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Tag: Endemol Shine India

  • Colors set to bring ‘Bigg Boss 15’ on 2 October

    Colors set to bring ‘Bigg Boss 15’ on 2 October

    Mumbai: Colors, the Hindi general entertainment channel by Viacom18, has announced the return of  “Bigg Boss” for its 15th season starting on 2 October at 9:30 p.m.

    The show has introduced fresh elements and concepts to increase the excitement for the new season and will see the return of Salman Khan as its host. This includes a new jungle-themed “Bigg Boss” house and an animated mascot who will enthrall the digital audience. “Like the past successful seasons, the new season of the show will be even more exciting, as the contestants get ready for a wild ride in the jungle with VishwasunTREE accompanying them in their journey,” said Khan on the new season.

    “We, at Colors, always believe in delivering innovative, engaging, and diverse content to our viewers with our variety of fiction and non-fiction shows,” said Viacom18 head – Hindi mass entertainment and kids TV network Nina Elavia Jaipuria. “In the past few months, we have entertained our audiences with some of our biggest shows like Dance Deewane, Khatron Ke Khiladi and announced our first quiz show – The Big Picture. The momentum will continue in the festive season with the launch of our marquee show Bigg Boss, a show that the nation adores and eagerly looks forward to every year.”

    The channel has planned a robust marketing and digital plan to promote the season. As a part of the marketing campaign on TV, a high-octane promo plan will be carried out across network channels along with innovative print ads in top publications. The digital audience will experience some of the iconic moments from the previous season through memes and reels.

    “With each season of Bigg Boss, we introduce fresh elements and concepts to enhance the excitement and engagement around the show,” said Viacom18 chief content officer of Hindi mass entertainment Manisha Sharma. “This season, we have given a whole new spin to the theme of the show by putting the contestants in a jungle wherein they will be riddled with new challenges and intense moments right from the beginning.”

    “For the first time, the Bigg Boss house will be a jungle wherein the inmates must survive with bare minimum amenities,” said Endemol Shine India chief executive officer Abhishek Rege. “The entire season has been very creatively conceptualised including the design of the jungle that will add a lot of grandeur to the house.”

    Produced by Endemol Shine India, the show has roped in ‘presents’ sponsor TRESemme, ‘powered by’ sponsor Knorr and Dabur Dantrakshak and ‘beauty’ partner Lotus White Glow.

    “We are thrilled to be partnering with Bigg Boss yet again for season 15 as co-sponsors,” said Unilever vice president Harman Dhillon. “TRESemmé promotes the values of independence, self-reliance, and most importantly, the confidence you need to step up and meet the next challenge.”

  • Content Hub 2021 : Insatiable demand opens up vast opportunities for content creators

    Content Hub 2021 : Insatiable demand opens up vast opportunities for content creators

    New Delhi: The pandemic may have stalled theatrical releases of big budget movies, but people will throng cinema halls once the pandemic situation eases out, opined leading film, TV and OTT producers as they gathered to discuss the entertainment industry’s evolution at the fifth edition of the Content Hub 2021.

    The three-day mega event being organised by Indiantelevision.com began on Wednesday with a virtual panel discussion on ‘The challenges & opportunities before India’s content creators’.

    The panel consisting of Endemol Shine India, CEO, Abhishek Rege, Contiloe Pictures, chairman-MD, Abhimanyu Singh, Emmay Entertainment, director and screenwriter, film producer Nikkhil Advani and film director, writer-producer, Siddharth P Malhotra engaged in a detailed conversation with Indiantelevision.com Group, CEO and editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari.

    According to Emmay Entertainment, co-producer, Nikkhil Advani, who recently collaborated with Disney+ Hotstar for his latest web-series – ‘The Empire’, Indians consume content differently from other countries.

    “So, even if lockdown has helped build an OTT audience for films, the theatrical business will resume in full swing, once the pandemic situation eases out,” the filmmaker exuded confidence. “People will rush to theatres whenever they open, because they cannot continue sitting in their homes. Going to malls, cinema halls is what a typical weekend looks like for most Indians.”

    As people remained confined to their homes for most part of the year, they turned to TV and OTT platforms for entertainment. The demand for content skyrocketed, and it opened a vast array of opportunities for content creators to tell stories across platforms, the panelists highlighted.

    “There were challenges no doubt. But, in terms of content and production, the last year has been one of the best years for our company. We got the green light for several projects,” added Advani.

    Director-producer Siddharth P Malhotra agreed, citing the recent box-office success of Tamil movie Master, starring South Indian actor Thalapathy Vijay. According to the panelists, despite the rise of OTT, the star-phenomenon will continue driving audiences’ interest in movies.

    “The star system is here to stay. A star can have several flops at the box-office, but he/she will remain a star, because they command that money at the box-office. It’s just that, now we will have that system in OTT as well. Stars and directors are quoting huge prices, and OTT platforms are willing to pay, because that’s what the script demands,” said Malhotra.

    However, it is the script which has emerged as the real hero, asserted Contiloe Pictures chairman-MD, Abhimanyu Singh, who recently produced the second season of popular web-series, the State of Siege: Temple Attack.

    “There was a tremendous amount of uncertainty last year. But, we have pretty much adapted to the changes. We are now moving into a new regime of production, where the main challenge is to figure out how to fulfil this huge demand for content,” said Singh, “There is a large audience, which is still not happy with the kind of TV shows or films being made. This is the audience that OTT needs to serve.”

    But what are the factors which determine which story is good for OTT or Television or theatres, Wanvari asked the panelists.

    “Script is the real hero now,” contended Endemol Shine India, CEO, Abhishek Rege. “We are content creators. No matter which format we choose, it is important that the content is of high quality and is received well by the audiences. Our focus is on getting more stories, and it is the story which decides which format it is best suited for, depending on the budget and audience perspective.”

    The panelists also echoed concerns over the dearth of talent, both on-screen and off-screen, which has emerged as a serious challenge during the last few years. “We have abundant talent in the country. The need is to nurture it. That’s why it’s time that production companies create an ecosystem within their set-ups to train new talent,” said director-producer Siddharth P Malhotra.

    With the business dynamics undergoing a change, and new financial models coming up, the panelists also believe that the subscription model is here to stay, and people will prefer to pay if they want high-quality content. 

    The fifth edition of Content Hub 2021- ‘TV, Film, Digital Video, and Beyond’ is being organised by Indiantelevision.com from 28-30 July, 2021. The three-day summit is co-presented by IN10 Media Network and ZEE5, and co-powered by Applause Entertainment and Tipping Point, the digital content unit of Viacom18 Studios. PTC Network is the supporting partner.

    Centred on the theme – ‘The New Dynamic’, the three-day event will witness insightful sessions with industry stakeholders deliberating on how the new forces are transforming the way content is created and stories are told. It will also delve upon the impact of these changes on the business models for the world of films, TV and OTT.

    For more details, visit: https://www.thecontenthub.in/

  • Guest column: Pause, Reset, Play – The M&E sector’s mantra during pandemic

    Guest column: Pause, Reset, Play – The M&E sector’s mantra during pandemic

    MUMBAI: This Covid2019 pandemic has forever transformed the way content is consumed across the world. With people confined at home and all outdoor public entertainment shut, and with easy access to 24×7 TV and high-speed internet, viewers consumed content across screens like never before. This paradigm shift prompted the M&E industry to pause, re-assess strategies and finally, scramble back on its feet with a refreshed plan of attack.

    Like most of our contemporaries, we, at Endemol Shine India, were taken by complete surprise when India went into its first lockdown in March. Some of our ongoing shows had to be halted mid-way. Instead of throwing our hands up in despair, we utilised the forced break to go back to the drawing board to reset and put in place extremely detailed blueprints, SOPs and protocols, ready to be deployed for all production units when the lockdown opened.

    When Unlock 1.0 was announced, we were well prepared to hit the ground running. We immediately deployed our well-laid plans, and over the next couple of weeks, started productions across the country. A lot of precious prep-time was saved through meticulous pre-planning that was done between our operating teams and medical experts over numerous Zoom calls.

    Over the next couple of months, we successfully launched three Bigg Boss productions – in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi – all being some of the most complex on-ground productions in India that involve complex workflows and employ significant manpower throughout the day and night, across multiple months. It’s no less than war, but each day brings new learnings, and we are constantly on high vigil – the slightest error can be irreversibly catastrophic.

    Despite inevitable financial setbacks due to a few show cancellations and postponements, we have been able to deliver to our customers what Endemol Shine India has always stood for — top-drawer high quality content. The biggest lesson learnt from this crisis is to always stay prepared for the next one. A great Plan A is now hygiene; the ability to pre-emptively keep Plan B ready is now the true differentiator.

    The other side of the coin

    While the lockdown period stalled productions and original content on TV went off air, repeats of successful older shows saw substantial viewership.

    Ramayan returned to the small screen after 25 years, making DD the #1 channel in the country. Our very own Bigg Boss reruns contributed significant GRPs to our broadcaster partners. With original content back from July and with Bigg Boss and IPL driving viewership in Hindi and regional markets, broadcasters are also looking at a healthy turnaround in the advertising market. With the Covid numbers across India seeming in control and experts staying cautiously optimistic, the M&E industry is slowly but surely raising its head once again.

    These steady progressions have not only fuelled optimism but also investments into the sector. As global brands like Apple, HBO and NBC as well as a few of our domestic giants wait in the wings to test the waters, the timing couldn’t be better for content creators and producers.

    To make the best use of new and emerging opportunities in the post Covid era, it is imperative for organisations to reflect on long-term strategies, consolidate the green shoots and double-down on operating plans for 2021 and beyond. At Endemol Shine India, over the last couple of years, we have been actively pursuing a two-pronged strategy – preserve and grow our non-scripted portfolio, with newer formats and newer platforms; and significantly scale up our scripted portfolio.

    We believe that upstream participation in Intellectual Property (IP) creation is critical and have been investing a lot in creative development – through book rights, original stories, and talent tie-ups. While we are the producer of choice for non-scripted shows, our next frontier is to become the producer of choice in the scripted space. We have set ourselves an ambitious target of delivering 50 per cent of our business from scripted productions over the next three years. As the industry is pivoting around content across devices and as consumption habits change, we realise that we too need to adapt and diversify. To deliver our plans, we are organising ourselves around content. To service the platform demand across the variety of shows we produce, we have created dedicated teams of creative, commercial and production personnel across scripted, non-scripted and factual content.

    As we step on to this ambitious journey, we have identified three critical levers in our production playbook:

    1.    Modularity in execution

    Decentralised, empowered teams for each show, to deliver volumes without sacrificing quality. In 2021, quality supply at scale will be the single biggest USP of production houses.

    2.    Customer-centric approach

    Platform is king and feedback deserves utmost respect. As platforms re-orient their business models and discover newer consumption patterns in 2021, a strategic approach will differentiate production houses and decide who gets repeat volume business.

    3.    Eye on ROI

    The gains of diligent book-keeping cannot be under-stated. Also, we have realised that commercial efficiency and creative excellence are not always a zero-sum game. With granular planning, robust scheduling and tight execution, the interests of the platform and the production P&L can be aligned.

    Looking ahead

    In hindsight, the pandemic has been a steep learning experience, and luckily has not been the unmitigable hopeless disaster it threatened to be. On the contrary, it has made us deliberate and question the fundamentals of our operating models and come up with smarter ways of creating content for our diverse customer base.

    The industry as a whole, has become more resilient and adaptive to new realities – of consumption shifts, lower margins and cost efficiencies. The government can support by easing taxation across the value chain and offering meaningful incentives for productions showcasing our beautiful country, a move that can indirectly help spur domestic tourism. After all, an industry that positively engages 750+ million consumers daily for hours at end, can only boost the revival sentiment in the near and long run as we head into an interesting 2021.

    (The author is COO, Endemol Shine India. Indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to his views.)

  • Endemol Shine gets ready for a different Bigg Boss 14 season

    Endemol Shine gets ready for a different Bigg Boss 14 season

    MUMBAI: The three most popular features of Bigg Boss are- its host Salman Khan, Bigg Boss’ voice and finally the house. These three actually form the backdrop of every image that a viewer has about Bigg Boss throughout a season’s journey. The other bit that a viewer remembers is the participants and the variety of emotions that run amok in the house. 

    On 3 October, the biggest reality show from Colors is all set to make a comeback with its fourteenth season. The 2020 edition will only see celebrities; no commoners like in the previous years. But before the contestants step in, let’s take a quick look at what’s been going on inside the Bigg Boss house, which without any doubt has been a constant participant in every season.

    Production major Endemol Shine India has been producing BiggBoss year-on-year for Colors. Its CEO Abhishek Rege shares that format wise there are no changes with the usual tasks being hurled at the competitors; however, production has been planned differently.Larger shoots and performances and tasks have been planned for the beginning of the season, before contestants enter the house.Other precautions have also been taken. A team of six crew  have been mandated to take or bring food, regular supplies and props into the house. The PPE clad assistants will have no interactions with the outside world,; they will be in complete isolation.

    RubinaDilaik, Abhinav Shukla, Jasmin Bhasin, Aly Goni, Jaan Kumar, Shubhangi Atre, Karan Patel, Nishant Malkani, Gia Manek Eijaz Khan, Rahul Vaidya, Nikki Tamboli, Shagun Pandey, Pavitra Punia, Neha Sharma and Naina Singh among others are strongly being speculated as the participants for this season. Rege refuses to confirm or deny the names but he admits that all the participants are currently under compulsory 14-day quarantine, which will end when shoots begin early next month. Also, they – along with the crew – will undergo regular Covid2019 tests and health and hygiene will be given prime importance. Medical and Covid professionals have visited the house to ensure that all SOPs for productions and more are being followed  – including the presence of an ambulance – and that the sets are Covid-safe.

    Read more news on Bigg Boss

     

     

    The production house has also hired an external Covid2019 compliance company PWC which has been charged with looking after distribution of masks to celebs and crew to sanitisation to fumigation to taking and maintaining regular  temperature checks.

    Endemol Shine India  creatives normally keep track of local trends and developments before building the narrative and ideas for Bigg Boss every season. This year the theme of the house is largely based on things that audiences have missed out during Covid2019. The celebs will get to use a salon and a spa, a movie theatre, and a shopping mall. But these luxuries will have to be earned by them after succeeding in some thrilling and fun-filled tasks. 

    Rege reveals that Salman Khan will be shooting for the promo on 1 October with the contestants on the Bigg Boss set in Mumbai’s Film City.

    “We are keeping very stringent measures and SOPs.. Salman will also take the swab test prior to entering the set. And, to further ensure safety on the set, we have hired more people than we normally hire every year,” says he. “However, at any given point we will have very few people on set, everybody else will be there on the backend in their respective rooms and other places in isolation. We are not crowding. Usually when any eviction happens, there are lots of guests and visitors that come in.This time it is a no-no.”

    Weekend KaWaar used to be Bigg Boss’main highlight and it featured  Salman Khan interacting with contestants in front of a  live audience. However, this time the studio is taking the digital route.

    “We have created a huge digital wall where what was earlier the studio audience is connected live from their homes,” says Rege. “We have therefore made an arrangement where Salman can see the wall and audiences can see what is happening at the shoot and interactions can happen. So we have still kept the whole live angle working.”

    Read more news on Colors

    Recently, Salman revealed that he returned to host Bigg Boss 14 only because he knew the scale of production of the show would generate employment. He also agreed to accept a pay cut for this season.

     

     

    Like previous seasons, this time too, previous years’ contestants and winners will come in to add to the thrill. Amongst the names being touted are: Sidharth Shukla, Gauahar Khan, and Hina Khan will also bring a series of surprises for the contestants making this season an epitome of entertainment.The banter, quarrels, and one-upmanship, mental games, the behind the scenes gossip and the formation of groups amongst the inmates of the house are what have helped Bigg Boss build a loyal audience over the years. Another high impact Indian property – the IPL 2020 – has till the time of writing turned out to be a runaway winner, attracting viewers in un-believable numbers. Analysts believe Bigg Boss 14 is on course to beat its previous years’ performance as well just like the cricket league is doing. It’s over to the loyalists, the fans, to make that prediction come true for one of Colors biggest annual bets. 

  • Salman Khan returns as super host of Bigg Boss 14

    Salman Khan returns as super host of Bigg Boss 14

    MUMBAI: Tables will turn as the most challenging year will now be challenged. Bogged down by the lockdown, shackled in chains of monotony and boredom, 2020 has been a year that laid complete waste to our best-made plans! But now it's time to turn the tide and unleash a superstorm of entertainment and celebration in the most spectacular manner! Ab paltega scene kyunki 2020 ko milega jawab with MPL presents Bigg Boss, powered by Dabur Dant Rakshak Ayurvedic Paste & TRESemme. The country’s most beloved superstar Salman Khan will return to your television screens, hosting the most anticipated show of the year and ensuring that the viewers will no longer be starved for entertainment! Living the normalcy will be an all-celeb line-up of housemates who will go through a plethora of emotions and drama in their race to the finish. And right when everyone will feel settled in the first 14 days, there will be a twist that will change the entire game. Produced by Endemol Shine India, the show will premiere on 3 October at 9 pm only on Colors and stream on Voot Select.
     
    Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment and kids TV network Nina Elavia Jaipuria head said, “Our endeavor at Colors has always been to provide our viewers with uninterrupted entertainment – refreshing and exciting content and Bigg Boss has been a testament to this objective year after year. The last 6 months have been unprecedented and it brought along with it unexpected challenges and changes. With ‘Ab Paltega Scene, Kyunki Bigg Boss Dega 2020 Ko Jawab’ as the theme for this season, our aim is to amp up the excitement and ensure viewers forget their worries and are reminded of their normal lives. Adding to the experience, the Bigg Boss fans will get to watch the episodes before television on our premium video-on-demand service Voot Select along with 24 hours exclusive access into the house. I would also like to thank our partners- presenting sponsor Mobile Premier League, powered by sponsors- Dabur Dant Rakshak Ayurvedic Paste & TRESemmé and associate sponsor- Ching’s for their support and trust in brand Bigg Boss.”
     
    So, what exactly is ‘Ab Paltega Scene’ this year? Laced with uncertainty and ambiguity, 2020 has not been an easy ride, a year that changed the way we led our lives. While most of us have been confined to our homes for more than six months, shopping, movies, and salons have now seemed like a distant dream. So, this year, Bigg Boss 14 will see celebrities from different walks of life come together under one roof and get a chance to live their ‘once upon a time’ normal lives. In a first of its kind addition, Bigg Boss 14 introduces the luxuries of a salon and spa, a movie theatre, and a shopping mall for the contestants along with some thrilling and fun-filled tasks to compete against each other. But all this will not come easy to them, they will have to earn it. Adding to the thrill, some of the most loved ex-contestants- Sidharth Shukla, Gauahar Khan, and Hina Khan will also bring a series of surprises for the contestants making this season an epitome of entertainment. Will they enter the house? How will they impact the life of the housemates? Only time will tell.

    Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment CCO Manisha Sharma said, “This is a unique season of Bigg Boss – the pandemic has disrupted our daily lives and with Bigg Boss we attempt to bring back some sense of normalcy into our consumers’ lives, to try and truly cater to “ab scene paltega”. With each season of Bigg Boss, we have introduced new and fresh elements and themes to make it more engaging and entertaining for our audiences and this year is no exception. The Bigg Boss house will reimagine a normal scenario that we all have been missing out on with the inclusion of a salon & spa, movie theatre, and shopping mall facilities for the contestants. We broke all viewership records the previous season. So there’s a lot to look forward to. This year too we plan to take our viewers along on a roller coaster ride and the show will have a big twist in the first 14 days and something super exciting will follow. The thrill will multiply as the lineup of contestants and the different characteristics they bring with them will surely become a great family and friend circle conversation. Salman Khan, who has been the most gracious host is back again and we can’t wait for the excitement to unfold.”

    Read more news on Bigg Boss

    Salman Khan said, “As we get used to the new way of life, I am glad to be back with Bigg Boss to again entertain each and every one of you. A big property like Bigg Boss not only promises non-stop entertainment but also provides job opportunities to hundreds of people- both much needed in the current scenario. While this year we fight together the unprecedented times, we hope to bring some excitement in a rather stressful life. So, don’t leave your homes, sit back and gear up to go on a dhamakedaar journey of action and drama with Bigg Boss.”

    Mobile Premier League (MPL) growth and marketing senior vice president Abhishek Madhavan said, “Over the years, Bigg Boss has established an outstanding connection with the audiences and has earned itself a massive base of dedicated fans. Our association with the property gives us a great opportunity to reach out to those viewers and engage with them through the show. Just like Bigg Boss, our app also caters to a vast audience base which makes it a perfect fit. As one of India’s biggest skill-based gaming applications in India, it’s an honor for MPL to be associated with one of the biggest reality properties, Bigg Boss and we look forward to a great association.”

    Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege said, “Endemol Shine India has over the years broken multiple records with Bigg Boss! The show has established itself as India’s biggest reality program, one we are extremely proud of. Given the challenges that we have faced this year, we have taken every precaution possible when it comes to the health, safety, and sanitization of the cast and the crew. This season’s contestants will be required to be under quarantine for a period and will be tested before going inside the house. The theme of the show will also reflect in the elements of the house to give the contestants a feeling of normalcy. We look forward to furthering our long partnership with Colors and to yet another exciting new season.”

    Focusing on the campaign of the season – 'Ab paltega scene, kyunki Bigg Boss dega 2020 ko jawab’, the channel plans to go heavy on the digital front. From introducing a microsite featuring a wall of Bigg Boss memes and a UGC music video-based never seen before house reveal, it is going to be a delightful experience for the Bigg Boss fans. Adding to the many firsts will also be Facebook shorts, a new feature by the platform, and Bigg Boss audio tweets which will feature famous Bigg Boss dialogues. Bigg Boss video album will also be launched to capture the journey of the last seasons and take the viewers on a trip down the memory lane. Additionally, voice recognition and contextual ads will be used across different platforms to drive tune-ins. On the marketing front, high-frequency promotion on news, music, and regional channels will also be carried along with a huge burst of high-frequency promos for Bigg Boss not only on the network but across other channels as well. For OOH promotions, branded sanitizer dispensing units will be placed at residential societies in areas across Mumbai & Delhi NCR. Also, the channel will reach out to the larger Colors online fan base and Colors’ Golden Petal Club members through virtual events.

    While abiding by all the safety norms and guidelines issued by the government, the channel and production house are taking extreme care and necessary precautions for the contestants and crew members to promote a healthy work environment.  The contestants will undergo a mandatory 15-day quarantine after which they will be tested before they enter the house. The house and the peripheral area will be duly sanitized and fumigated to maintain safety and sterility. There will be regular temperature checks for the contestants and crew members apart from round the clock medical assistance. The same number of crew members will be retained for the season but they will be working in shifts so there is only the designated number of people on the sets. Special zones are being created for every department to keep direct contact to the minimum. Hand sanitizers will be installed at different points for easy access.

  • Adventure to continue with COLORS’ Khatron Ke Khiladi – Made in India

    Adventure to continue with COLORS’ Khatron Ke Khiladi – Made in India

    MUMBAI: No one can have enough of adventure, and when its India’s biggest stunt-based reality show, Khatron Ke Khiladi, our Dil always mange more. The action, adventure, and thrill will continue even after the finale with the show’s new edition, RummyCircle.com presents Khatron Ke Khiladi – Made In India, snack partner. Staying true to the country’s ethos to be ‘Vocal for local’, the show for the first time will be shot in home turf- India involving highly skilled local Indian crew.

     In a deadly combination, the season will be hosted by the ultimate action master Rohit Shetty while the multi-faceted Farah Khan will kickstart the season peaking the entertainment like never before. The desi avatar of the show will be served with a twist of Bollywood and will feature ace ‘Khiladis’ from the previous seasons competing once again and unlocking their biggest fears including the desi boys Karan Wahi and Rithvik Dhanjani, the fun master Harsh Limbachiyaa, the dashing Karan Patel, the drop-dead gorgeous Nia Sharma, the effervescent Jasmin Bhasin, the handsome hunk Aly Goni and the multitalented Jay Bhanushali. Produced by Endemol Shine India, action, drama, adrenaline rush will double up starting 1 August, Sat-Sun at 9pm only on COLORS.

    Viacom18 Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV Network head Nina Elavia Jaipuria said, “At COLORS, we are always looking at ways to expand the scope of entertainment for our viewers. The last season of Khatron Ke Khiladi received immense love from our audience which further motivated us to innovate with the content. Staying true to our promise of providing unlimited variety entertainment, we are elated to announce Khatron Ke Khiladi- Made in India that will feature select contestants from the previous seasons with a desi twist.”

    The previous season of Khatron Ke Khiladi surpassed all prior expectations and received immense love from the audience. Be it speedy and thrilling action-packed stunts, adrenaline-fueled underwater escapes, or face-offs with ferocious reptiles, the show stayed true to its promise of Darr Lega Class Dega Trass. With Bollywood and Desiness at its core, the extra dose season will be replete with filmy elements and special zones namely Zulm City, Purani Haveli, Golmaal Zone, Tehkhana, Darwaza-e-Dard, and Villain Ka Adda. The zones will be characteristic in terms of look and experience and the stunts performed in these spaces will be handpicked, designed, and directed by Rohit Shetty. Apart from performing some daredevil stunt, the contestants will also be seen reveling in fun antics with a zing of Desi Tadka and Bollywood flavour.

    Viacom18 Hindi Mass Entertainment CCO Manisha Sharma said, “Khatron Ke Khiladi has always been shot in various countries abroad. However, for the first time, we will be shooting the special edition in India on a grand scale with the Indian crew. As the action continues, the show this time will be complete desi. In the new edition, we will introduce interesting elements, Bollywood flavor, and an eclectic mix of former contestants that will make this edition even more thrilling. It is going to be a double fun with Farah Khan bringing her expertise to fore while hosting the curtain-raiser episodes when Rohit Shetty will be away in Hyderabad and will return to helm the season.”

    Farah Khan said, “I have done almost all reality shows in the country, but I never thought I would do Khatron Ke Khiladi. I am thankful to Rohit Shetty for recommending me as he will be away for the first weekend. I am excited to be a part of the show as my father used to make stunt films and I have action in my films too. However, unlike Rohit, I am not daring enough to do my own stunts. But I am looking forward to having a great time and encouraging the contestants to face their phobias.”

    Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege said, “Khatron Ke Khiladi has been a combination of thrill and adventure that has been growing as an entertaining proposition for the audience. It only gets bigger and better in terms of production and experience with Khatron Ke Khiladi- Made in India. In a homecoming of sorts, we as a team are excited to work with the Indian crew for the first time for a property this big. We are eager to witness the celebrity contestants face their fears and this season we promise to provide the unexpected in the best way possible.”

    Khatron Ke Khiladi continues to create an extraordinary experience for its viewers by showcasing action, drama, and entertainment on a grand scale and this season is no less. The crew will be shooting in India while following strict safety protocols and guidelines as directed by the official bodies.

    Mark your calendar for 100 percent desi adventure starting Saturday, 1August 2020 at 9 pm only on COLORS

  • Endemol Shine India to produce first Marathi originals

    Endemol Shine India to produce first Marathi originals

    MUMBAI: Endemol Shine India today announced that it will be creating two originals in collaboration with Gulbadan Talkies, a creative video production service boutique based in Mumbai. The two series will include Thorle Vishwasrao Dhakle (TVD) is an eight episode, 45-minute Marathi series and Radical is an eight episode,45-minute, multi-lingual comedy series (primarily Hindi). Both series will showcase actors from BhaDiPa(Bhartiya Digital party) a subset of Gulbadan Talkies.

    Thorle Vishwasrao Dhakle (TVD) is an eight episode, 45-minute Marathi series for Indian fans of Detective Stories, Murder Mysteries, and Conspiracy Theories. Based in Maharashtra, the series focuses on the relationship of a Grandfather (70, retired Private Detective) and his Grandson (26, computer hacker, angsty youth) as they work together to solve a murder that happens in front of their very eyes. However, the solution is not as clear as they thought, and they find themselves wading into a dark world of conspiracy.

    Radical is an eight episode, 45-minute, multi-lingual comedy series (primarily Hindi). Abandoned in the middle of Mumbai – Ahsaan, Samar and Wajid build a life from scratch over the ten years that follow. Their unplanned immigration to Mumbai soon becomes a refuge from their past, a past that has been rightfully demonised. Mumbai’s fate is left to the Mumbaikar himself, be it the aspiring Ahsaan, the family man Samar, or the swindling conman Wajid. Through their actions, they unknowingly repay the debt they owe Mumbai for offering them a chance to carve out their own existence.

    Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege said, “We are pleased to collaborate with a creative powerhouse brand like BhaDiPa and Gulbadan Talkies for these two shows. At Endemol Shine India, we are always looking at creating content that is exciting and entertaining for our viewers and tying up with fresh talented artists and directors who are eager to showcase their ideas and enhance the creative space.”

    "As creators who carved out our space in Marathi content, we have always believed that regional-language stories should be consumed on a global scale. We’re absolutely kicked to be co-producing a Marathi series and our first Hindi series with an internationally renowned partner, Endemol Shine India," said Gulbadan Talkies & BhaDiPa CEO Paula McGlynn.

    Thorle Vishwasrao Dhakle and Radical are currently under development and will start production soon.

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  • Production powerhouse Banijay unveils new brand identity

    Production powerhouse Banijay unveils new brand identity

    MUMBAI: A new giant has emerged on the global TV production front with the completion of Banijay’s takeover of the Endemol Shine Group last week.  And the group has gone in for a rebranding exercise, revealing what it calls a new and contemporary brand identity. The merged parent entity and its operations have been called Banijay and will cover 22 territories, 120 plus production and a catalogue of over 88,000 hours of content.

    New logos – with an iconic pinkish B attached to every company logo – a fresh colour palette and an overhauled website have been unveiled. Globally,  Banijay Rights continues to lead distribution activities, while all territory-level holding companies will soon switch to Banijay. In India for instance, Banijay has three firms under its belt: Banijay Asia, Endemol Shine India and SOL India. Each of them has had the “B” attached to their logos and each has the tag identifying them as a Banijay company. While Banijay Asia is led by Deepak Dhar, Endemol Shine India has Abhishek Rege at the helm and SOL Productions has Fazila Allana and Kamna Narula Menezes leading it.

    The rebrand was imagined and executed by leading global creative partner Moving Brands with website design and build handled by Alchemy Digital.

     “The acquisition of Endemol Shine Group marks a major gear shift for our business and that had to be represented in our branding. We now have unrivalled global reach, an abundance of high-quality, multi-genre titles, and some of the best creative entrepreneurs in the world,” said Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti. “Celebrating our values, the significant breadth of our new offering and our continued investment in innovative IP, the simple, yet effective branding, provides standout alongside versatility, and we hope in years to come, our B will act as a beacon for ground-breaking storymaking and a stamp of excellence.”

    Among its global  top shows figure:  Survivor, Big Brother, Peaky Blinders, Temptation Island, MasterChef, Wallander, The Kardashians, Mr Bean, The Wall, Hunted, Black Mirror, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Deal or No Deal.

    With Bassetti fully in charge as CEO, Endemol Shine Group CEO Sophie Turner Laing is slated to exit by end this week. French entrepreneur Stéphane Courbit, who helped stitch together the deal, serves as chairman of the group. Total pro-forma revenue of Banijay-Endemol Shine  for 2019 totted up to  Euros 2.7 billion.

  • Endemol Shine India to create series on Damyanti Biswas’ bestselling novel

    Endemol Shine India to create series on Damyanti Biswas’ bestselling novel

    MUMBAI: Endemol Shine India has optioned Damyanti Biswas’s bestselling Indian crime novel "You Beneath Your Skin" to develop as a multipart drama series, with all proceeds from this option going towards social enterprises in the author’s native New Delhi.

    Dramatic rights were acquired by Endemol Shine India from agent Ed Wilson at Johnson & Alcock Ltd, working with Sidharth Jain at Mumbai-based agency The Story Ink.

    You Beneath Your Skin was published by Simon & Schuster India in September 2019 and has since gained considerable acclaim notching up multiple Amazon #1 bestseller categories. Set in contemporary New Delhi, the multi-strand narrative concerns an Indian American single mother and her autistic teenage son, whose comfortable middle-class lives are turned upside down by a police investigation; a crime spree of slum women found stuffed in trash bags, faces and bodies disfigured by acid. Although a work of fiction, it tackles many endemic problems in India: violence against women, slum poverty, and police corruption.

    Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege said, “You Beneath your Skin is a crime thriller, layered with issues of poverty, misogyny and corruption. Taking a leaf out of the vast legacy of phenomenal women writers in the crime thriller genre – Damyanti’s book brings a sensitivity to an otherwise violent genre. The protagonist is fascinating as she is a single mother and traversing an unorthodox life through the rather orthodox setting of Delhi. Gripping, relevant and hard-hitting, this is a story populated with many characters, multiple fractured relationships, small intimate moments and effective back stories. This is a thriller with a family at the center of the plot. These are the stories that Endemol Shine India wants to bring to the fore.”

    “Thanks to Ed Wilson and Sidharth Jain, You Beneath Your Skin has been optioned by a wonderful brand like Endemol Shine India. I’m pleased that Jatin and Anjali’s journey is headed for screens, highlighting voices against poverty and acid violence," said Biswas.

    Biswas is a writer and activist, now based in Singapore. All proceeds from the book go towards her chosen causes: the educational charity Project WHY, and the Chhaanv foundation, which helps acid attack survivors. The charity sector in India has been hard hit by Covid2019, which has severely affected underprivileged communities.

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  • Production houses plan for return after lockdown

    Production houses plan for return after lockdown

    MUMBAI: As lockdown restrictions ease across the country and state governments start handing out approvals to resume shooting, production houses are gearing up to get back on track with requisite precautions and safety measures. Tasks like an SOP plan will be on top of the priority list and this means added costs for production houses.

    IFTPC chairman TV wing and Hats Off Production founder J D Majethia is optimistic that Maharashtra will start shooting in June itself. Anticipating that the pandemic will run longer he has bought a temperature check kiosk, sanitisation stand and other necessary equipment rather than rent them. He also mentioned that insurance policies will become a necessity that will cover workers, technicians and artists for the SarsCov2 virus. 

    “On ground, our focus is crew safety and thereafter following the right protocols. We are preparing to implement SOPs on ground. We want to ensure that the number of people is less. Our focus is not just on what the government has advised but we also want to keep things under control from a safety perspective,” says Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege. However, he says that their shows will commence production only by August.

    Even though Endemol is waiting for shoots to resume here, other regional areas have commenced where permissions have been granted such as Tamil Nadu. Going forward, the company will work in a shift system, so that at any given time required crew members are present. Maintaining distance and required people on the set will be the big change. He, too, added that employee health insurance will be imperative.

    Currently, Rege is working on only new shows. “We are trying to figure out ways where we don’t compromise on our script and yet deliver good content,” he says.

    Famous Studio MD Anant Roongta, who is ecstatic about re-starting his work, thanked his team members for their constant support. Famous Studio re-started studio work from 8 June. During lockdown, his 50 employees were able to work on pending projects remotely because of its previous efforts in upgrading technology. Even artists came up with techniques to work from home.

    While mentioning hygiene and sanitisation measures Roongta says, “We have seven action areas, for all the employees and clients who are coming in our studio. We have a self-declaration form that is mandatory to fill before entering the studios. It is a list of 20 to 30 questions which includes their travel history, any possible symptoms, if they live in a containment area and much more.”

    Once people fill the form, they go to the sanitisation stand outside the office. Post that, their temperature is checked and it is mandatory to wear a mask. The studio is sanitised and disinfected every morning. Surgical gloves are provided to people who are working on equipment. As people are working on separate wings and rooms, social distancing is also taken care of. Everyone has to enter and exit from one point to avoid overlapping.

    The staff follows a dedicated SOP which included appointing housekeeping for deep cleaning before opening up the office. On the insurance front, he says “Most of the people we work with are consultants and not employees, so they are individually responsible for their own insurance policies.”

    Creative Eye Limited MD Dheeraj Kumar says that they too resumed work from 8 June. He adds, “I am waiting for broadcasters to give us the green signal to start fresh projects as well as pending ones. But even if we want to shoot, we will need a minimum of 25 days time in our hand to do all the preparation which was lost in three months.”

    Their precautionary measures include thermal infra-red guns at the entrance to check the temperature and will be written in a physical register. Whoever enters the premises will have to provide their contact details and home address. After entering the building, people must sanitise their hands with a stand that’s operated by the feet. He is also providing tailor-made in-house masks and gloves. In the past ten days, the entire Creative Eye building and office has been sanitised thrice. About 100 Creative Eye employees have also been covered under an insurance policy.