he uses his tongue sparingly in his show, but he uses his heart to the fullest. A clever mind works behind this.”

     

    Anil Ambani, Gautam Adani, Hari Bharatia and Raj Kumar Dhoot were among the business tycoons who were present at the occasion. Other personalities who attended included noted Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali, Himesh Reshmiyya, Udit Narayan, Anu Malik, advertising guru and lyricist Prasoon Joshi, Rakhi Sawant, Dr. Naresh Trehan, Daler Mehdi, Sakshi Maharaj, Yogi Adityanath, Raju Srivastav, Shashi Sinha, and social activist Kiran Bedi.

     

    Senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath, Sachin Pilot, Janardan Dwivedi, Salman Khurshid, Jagdish Tytler, Vijay Bahuguna, Rita Bahuguna, Renuka Chaudhary, Sushil Shinde, R K Dhawan, Dr. Karan Singh, JDU chief Sharad Yadav, RLD chief Ajit Singh, Amar Singh and Jaya Bachchan were also present at the event.

     

    India TV chairman and editor in chief Rajat Sharma commented, “I am short of words to express how overwhelmed and humbled I feel right now. Over the last two decades I was simply focusing on doing my job right, I never expected the amount of affection and respect showered upon me by all including country’s topmost icons.”

     

    “I am more than grateful to all and mostly to my viewers who have backed me all through as their advocate while I tried to amplify their voice with who mattered,” he added.

     

    Speaking on the success of the mega event, India TV MD and CEO Ritu Dhawan observed, “When we first thought of marking the occasion, we always knew that this is going to be an industry benchmark, however I have no doubt now that our expectations have been hugely exceeded. This has been a truly superlative success & people will remember this for a very long time.”

     

    Star Plus has also decided to be part of the celebrations. The event will be simulcast on both the channels – India TV and Star Plus on 7 December at 10 pm. Cineyug, a premier event management companies managed the show that was hosted by singer Sonu Nigam.

  • Aap Ki Adalat @ 21, India TV announces a celebration like never before

    Aap Ki Adalat @ 21, India TV announces a celebration like never before

    MUMBAI: From the power corridors of Delhi to the glamorous Mumbai, there is a most definite flutter over the news of a mega event being hosted by India TV to celebrate the 21 glorious years India’s longest running Television show Aap Ki Adalat with Rajat Sharma.
     
    To commemorate the legendary milestone for the show, a cult in its own, India TV is organizing a never before and dazzling event on 2nd December. Country’s topmost leaders including the President & the Prime Minister, most celebrated Bollywood Stars including the three Khans, most celebrated Sports Icons including top Cricketers, Country’s top Business leaders, top Spiritual Gurus and Country’s Apex Bureaucrats & Administrators for the first time come together under one roof.
     
    In the Indian electronic media industry, the names Rajat Sharma and Aap Ki Adalat have been synonymous since 1993, when the first show was telecast. The show in its lifetime has broken all possible records in the history of Indian news television, and still continues to dominate the rating charts.
     
    Ritu Dhawan, MD & CEO, India TV said, “Words would be redundant if we try to sum-up the glorious journey of Aap Ki Adalat, equally redundant would be an attempt to word the glory of the celebration plan.” “I am sure that every bit will be loved by both who will be present for the ceremony & those who will get to watch this on their TV sets.” She added.
     
    In the last two decades, this top show that has enviably featured almost all top names of their times till date. During the celebration most of the personalities who featured in Aap Ki Adalat in its journey are expected to grace this mega event, making it the biggest & brightest such gathering of contemporary times.
     
    India’s Premier GEC Star Plus has also decided to be part of the celebrations and the event will be simulcast on both the channels – India TV and Star Plus on a 7th December at 10 PM.  Cineyug, one of India’s premier event management companies will be managing the evening.