ITV

Tag: Munawar Faruqui

  • Munawar’s back in action with First Copy S2

    Munawar’s back in action with First Copy S2

    MUMBAI: He’s back to steal the spotlight, and maybe a few hearts along the way. Munawar Faruqui returns as Arif in the high-octane teaser for First Copy Season 2, unveiled by Amazon MX Player. The much-loved crime thriller that took audiences deep into Mumbai’s 90s film piracy underworld is revving up for a darker, more dangerous comeback.

    The teaser hints at Arif’s turbulent return, a man once on top of the game, now haunted by the ghosts of his past. As ambition clashes with betrayal, old alliances crumble and new enemies emerge, leaving viewers with one burning question, can Arif reclaim his empire, or will his empire consume him?

    Alongside Munawar, the ensemble cast features Krystle D’Souza, Gulshan Grover, Saqib Ayub, Ashi Singh, Meiyang Chang, Inam Ul Haq, Raza Murad and newcomer Nawab Shah. The trailer is set to drop on 29 October, setting the stage for the show’s grand return.

    Following its breakout first season, First Copy has cemented itself as one of India’s most-watched crime dramas. Season 2 will soon stream for free across Amazon MX Player, the MX Player app, Prime Video, Fire TV and Airtel Xstream, ensuring fans can dive back into Arif’s world wherever they are.

    With its gritty storyline, sharp writing and star-studded cast, First Copy Season 2 looks set to reclaim its throne as the kingpin of India’s streaming thrillers.

     

  • Realme Hip Hop India Season 2 becomes India’s #1 reality show of 2025

    Realme Hip Hop India Season 2 becomes India’s #1 reality show of 2025

    MUMBAI: Amazon MX Player’s Realme Hip Hop India Season 2 has cemented its place as the country’s biggest unscripted success story of the year. As per Ormax Media’s latest ranking of the Top 50 OTT Originals for H1 2025, the show emerged as India’s most-watched reality series, and the only one to trend for 11 consecutive weeks on Ormax’s weekly list of top OTT web shows.

    Season 2 brought India’s underground hip-hop dance movement into the mainstream with over 25 million unique viewers tuning in to witness raw talent, breakout performances, and deeply personal journeys. The series was anchored by judges Remo D’Souza and Malaika Arora, and amplified with appearances by leading personalities including Rajkummar Rao, Abhishek Bachchan, Raftaar, Sara Ali Khan, Munawar Faruqui, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Rohit Shetty, making it one of the most high-profile reality shows of the year. The finale crowned Shubhankar Gawde as India’s second hip-hop dance champion, capping off a season that redefined youth entertainment.

    Speaking on the show’s success, Karan Bedi, Head, Amazon MX Player, said: ‘Hip Hop India Season 2 stood at the intersection of culture, content, and commerce. It brought a powerful subculture into the mainstream and gave brands a credible, high-engagement platform to connect with young India. The response has been phenomenal both in terms of viewership and brand resonance.’

    The show raised the bar for branded content integrations and co-marketing at scale. Alongside title sponsor Realme, brands like Sprite, Tuborg, Pokémon, Spotify, and SpiceJet joined the movement in highly engaging ways. From innovative in-show integrations, immersive media ads, on-site and social media led gamification, to in-flight co-branding, Pokémon-themed dance acts, Spotify playlist integrations, the show created a high-impact ecosystem where brand narratives blended seamlessly with cultural moments.

    Echoing the sentiment, Amazon MX Player director and head of content, Amogh Dusad added, ‘With Realme Hip Hop India Season 2, we set out to showcase hip-hop not just as a dance form, but as a cultural voice. This season’s response proves that authenticity, when paired with relevance, wins big. We’re proud to see the franchise has become both a fan obsession and a brand magnet.’

  • Shaadi, shots and showdowns as colors serves up a spicy new reality dish

    Shaadi, shots and showdowns as colors serves up a spicy new reality dish

    MUMBAI: Move over roses and violins Colors is gatecrashing dinner with a side of drama, as it unveils its first ever real-ationship reality show, Pati Patni Aur Panga – Jodiyon Ka Reality Check. Premiering on 2nd August, this shaadi-meets-showdown series will air every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 pm, promising a generous dollop of laughter, love, and ludicrous household fights.

    Fresh off the finale of Laughter Chefs, the channel has traded spoons for squabbles, roping in seven celebrity couples to bring their private quirks to primetime. These aren’t rehearsed roles, they’re raw, real, and ready to air their laundry (possibly quite literally) in front of the nation.

    The show features a power-packed lineup of couples, Debinna Bonnerjee–Gurmeet Choudhary, Hina Khan–Rocky Jaiswal, Rubina Dilaik–Abhinav Shukla, Avika Gor–Milind Chandwani, Swara Bhasker–Fahad Ahmad, Geeta Phogat–Pawan Kumar, and Sudesh Lehri–Mamta Lehri. From love to laughter and every little panga in between, these jodis bring their quirks, chaos and chemistry to the screen.  

    The show’s glossy, high-energy finish owes much to the behind-the-scenes crew that stitched it all together. Director of photography Tribhuvan Babu lends a vibrant visual grammar to the episodes, while Swapnil Patole, Chief Colourist at the Independent Colourists Guild (ICG), ensures every frame carries emotional weight and tonal harmony. Technical finesse is handled by DI Technician Sachin More, Line Producer Sameer Shaikh, and DI Colour Assistant Kiran Gulgule, with Famous Studios Ltd leading post-production duties. Together, the team brings a cinematic sheen to the dinner-table chaos that unfolds in every episode.

    On the brand front, the show has attracted a wide swathe of consumer-facing names as sponsors each with a strategic reason to align with a format rooted in everyday intimacy and relatability. Nivea, as presenting sponsor, ties in seamlessly with themes of care, comfort, and authenticity, reflecting the emotional subtext of the show. Sugar Free Green, Rajdhani Besan, Cadbury Dairy Milk, and Pour Home Air Fresheners are all brands woven into the domestic fabric of Indian households just like the show’s celebrity couples navigating real-life love and laundry. Supporting brands like Envy Perfumes, Vikram Tea, Colgate, and Catch Masale see the high-engagement, weekend primetime slot as a direct route to the hearts and kitchens of Indian families. For these partners, ROI isn’t just about impressions or TRPs; it’s about cultural salience, brand recall, and showing up where the emotion is most real right between a laugh, a fight, and a plate of hot pakoras.

    Hosting this panga-packed party are Sonali Bendre, bringing poise and patience, and Munawar Faruqui, the designated “towel crime” police and chaos coordinator. Dubbed The Sonu-Monu Show by the crew, their repartee is already the stuff of reality-TV legend, a mix of zingers, comebacks, and cringe confessions.

    Behind all the glam, the show peels back layers of public personas to reveal unfinished sentences, kitchen fails, love languages, and one-word replies that spark weeklong sulks. Viewers are invited to peek behind the velvet curtains of celebrity marriages from ridiculous pet names to strategic foot rubs and witness the delicate art of surviving, thriving and occasionally fighting in love.

    To up the stakes, family members and housekeepers also chime in with their versions of truth bombs, making this not just a couples show but a full house of fun and friction.

    Speaking about the channel’s pivot to deeper emotional territory, Alok Jain of JioStar said, “We’ve always led from the front in non-fiction formats, and Pati Patni Aur Panga is our next big bet. This isn’t just content, it’s connection, showing the real, raw parts of celeb relationships that mirror our own homes.”

    Shweta Dalal, Marketing Director of Nivea India, added, “This show mirrors the same values we believe in care, trust, and authenticity. We’re thrilled to be part of a format that speaks so honestly to everyday companionship.”

    Sonali Bendre, returning to TV in a more emotionally hands-on avatar, shared, “This is not just about tasks or points. It’s about catching those in-between moments the real stuff that makes or breaks a relationship. And Munawar brings the madness to my method!”

    Munawar Faruqui, never one to hold back, quipped, “Main hoon yahan ka certified panga maker. I say what most husbands are thinking but are too scared to say out loud and I love every awkward second of it.”

    So if you’re ready for a hearty laddu of shaadi reality, not just the goals, but the gaffes too mark your calendars. Pati Patni Aur Panga is not your average reality show; it’s reality in all its messy, mushy, magnificent glory. Premieres 2 August, Saturdays & Sundays at 9:30 pm only on Colors.

     

  • Amazon MX Player announces the new season of the Munawar Faruqui starrer – First Copy

    Amazon MX Player announces the new season of the Munawar Faruqui starrer – First Copy

    MUMBAI: After a breakout debut that left fans buzzing and critics applauding, First Copy is all set to return with a new season later this year on Amazon MX Player, Amazon’s free video streaming service. Launched with Munawar Faruqui’s much-talked-about entry into scripted drama, the show quickly became a fan favorite thanks to its gripping narrative, nostalgic ’90s energy, and a performance that proved Faruqui’s versatility beyond the mic.

    Picking up from the suspenseful cliffhanger of the debut season, where Arif’s empire came crashing down, the upcoming season will dive deeper into the consequences of his rise, his fall, and his relentless drive to reclaim what was lost. Will the man who built his kingdom on charisma, chaos, and cinema find a way back? The new instalment of First Copy promises new twists, higher stakes, and an Arif the audience hasn’t seen before. The series boasts a powerhouse cast featuring Munawar Faruqui, Krystle D’Souza, Gulshan Grover, Saqib Ayub, Ashi Singh, Meiyang Chang, Inam Ul Haq, and Raza Murad — and has cemented itself as one of Amazon MX Player’s most talked-about titles of the year.

    Reflecting on the show’s overwhelming reception and his return, Faruqui shared, “First Copy was a big leap for me, my first acting project, and I honestly didn’t expect this kind of love. I think audiences really connected with Arif with all his imperfections, and that’s been humbling.  He is intense, passionate, and constantly looking for meaning in chaos. But his story? It’s just getting started. The new season will reveal a whole new side of him and I can’t wait for audiences to see what’s next.”

    With fans already dissecting every frame of the video drop, the countdown has officially begun. First Copy still has plenty of pages left to turn, and fans won’t have to wait too long for the new season, which will premiere on Amazon MX Player later this year.

    First Copy is available to stream on Amazon MX Player for free, available through its own app, on the Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, Smart TVs, and Airtel Xtreme.

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  • First Copy hits play on nostalgia with Munawar’s smashing screen debut

    First Copy hits play on nostalgia with Munawar’s smashing screen debut

    MUMBAI: Some stories deserve to be pirated, others, like this one, deserve to be binge-watched. The 90s are back but not through disco beats or bell bottoms. This time, they come wrapped in bootlegged DVDs, fuzzy frames, and gripping plotlines. RVCJ Media and Salt Media’s new original series First Copy, streaming for free on Amazon MX Player since 20 June, is already being hailed as a cult classic in the making.

    And who’s leading the charge? None other than stand-up star Munawar Faruqui, making his acting debut as the conflicted protagonist of a world where piracy was more than a crime, it was culture, jugaad, and, often, survival.

    Unveiled with a starry premiere in Mumbai on 19 June, First Copy has gone from “what’s that?” to “must-watch” in a matter of hours. A 10-episode deep dive into the murky film-underbelly of 90s Mumbai, the series crackles with energy, edge, and emotional heft offering not just a nostalgic trip, but a raw commentary on access, ambition and grey morality.

    The show follows a compelling storyline centred on bootleg cinema and the men who made their living dubbing dreams onto tape. Faruqui’s performance has earned widespread applause, with fans and industry insiders alike praising his screen presence and the show’s faithful recreation of a long-gone era of pirated passion.

    Firdaus Sayed of Salt Media, who produced the series, summed it up as a “love letter to a generation that experienced cinema not in theatres, but around flickering living room screens.”

    And RVCJ Media CEO Shahid Javed doesn’t mince words, “This is not just content, it’s a cultural movement.”

    With a 60M plus digital footprint and a penchant for emotionally resonant stories, RVCJ’s evolution into long-form originals seems both organic and electric. And Salt Media’s grounded storytelling sensibilities have clearly helped shape a series that celebrates hustle, heart and the VHS days of movie-watching in India.

    Whether you’re a child of the 90s or just someone craving content that cuts through, First Copy is anything but a duplicate, it’s the real deal.

  • Kartik Aaryan & Ranveer Brar face the wild in Star vs Food Survival season two

    Kartik Aaryan & Ranveer Brar face the wild in Star vs Food Survival season two

    Mumbai: Star vs Food Survival returns for season two on 28 October at 9 pm on discovery+ and Discovery Channel. Chef Ranveer Brar challenges stars like Kartik Aaryan in Maharashtra’s western ghats, Shikhar Dhawan in Himachal Pradesh, Shriya Saran in the Himalayan foothills, and Munawar Faruqui in Meghalaya’s Mawsynram jungle. This season, they face survival challenges along with cooking.

    In a unique twist, Kartik and Ranveer start by escaping from a locked box. Kartik confronts his fear of water while rappelling into a well and uses his engineering skills to navigate north, revealing his survival instincts. The show also revisits Kartik’s college cooking days and his iconic Pyaar Ka Punchnama monologue, adding a touch of nostalgia to the adventure.

    Aaryan stated, “Stepping into the wild for Star vs Food Survival season 2 was unlike anything I have done before. From diving into a well despite my fear of water to navigating through the wilderness using survival instincts I didn’t know I had, it was an unforgettable experience. But what made it truly special was doing it alongside Ranveer. We shared some nerve-wracking moments together, and some fun ones too; especially while cooking or reflecting on life and the industry. It was an adventure in every sense!”

    Brar said, “Shooting this season of Star vs Food Survival was a wild ride like no other. Kartik was an incredible companion, and the bond we formed over survival challenges, cooking, and deep conversations were truly unique. We pushed each other out of our comfort zones, and while there were tense moments, there was also a lot of laughter, especially when we joked about my “Brar Grylls” alter ego. It’s not every day you get to share such an adventure with someone who brings both energy and heart to the table”.

    As the duo tackles challenges, their bond deepens, bringing both survival skills and meaningful conversations about personal growth to the forefront. Will they complete the challenge? Find out as Star vs Food Survival combines intense moments with thoughtful exchanges in the season’s gripping start.

  • Eloelo app collaborates with Munawar Faruqui to launch new ‘Status’ feature

    Eloelo app collaborates with Munawar Faruqui to launch new ‘Status’ feature

    Mumbai: Homegrown live social media platform Eloelo app has introduced a new ‘Status’ feature on its platform in collaboration with Bigg Boss 17 winner Munawar Faruqui. The status feature helps user on the app to express their mood, feelings and state of mind through celebrated quotes and shayari with their name and photo. Munawar, known for his shayari, has been a hit with users on Eloelo app. The app has also reached over 50Mn users on its platform, reaching top rank on Google Playstore in the entertainment category.

    The collaboration comes after a banter on social media between Munawar and Eloelo app, with the brand revealing it as a way of announcing the new feature through a personality like Munawar. The announcement buzz was created with the Bigg Boss winner expressing his disapproval on Eloelo using his fame and shayari to gain traction. It was soon followed by the Eloelo Founder and CEO Saurabh Pandey issuing a formal apology on the same & inviting Munawar to come live.

    Eloelo will be organising a live session for its users with Munawar himself on 15 February at 7 PM.

    Eloelo App CEO & co-founder Saurabh Pandey said, “Eloelo stands as a brand dedicated to providing individuals with a virtual space for belongingness & expression, hence, we are thrilled to collaborate with Munawar to launch or new ‘Status’ feature. As the winner of Bigg Boss, Munawar embodies the spirit of authentic self-expression, aligning seamlessly with our brand values. We believe his strong persona and commitment to individuality makes him the perfect choice for the launch of this exciting new feature.”

     

     

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    The new Status feature will include a variety of shayaris and quotes which will feature content across genres like love, breakup and motivation and more. The app will also allow ‘status share’ options for its users to further share quotes and shayaris on other platforms along with free personalizations like adding name, photo, etc. The app is currently hosting a contest for users to share these quotes and  shayaris as their status.Additionally, Top 10 winners of the contest will interact with Munawar in a live video session on 15 February at 7 PM.