MUMBAI: Warner Bros Pictures has roped in Rishi Parekh as director content licensing, India. He has a lot of pedigree behind him and is known for his negotiation skills.
An MBA holder from University of Southern Queensland, Parekh’s previous stint was for seven years with Zee Entertainment where he was the chief channels officer English.
Prior to that he was senior manager commercial at Star India, also for nearly seven years. And before that he was with IOL Netcom for nearly five years.
Mumbai: Zee Zest, an Indian lifestyle platform, has announced the third edition of the Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2025, which honor the visionaries and innovators shaping the future of food, travel, and lifestyle.
For this edition, Zee Zest invites pioneering establishments—from luxury resorts and boutique hotels to fine dining restaurants and nightlife destinations—to showcase their contributions and stand out in the industry. With 40 categories available, businesses have the opportunity to gain recognition for their creativity and impact. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of industry leaders, including Rashmi Uday Singh, Varun Sharma, Avinash Martins, Aditi Dugar, and Suvir Saran, ensuring a thorough evaluation. Public voting will also allow consumers to participate in selecting their favorite innovative establishments.
Nominations for all categories are open from 15 October to 30 November 2024, with early bird submissions closing on 31 October 2024. Establishments of all sizes are encouraged to participate, whether they are boutique hotels or trend-setting bars. This is an opportunity to gain visibility and make an impact in the industry.
Zee Zest business head Rishi Parekh added: “The Zee Zest Unlimit Awards celebrate the trailblazers who redefine the boundaries of creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation. We’re proud to recognise the changemakers who push the limits in food, travel, and lifestyle, offering something truly exceptional. These awards are not just about recognition; they provide an invaluable opportunity for establishments to make a lasting impact on their industry. Our 2025 edition of the Zee Zest Unlimit Awards will continue to focus on identifying these iconic places and celebrating their innovative spirit.”
Building on last year’s success, which honored iconic places like Sidecar in Delhi, Subko Coffee Roasters in Mumbai, Avartana at ITC Grand Chola, and The Glass House in Goa, this year’s event promises to be equally impressive. The ceremony will feature celebrities including Bobby Deol, Chitrangda Singh, Babil Khan, Atul Kasbekar, and Manoj Bajpayee, alongside culinary stars like Ranveer Brar and Pankaj Bhadouria. The Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2025 aims to provide establishments with a platform to showcase their excellence. The event celebrates creativity, vision, and the pursuit of excellence.
Mumbai: Just Talk Sneakers, a new feature show on Zee Café, will explore sneaker culture and its rising influence in India. The series will include engaging conversations with celebrities, highlighting subcultures, personalities, and trivia related to sneakers. Each episode will provide an immersive experience as celebrity guests share personal stories and insights from the “sneakerverse.” Hosted by sneaker enthusiast and talk show host Mihir Joshi, the show premieres on 6 October (Sunday) at 8:30 pm, with new episodes airing every Sunday.
The series features a lineup of celebrities, including Tanuj Virwani, Manav Chabbra, Unnati Malharkar, Akash Dodeja, Simran Dhanwani, Malini Agarwal, Sangeet Paryani, and Nisha Lulla. The show will provide a platform for viewers to learn sneaker lingo, facts, and explore the growing sneaker market in India.
Chief cluster officer – East, North & premium cluster, Samrat Ghosh expressed his excitement about the launch, “At Zee Café, we prioritize understanding our youth-driven audience by identifying key subcultures and creating tailored content that truly resonates with them. By tracking evolving interests and cultural shifts, we deliver engaging experiences that captivate our viewers. This approach has positioned us as pioneers in introducing innovative concepts that connect with niche communities ahead of the competition.”
Chief channel officer – English and zest, Rishi Parekh said on the launch, “As part of our English cluster, we’ve identified and tapped into emerging subcultures within our target audience. Our Anime Fan Fest attracted over 20,000 attendees across two cities, showcasing the immense interest in this genre. Building on this momentum, we’re thrilled to introduce Just Talk Sneakers with Mihir Joshi. The aim is to further expand Zee Café’s footprint in vibrant, youth-driven communities.”
Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ chief growth officer – digital & broadcast revenue, Ashish Sehgal expressed his excitement on the launch, “Shows like Just Talk Sneakers provide a unique platform to engage with today’s youth by tapping into their passions and interests. Zee continues to focus on bringing content for every type of audience by identifying key subcultures and this show has been curated to resonate with the youth and create targeted and impactful experiences for them. We believe such refreshing content is a perfect fit for brands and sponsors where they can create stronger connections with this demographic and boost their visibility by integrating their messaging in an authentic way.”
Zee – national sales head – brand works sales, youth cluster & influencer marketing – Sonal Shah: “This collaboration with Hell Energy and Ather is a perfect match for Just Talk Sneakers. Both brands exude energy, spontaneity, and a sense of movement, making them ideal partners for a show that celebrates youth culture and staying on the go. We’re confident this partnership will create long-lasting connections and elevate the experience for the youth community.”
Just Talk Sneakers will have eight episodes with new episodes airing every Sunday. The show will also be available on Zee Café’s YouTube channel.
Mumbai: Prepare for a jaw-dropping experience as ZEE5, India’s largest home-grown video streaming multilingual storytelling platform and Zee Café are set to elevate the viewing experience with the debut of Zee Café’s first digital series, Loop 11:47. The groundbreaking sci-fi comedy thriller presented in the vibrant Hinglish format blends the genres of science fiction, comedy, and thriller. It will premiere on 5 July on ZEE5 and Zee Café’s YouTube channel. Following its digital debut, the show will also premiere on Zee Café channel on 22 July, providing multiple platforms for audience engagement.
The series follows three disillusioned friends—Varun (Akashdeep Arora), an aspiring musician; Nirvaan (Qabeer Singh), an ambitious corporate executive; and Bhavik (Keshav Sadhna), an optimistic influencer—who embark on a getaway to explore a mysterious lake. What begins as an escape from their daily routines takes a twist when they find themselves trapped in an inexplicable time loop, unfolding a thrilling and captivating adventure.
Loop 11:47 is set to deliver an enthralling journey filled with exhilarating moments and humorous twists, ensuring a captivating experience from beginning to end. Whether viewers are drawn to intense drama, lighthearted humor, or mind-bending plot twists, this series promises something for everyone.
ZEE5 India head, AVOD marketing and YouTube revenue Abhirup Datta stated, “We are delighted to present ‘Loop 11:47’ to our audience, a groundbreaking sci-fi comedy thriller that merges genres to deliver an immersive viewing experience. At ZEE5, our commitment to offering innovative and engaging content that resonates with our viewers is unwavering. This series exemplifies our dedication to push creative boundaries, ensuring an exciting journey for our audience. With its dynamic storyline and Hinglish format, ‘Loop 11:47’ seamlessly blends science fiction, comedy, and thriller elements. This multi-platform release strategy ensures viewers can enjoy the series at their own convenience”.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd chief cluster officer – West, North, and premium channels Samrat Ghosh said, “We are delighted to unveil our first fiction series ‘Loop 11:47’ on Zee Café. This innovative blend of sci-fi, comedy, and relatable themes aligns with our ongoing commitment to delivering fresh and engaging content to young Indian audiences. Zee Café, known for its diverse portfolio of popular international series, engaging reality shows, and original programming, continues to cater to the evolving tastes of contemporary viewers. ‘Loop 11:47’ is expected to provoke thought, evoke laughter, and resonate with audiences nationwide.”
Chief channel officer – English cluster and Zest, Rishi Parekh added, “Loop 11:47’ exemplifies Zee Café’s dedication to pushing creative boundaries and exploring novel concepts. With a commitment to connecting with the Gen Z audience through initiatives like Anime Fan Fest and localized programming such as ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’ in Hindi, we aim to offer content that resonates deeply. The content promises to deliver an engaging, relatable viewing experience that reflects our ethos of bridging cultural divides with globally resonant content infused with local flavour. This distinctive series is poised to captivate a broader audience, reinforcing Zee Café’s stature as a premier entertainment destination nationwide”.
Get ready for an unforgettable adventure with “Loop 11:47”.
Featuring a compelling storyline, dynamic characters, and an innovative concept, this series is a must-watch. Tune in and immerse yourself in the thrilling world of “Loop 11:47” – soon to your screen!
Mumbai: &PrivéHD is the home to nuanced cinema, bringing critically acclaimed films to Indian audiences. To take its offerings a notch higher, the channel had previously introduced Privé Theatre; a creative collaboration with Zee Theatre which has been mainstreaming premium theatrical content and teleplays to a worldwide audience since 2018. The synergistic aim was to keep the love for theatre alive amongst audiences, and now continuing the same legacy, the channel has announced Privé Musicals, another collaboration with Zee Theatre. Through the new property, the channel and Zee Theatre will co-present musical plays that are timeless classics and some even have been inspirations for blockbuster Hollywood films.
Privé Musicals offer a form of entertainment that appeals to those seeking high-quality performances, refined storytelling, and a sophisticated theatre experience. It creates its relevance in the present time by incorporating contemporary themes, modern music styles, and relevant storylines. Musicals are a treat for those who enjoy music in all its forms. These include classics like ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Peter Pan Live!’, ‘Billy Elliot: The Musical’ and ‘Hairspray Live!’.
Speaking about this new initiative, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd chief channel officer – English cluster Rishi Parekh shared, “Since its inception, we at &PrivéHD, have been committed to delivering differentiated and niche content to the TV-viewing audience and after introducing World Box Office and Privé Theatre, our next step in this direction is Privé Musicals. This new IP will host some of the most renowned musical plays on the channel, which must be on the bucket list of both music and theatre lovers. Musicals like ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Peter Pan Live!’, ‘Billy Elliot: The Musical’ and ‘Hairspray Live!’ are some evergreen classics that will be a part of our programming and our aim is to give viewers a chance to witness these masterpieces from the comfort of their homes.”
‘The Sound of Music’ is based on an original 1959 Broadway production which was inspired by Maria von Trapp’s, ‘The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.’ In 1965, came the iconic film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. This version stars Grammy winner Carrie Underwood as Maria.
‘Peter Pan Live!’ is based on Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie’s story about a boy with a never-ending childhood. Academy award winner Christopher Walke plays Captain Hook while Critics’ Choice Award nominee Allison Williams stars as Peter Pan.
‘Hairspray Live’ was watched by over nine million viewers and went on to win three Emmy awards in 2016 and revolves around Tracy Turnblad, a small-town girl who becomes an overnight success after appearing on a TV dance show. The musical boasts a dream cast including marquee names like Ariana Grande and EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson.
‘Billy Elliot: The Musical,’ is an aspirational story set to Sir Elton John’s tunes. Set in a dreary English mining town, it traces the journey of a young boy who chooses ballet shoes over boxing gloves. It stars Elliot Hanna, Ruthie Henshall and Deka Walmsley.
Privé Musicals resonate with the interests and sensibilities of all generations including the modern GenZs. This is a golden chance for all to enjoy the brilliance of world-renowned presentations, from the comfort of their homes, musicals that are certainly on every theatre lover’s bucket list.
Stay tuned for more information on Privé Musicals.
Mumbai: English entertainment channel Zee Café is looking to reach out to a larger set of audiences by creating more unscripted format shows after launching the second seasons of “Chef vs Fridge” and “Dance With Me” shows.
“Every time a limited series, which typically runs over 13 weeks, comes to an end, we want to begin something new to keep audiences engaged,” says Zee English Cluster chief channel officer Rishi Parekh. “We know that cooking and dancing formats work and are searching for more unscripted formats that audiences are looking forward to watching and consuming.”
The first seasons of “Chef vs Fridge” and “Dance With Me” garnered 12 million reach and 23 million reach across the network, respectively. Notably, the two shows were created in ‘Hinglish’ and broadcast on sister channels including Zee Zest, Zee TV, Zee Ganga and Zee Magic as well as dubbed in Marathi and Telugu for wider reach. “English language content caters to a specific set of audiences. In order to grow that base, we’ve created a show that’s competitive and has a different format,” remarks Parekh. “Since we created the shows in ‘Hinglish’ we were able to bring more Zee channels on board and reach a larger audience rather than a specific set.”
In November last year, the channel partnered with Korean Culture Centre to bring popular K-dramas like “Boys Over Flowers,” “Descendants Of The Sun” and others to Indian TV. Parekh notes that the reception to Korean content has been fantastic with “Boys Over Flowers” initially being the top show followed by “Extraordinary You.” “India is one of the top countries in terms of K-drama consumption. We’ve managed to be top channel over the last seven weeks on Zee Café HD on the back of Korean content consumption. The audiences have expressed outright that they want to consume such kind of content and we’re working on identifying more foreign languages that would work.”
English movie channel &PriveHD had launched a property last year called ‘World Box Office’ that featured films across ten foreign languages. “The most popular languages were French and Spanish, however, audiences also enjoyed Swedish and Norwegian language films,” shares Parekh.
“The biggest learning was that more than languages people enjoyed genres like fantasy and adventure. Telling the stories in their original language helped supplement the storytelling,” he further says.
Zee English cluster is working on identifying unscripted formats and foreign languages that can continue to attract incremental audiences to the channel.
