ITV

Tag: Ektaa R Kapoor

  • Balaji sets the stage for new stories with launch of Balaji Studio

    Balaji sets the stage for new stories with launch of Balaji Studio

    MUMBAI: When Ektaa R Kapoor says she’s rewriting the rules of entertainment, she means it, quite literally. Balaji Telefilms ltd has announced the launch of Balaji Studio, a bold new creative vertical set to become the next-generation content engine for India’s fast-evolving TV and digital ecosystem.

    But this isn’t just another production wing. Balaji Studio is imagined as an open, collaborative playground for storytellers, a space where creative freedom meets industry structure, and where emerging voices can transform their wildest ideas into mainstream magic.

    As content consumption explodes across platforms and audiences chase new formats and fresher perspectives, Balaji Studio aims to build bridges between the traditional and the experimental, uniting the best of both worlds. It promises to be a future-ready hub that supports creative innovation while ensuring commercial scalability.

    “Balaji Studio is more than a new business vertical, it’s our declaration that the future of Indian entertainment is open to all who dare to dream big and disrupt the norm,” said Balaji Telefilms Ltd founder and joint managing director Ektaa R Kapoor. “We’re tearing up the rulebook and building a home for bold creatives, talent and original voices who will shape the next era of storytelling.”

    In a landscape where attention spans are shrinking and creativity is the new currency, Balaji Studio aims to give creators the backing they need from state-of-the-art production infrastructure to strategic collaborations with technology platforms, brands, and industry stakeholders. The goal is to help content travel further and faster while keeping audiences emotionally invested.

    Adding to this Balaji Telefilms ltd chief revenue officer Nitin Burman said, “Balaji Studio marks a pivotal step in our evolution, it’s where creativity meets commerce. We’re building a space that not only nurtures great ideas but also gives them the scalability and audience reach they deserve.”

    Balaji Studio’s mandate is both creative and cultural to empower storytellers at every stage, from industry veterans to first-time creators. It envisions a space where risk-taking is celebrated, where collaborations thrive, and where content reflects the dynamism of an audience that consumes across languages, screens, and genres.

    With this move, Balaji Telefilms is not just expanding its portfolio, it’s cementing its position as a cultural incubator in India’s entertainment ecosystem. From daily soaps that defined a generation to digital originals that push boundaries, the company’s next act is clearly about scale, substance, and storytelling that resonates across time and technology.

    As Kapoor puts it, Balaji Studio is less about following trends and more about creating them, a modern creative home built for an India that’s hungry for stories, and for storytellers ready to rewrite how they’re told.

  • Experience Pracchand Ashok’s grandeur on COLORS

    Experience Pracchand Ashok’s grandeur on COLORS

    Mumbai: The greatest love stories are not without their trials, but what happens when fate writes a timeless saga that changes the course of history? Witness the colossal power of love as COLORS takes the audience back in time to the glory of the Mauryan and Kalinga dynasty with its magnum opus ‘Pracchand Ashok’. Making a stellar edition to its library of riveting love stories, the channel treats the viewers to the royal odyssey of Samrat Ashok and Princess Kaurwaki whose thirst for power and yearning for affection collide. After curating iconic franchises that were household favourites, COLORS and Balaji Telefilms unite to raise the bar of storytelling yet again with the historical romance that shaped destinies of empires. Starring actors Adnan Khan and Mallika Singh in the roles of Samrat Ashok and Princess Kaurwaki respectively and produced by Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms, ‘Pracchand Ashok’ premieres on 6 February, 2024 and airs every Monday – Friday at 10:00 pm only on COLORS.

    ‘Pracchand Ashok’ recounts the tale of Samrat Ashok and Princess Kaurwaki, two legends who are as different as day and night. While Kaurwaki dreams of a partner with a heart of gold, cherishing family values above all, Ashok is a relentless conqueror who thinks of family as a chink in one’s armour and unafraid to spill blood for power. However, deep within, he harbours a burning desire to create a legacy, earning respect for his mother, who’s been treated no less than a maid in the kingdom and securing a place for himself in his father’s heart. Kaurwaki seeks a noble companion while Ashok wants to be feared, craving dominion over everyone. Amidst conflicting ideals and aspirations begins a love story that alters the history of Bharatvarsh.

    Popular actor Adnan Khan said, “Getting the chance to essay the role of Samrat Ashok is like living out a childhood fantasy. Joining the COLORS family, especially with a grand show like Pracchand Ashok, is an incredible opportunity to connect with its massive set of viewers across the country. I’m grateful to COLORS and Balaji Telefilms who have trusted me to embody a legend, whose life spans from the conquest to compassion. I promise that this show will enliven the historical romance on Indian television screens.”

    On essaying the role of Princess Kaurwaki, Mallika Singh said, “Working with COLORS, a channel loved by many, and the incredible Ektaa R Kapoor is a dream come true. Princess Kaurwaki’s huge role in Samrat Ashok’s life and how she shaped history is a story that deserves to be told. I believe my calling as an actor through this show is to pay tribute to the legendary woman, who knew the power of love. I am beyond excited for my collaboration with COLORS and Balaji Telefilms and hoping that our hardwork pays off.”

    ‘Pracchand Ashok’ navigates the historical romance of Samrat Ashok and Princess Kaurwaki. Growing up with an unwavering belief in the potency of love, Kaurwaki stands in stark contrast to Ashok, who fosters hatred and animosity, oblivious to his destined path. She serves as a beacon of hope in his life. Additionally, a myriad of emotions intricately weaves Samrat Ashok’s journey. From his indelible connection with his father to his relentless pursuit of respect and justice for his mother, every emotion is explored with depth and nuance, further adding layers to the narrative. Joining the stellar cast are seasoned actors such as Rakshanda Khan as Helena, Chetan Hansraj as Bindusar, Surendra Pal as Chandragupta Maurya, Manoj Kolhatkar as Chanakya, Aarush Shrivastava as Sushim, Dinesh Mehta as Subhandhu, Ankit Bhatia as Bhadrak, Shalini Chandran as Dharma, Leena Balodi as Salukkhavati, Manish Khanna as Padmanabhan.

    Get ready for a historical love saga in ‘Pracchand Ashok’ premiering at 10:00 pm on the 6 February 2024 and airing every Monday to Friday only on COLORS.

  • 2023 International Emmy winners announced

    2023 International Emmy winners announced

    Mumbai: The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented Emmys to television creators and performers from nine countries at the 51st International Emmy Awards tonight in New York City. The Gala was attended by television professionals from around the world and hosted by actor & comedian Rhys Darby.

    The special Founders Emmy was presented to Jesse Armstrong, creator of the hit HBO show “Succession” by HBO and Max Content  chairman and CEO  Casey Bloys.

    The Directorate Award was presented to Balaji Telefilms co-founder Ektaa R. Kapoor by Dr. Deepak Chopra.

    “In a tumultuous time, television again proves to be a common denominator for people around the world.” said International Academy president & CEO Bruce L. Paisner. “The International Academy is proud to shine a global spotlight on these outstanding programs and performances.”

    In addition to the two special awards, 15 Emmy statues were presented by the International Academy during the evening.

    The 15 winning International Emmy programs and performances are: Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On (arts programming), Martin Freeman (best performance by an actor), Karla Souza (best performance by an actress), TIE Derry Girls – Season 3 and Vir Das: Landing (comedy), Mariupol: The People’s Story (documentary), The Empress (drama series), The Smeds and The Smoos (kids: animation), Built To Survive (kids: factual & entertainment), Heartbreak High (kids: live action), Harley & Katya (sports documentary), A Ponte – The Bridge Brasil (non-scripted entertainment), Des Gens Bien Ordinaires [A Very Ordinary World] (short-form series), Yargi (Telenovela) and La Caida [Dive] (TV Movie/Mini-Series).

    Complete winners’ information of programs from Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Turkey, and the United Kingdom follows this release.

    There is a tie in the comedy category with Derry Girls – Season 3 and Vir Das: Landing both winning.

    Karla Souza accepted the Emmy for Best Performance by an Actress for her role as Olympic diver Mariel, in La Caida [Dive].

    Arts Programming

    Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On
    Eagle Vision / White Pine Pictures / Paquin Entertainment
    Canada
    Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry it On is a challenging account of this cultural and musical icon’s lifelong commitment to music, and sharing the truth. Buffy shares her own story from her early love of music to the activism she continues to this day.

    Best Performance by an Actor

    Martin Freeman in The Responder
    Dancing Ledge Productions
    United Kingdom
    Chris (Martin Freeman) drives a frontline response vehicle in his fragmented hometown of Liverpool. Night after night he faces crime, violence and addiction on the streets, whilst battling against personal demons that threaten to destabilize his work, his marriage and his mental health.

    Best Performance by an Actress

    Karla Souza in La Caída [Dive]
    Madam / Filmadora / Infinity Hill / Amazon
    Mexico
    Mariel started diving when she was eight years old. The pool is her life. She says she has water, not blood flowing through her veins. She has trained with Braulio her entire life and trusts him more than she trusts herself. He sees her like no one else can. He keeps his promises; she’s become a world renown Olympic diver. Mariel is the most recognised Mexican athlete of all time. Introverted, disciplined, and determined, Mariel has to choose between Olympic greatness, or healing her painful past.

    Comedy

    Derry Girls – Season 3
    Hat Trick Productions
    United Kingdom
    Lisa McGee’s sitcom about a group of working-class teenagers coming of age in the 90’s in Northern Ireland. While theres hope in the air that The Troubles may finally be over, the gang’s troubles are only just getting started as they get ever closer to adulthood.

    Vir Das: Landing
    Weirdass Comedy / Rotten Science / Netflix
    India
    Vir Das dives deep into his childhood in India, the perils of outrage and finding his footing in the world for his fourth Netflix stand-up special.

    Documentary

    Mariupol: The People’s Story
    Top Hat Productions / Hayloft Productions / BBC
    United Kingdom
    Told and mostly filmed by the people of Mariupol, this is the deeply personal account of the destruction of a Ukrainian city. This documentary is a story of war crimes and suffering but also one of startling courage, of the endurance of morality and love in the midst of war, and of undaunted spirit.

    Drama Series

    The Empress
    Sommerhaus Serien GmbH / Netflix
    Germany
    When rebellious Elisabeth falls for Emperor Franz and becomes his unlikely bride, she enters a world of tensions and intrigue at the Viennese court.

    Non-Scripted Entertainment

    A Ponte – The Bridge Brasil
    Warner Bros. Discovery / Endemol Shine Brasil
    Brazil
    12 participants isolated in the wilderness have 20 days to get to know each other and build a bridge that will take them to a treasure that awaits on the other side of a river. If they succeed, they will have to choose the winner.

    Short-Form Series

    Des Gens Bien Ordinaires [A Very Ordinary World]
    Magneto / Canal+
    France
    In a dystopian world where women hold the power, Romain, a sociology student, is attracted to the bright lights of porn film sets, which he sees as a path to emancipation. This story puts a twist on the porn industry to deliver a critique of our world.

    Sports Documentary

    Harley & Katya
    Stranger Than Fiction Films
    Australia
    A documentary about Indigenous Australian figure skater Harley Windsor and his young Russian pair skating partner Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya. This unlikely duo made history, but at what cost?

    Telenovela

    Yargi [Family Secrets]
    Ay Yapim
    Turkey
    Prosecutor Ilgaz has to find a highly competent attorney when his brother is accused of murder. He crosses paths with Ceylin, a limitless attorney. Things change when the victim turns out to be Ceylin’s sister. When the war between them turns into a passionate love, everything turns upside down.

    TV Movie/Mini-Series

    La Caída [Dive]
    Madam / Filmadora / Infinity Hill / Amazon
    Mexico
    Mariel (Karla Souza) is a veteran competitive diver who has one last chance at the Olympics. However, when a terrible truth surfaces, Mariel has to confront her biggest personal dilemma yet: is winning really her ultimate dream?

    Kids: Animation

    The Smeds and The Smoos
    Magic Light Pictures
    United Kingdom
    On a faraway planet, Janet and Bill meet in the Wurpular Wood and fall in love, but their families, the Smeds and the Smoos, cannot accept the match after generations of division. When the pair elope, the warring families must work together to find the young Smed and Smoo.

    Kids: Factual & Entertainment

    Built To Survive
    Butter Media / Breslin Media / Australian Broadcasting Corporation / Australian Children’s Television Foundation
    Australia
    Get up close to the world’s most unique creatures to reveal the ultimate survivors of Australia’s most extreme natural habitats. Join Phil Breslin in his quest to answer – who is Built to Survive?

    Kids: Live-Action

    Heartbreak High
    Fremantle / Newbe / Netflix
    Australia
    An incendiary mural exposes everyone’s secret hook-ups at Hartley High. Its author, Amerie, has to grapple with the messy fallouts as a total outcast.

  • Balaji Motion Pictures appoints Bhavini Sheth as COO

    Balaji Motion Pictures appoints Bhavini Sheth as COO

    Mumbai: Balaji Motion Pictures has roped in Bhavini Sheth as the chief operating officer (COO). In her new position as head of the studio at Balaji Motion Pictures, Bhavini will be in charge of creating the new film slate, outlining the studio’s business strategy, launching new revenue streams, and collaborating with a fresh group of talent. Bhavini will be working directly with Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor.

    Balaji Telefilms joint managing director Ektaa R. Kapoor, said, “We are pleased to welcome Bhavini to our Balaji family and are confident that she is the right person to take the brand to the next stage of growth and newer heights. She is a seasoned leader with a stellar reputation. With the insights that she has gleaned through her successful tenure in the industry, she will surely add value to the company as the new COO of Balaji Motion Pictures.”

    For four years, Bhavini served as the head of business affairs for India at Amazon Studios. She was in charge of all business decisions and strategies pertaining to the original content in all languages, including popular series like The Family Man and Mirzapur and upcoming international shows like Citadel.

    Balaji Motion Pictures chief operating officer Bhavini Sheth said, “Balaji Motion Pictures has always aimed to stay ahead of the curve and bring unconventional and heartfelt stories that stand out. The studio is one of the most renowned entertainment enterprises in the country, and I am honoured to be a part of their leadership team.”

    She further added, “Working with some of the strongest women leaders of our time and visionaries like Shobhaji and Ektaa, is indeed a valuable opportunity for me. Producing was always innate and this is the optimal time for me to venture into the movie business. I am excited and geared up to be starting this new journey with Balaji Motion Pictures.”

    Sheth brings with her extensive expertise in content production and over ten years of rich professional experience in the entertainment sector.

    A practising lawyer who began her career with Naik Naik & Co., she later established her own firm where she advised and strategised business initiatives and mergers for some of the most renowned and successful talent, producers, and studios to establish valuation and intellectual property (IP).

  • ALTBalaji onboards Snehil Dixit Mehra as head of content & digital media

    ALTBalaji onboards Snehil Dixit Mehra as head of content & digital media

    Mumbai: A wholly-owned subsidiary of Balaji Telefilms ALT Digital Media Entertainment appointed Snehil Dixit Mehra as the head of content & digital media. Earlier, Mehra worked with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali as associate director.

    Mehra has a vivid professional portfolio and worked as a writer, director and digital influencer. He recently forayed into acting with her stellar performance in Jio Studios’ Apharan Season 2.

    Mehra brings with her an enviable experience in the media and entertainment space and over 16 years of experience in the broadcast industry. She has held various leadership positions at Bhansali Productions, Star India, Sony Entertainment Television & Endemol India. Ektaa R Kapoor is keen on expanding her digital footprint with producing more originals and after the immense success of her digital reality show Lock Upp she aspires to create more original formats for the non-fiction audiences. Thus, a high-profile acquisition was expected, given the content powerhouse wanted the leadership to work in close association with content creators and producers.

    In her new role, Snehil will be leading the content and programming division for ALTBalaji and will be responsible for managing the upcoming original content line-up and the platform’s creative strategy.

    Talking about joining the team, Snehil said, “This is my second innings at ALTBalaji, a homecoming for me, however with a larger mandate now. I am looking forward to planning a roadmap for further accelerated growth of ALTBalaji as a leading digital content hub.”