ITV

Tag: Vipul Shah

  • De Beers & GJEPC: Indra & the natural diamond narrative

    De Beers & GJEPC: Indra & the natural diamond narrative

    MUMBAI: Diamonds are a girl’s best friend… or are they?

    The world’s largest diamond company, De Beers Group, and India’s apex jewellery body, the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), are on a mission to convince consumers—millions across India—that only natural diamonds hold the title of “a girl’s best friend.” Their focus is on educating people about the differences between lab-grown diamonds and natural ones, the latter being the glittering treasures mined from the earth that have long captured imaginations.

    To reinforce the natural diamond narrative, the two organizations have launched the Indian Natural Diamond Retailer Alliance (Indra). This initiative aims to support independent jewellery retailers in India with cutting-edge tools that go beyond traditional strategies. From leveraging artificial intelligence for tailored campaigns to providing multi-lingual marketing assets, immersive storytelling, superior customer experiences, and in-depth natural diamond jewellery training in local languages, Indra is equipping retailers to ensure that natural diamonds continue to shine brightly in consumers’ minds.

    Interactive roadshows marking the collaboration will kick off in January 2025. GJEPC members will have the opportunity to enroll in the programme. Speaking about the initiative, GJEPC Chairman Vipul Shah said, “The Indian gem and jewellery market, currently valued at $85 billion, is poised for rapid growth, projected to reach $130 billion by 2030. Indra is designed to harness this momentum by tapping into India’s dynamic young population, the rise of organized players, and increasing demand across bridal, everyday wear, fashion, and entry-level jewellery. This initiative reflects a shared vision to educate stakeholders, empower retailers, and boost consumer demand, all while highlighting the timeless value of natural diamonds.”

    De Beers Brands CEO Sandrine Conseiller added, “India’s diamond growth story is remarkable, now making it the second-largest market globally for retail sales of diamond jewellery. With its vibrant economy, growing young population, and numerous leading diamond businesses, India holds immense untapped potential. Presently, natural diamonds account for only about 10% of the Indian jewellery retail sector, far below the penetration seen in mature markets like the US. This collaboration with the GJEPC will unlock opportunities for increased consumer demand across all types of natural diamond jewellery, including bridal, everyday wear, and entry-level pieces.”

    FTC Norms for Diamonds

    Retailers can register for the programme at www.INDRAonline.in and access multi-lingual training modules focused on natural diamond product knowledge. They’ll also gain access to a market intelligence portal, customizable marketing assets, and content to promote natural diamonds at the store level, helping them enhance returns and expand their customer base.

    With over 10,500 members, GJEPC is the leading body driving India’s gem and jewellery sector. Through its large-scale IIJS Shows, multiple roadshows, and outreach activities, GJEPC has the reach and expertise to support the industry. This collaboration leverages GJEPC’s deep market knowledge, built over five decades, alongside De Beers’ extensive expertise in the diamond category.

    The collaboration aligns with GJEPC’s adoption of the updated definition, nomenclature, and guidelines for diamonds as specified by the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These updated guidelines ensure distinct terminology standards, fostering clarity and transparency for both industry stakeholders and consumers.

  • COLORS serves up laughter at dinner time with ‘Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment’

    COLORS serves up laughter at dinner time with ‘Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment’

    Mumbai: Lijiye entertainment ka swaad, dinner ke saath…The table is set for everyone to satiate their hunger for entertainment! COLORS dishes out one-of-a-kind entertainment show ‘Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment’ that brings together your favourite celebrities in an unusual cooking set up creating situational comedy. Thirteen of the biggest entertainers and amateur chefs are about to stir up a storm of laughter, serving up food alongside hilarious stories with their interpersonal banter and relations. With improper measurements, questionable ingredient substitutions, and many other mishaps, this mixture of kitchen newbies promises to serve up a laughter riot. This unusual kitchen set up will be graced by fan-favourite celebrities such as Krushna Abhishek – Kashmera Shah, Vicky Jain – Ankita Lokhande, Rahul Vaidya – Aly Goni, Reem Sameer Shaikh – Jannat Zubair, Karan Kundrra – Arjun Bijlani, and Sudesh Lehri – Nia Sharma. The queen of comedy, Bharti Singh will be hosting this spectacle and Celebrity Chef Coach Harpal Singh Sokhi will lend his expertise through the kitchen chaos and rate each dish prepared by laughter chefs. Produced by Optimystix, ‘Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment’ powered by Rajdhani Besan, Special Partner Vim Liquid, premieres on the 1st June and will air every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30pm only on COLORS.

    COLORS spokesperson said, “We at COLORS are excited to have the honour of laying out a diverse menu of entertainment that caters to every palate. With Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment, we’re cooking up a veritable entertainment feast for our viewers. The essence of the show lies in its ability to unify people through the universal language of entertainment regardless of age, background, or taste preferences. The endeavour is for the show to bring the families together for the perfect weekend ‘dinner-tainment’.”

    Optimystix Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, founding chairman and MD Vipul Shah said, “Continuing our long-standing association with COLORS, we’re thrilled to offer this unique brand of entertainment, where our favourite stars trade their usual roles for chef’s hats and aprons. Our show Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment is our latest concoction, juicing together the chaos of the kitchen with the hilarity of comedy. We hope that the viewers enjoy this culinary-comedy journey.”

    Host Bharti Singh said, “I’m thrilled to be hosting Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment infusing it with the tadka of my sense of humour to this show, ensuring that audiences are on a steady diet of non-stop entertainment. This show guarantees entertainment for all age groups, bringing together members of the family at dinner time. Get ready to laugh your heart out – bhar bhar ke entertainment parosne ki zimmedaari ab humari hain.”

    Celebrity Chef coach Harpal Singh Sokhi said, “As the Celebrity Chef Coach on Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment, I’ll be tasked with guiding the amateur chefs through the treacherous ways of the kitchen. Expect bizarre ingredient combinations and dishes that would make even the bravest food critic run for the hills. As I try to impart my culinary wisdom, I’ll be donning my critic’s hat to rate their questionable creations and show my comic side along with my cooking skills. I can’t wait to see what kind of surprises these chefs have in store for us.”

    COLORS’ ‘Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment’ powered by Rajdhani Besan, Special Partner Vim Liquid, premiering on the 1st June at 9:30pm and thereafter every Saturday and Sunday only on COLORS!

  • This Year’s wearable artworks & crafts design fest at GJEPC on 12, 13 February

    This Year’s wearable artworks & crafts design fest at GJEPC on 12, 13 February

    Mumbai: Come and fall in love with design once again this Valentine’s Day! The Wearable Artworks & Crafts Design Festival will be celebrated at the gem & jewellery export promotion council’s Artisan Design Jewellery Awards 2024 on 12-13 February, at the Ice Factory, Ballard estate in Mumbai. Among many design themes, ‘Jewellery as Art’ will take centre-stage at the two day event held on the eve of Valentine’s Day to celebrate people’s love and passion for art, design and jewellery. The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is the apex body of trade in India, supported by the ministry of commerce & industry.

    The final judging round for the seven editions of The Artisan Awards 2024, powered by GIA, was held on 22 January, 2024. Of the twenty captivating and well-finished jewellery pieces, the jury picked out six winners from the two unconventional themes of The Artisan Awards 2024: ‘Unusual Materials’ and ‘Objet Trouvé.’ This edition of The Artisan Awards received more than 600 entries from around the world including India, Canada, USA, Bahrain, Egypt, Dubai, and Pakistan.

    The largest-ever congregation of luminaries and aesthetes from the world of Arts, crafts & design; curators, art gallery owners and patrons; art school teachers, deans and students; socialites, celebrities, connoisseurs, architects, painters and sculptors; along with jewellery designers (experienced and young) will grace GJEPC’s Artisan Jewellery Awards 2024 gallery showcase at Ice Factory. The discussions will revolve around two exciting and unconventional themes ‘Unusual Materials’ and ‘Objet Trouvé’ of the seven editions of GJEPC’s The Artisan Jewellery Awards 2024.

    The first theme, ‘Objet Trouvé’ (found objects) explores art crafted from visible yet frequently altered objects that are atypical yet serve as art materials due to their non-art function.

    A ‘found object’, whether it’s natural, man-made, or even just a fragment, is preserved due to an inherent connection by the artist. It can be treated as a work of art in itself, and as a muse for inspiration.

    The idea was to design a piece of jewellery that depicts the essence of ‘Objet Trouvé’ by taking an object of your past and reimagining it in a modern form. Examples of ‘found objects’ could include vintage poker chips, antique coins, collected shells, vintage Venetian glass beads, buttons, and beachcombed shells.

    The second theme, ‘Unusual Materials’ encouraged designers to create a dialogue between the familiar and the unexpected by combining contrasting materials with at least 50 per cent precious materials. Unusual materials could include cement, titanium, wood, porcelain, bamboo, slate, meteorite, glass, recycled plastic, leather and more.

    GJEPC chairman Vipul Shah, stated, “GJEPC’s vision extends beyond the conventional, aiming to redefine the landscape of jewellery design. Through the Artisan Jewellery Design Awards competition, India seeks to elevate itself and position as the global premier design hub, aligning with the government’s campaign of design in India. Through this design competition, GJEPC reaffirms its commitment to encourage an environment that will nurture the creative spark within designers.”

    GJEPC convener, promotion & marketing, Milan Chokshi adds, “Each year, we strive to introduce a distinctive theme, challenging participants by collaborating with curators to elevate their engagement. Over the past seven years, the Artisan Awards have assumed increasing significance globally, with India recognising them as the most coveted accolade. This prestigious award serves as a driving force, inspiring designers, budding students, and manufacturers to create thematic jewels at the highest echelon. The quality of production within this thematic framework is truly remarkable.”

    The esteemed jury comprised Alice Cicolini, renowned UK jewellery designer; Biren Vaidya, managing director, The Rose Group; Payal Singhal, fashion designer; Apoorva Deshingkar, GIA India – senior director of education and market development; and Toktam Shekarriz, Dubai-based jewellery designer.

    The technical jury comprised of Devinder Layal (Jewellery Artiste and educationist), Meenal Choksi (head of design, Moksh Fine Unseen Jewellery); Sushama Kalzunkar Sawant (PD & merchandising head, Dia Gold Creations); Janki Choksi (founder, Janki Choksi Designs); Gunjan Sapra (COO & head of department, jewellery designs, International Institute of Gemology, and a GIA instructor) to honour the best and most talented jewellery designers.

    Alice Cicolini said, “As a jewellery designer, the prospect of an award process like this is truly invigorating. I find great excitement in witnessing competitions that encourage designs using more unconventional materials and explore global trends. The freedom afforded to India’s young designers through these themes is commendable and inspiring. Personally, there are a couple of pieces from today that stand out to me as not only intriguing designs but also impeccably crafted.

    “Having worked in India for nearly two decades, I can attest that it stands as one of the most extraordinary nations for jewellery production, boasting incredible craftsmanship. Witnessing the remarkable work emerging from this country is always a source of excitement. Moreover, it is refreshing to see young jewellery designers break free from traditional constraints, allowing their imaginations to take flight—an approach actively encouraged by institutions like this one. Design, being a commercial art form, requires assurance that there is a market for innovative work.”

    Payal Singhal was fascinated by the exploration of innovative materials and the creation of pieces that could endure for generations. Reflecting on India’s design and manufacturing talent, Singhal noted, “The Artisan Awards showcase a remarkable standard. The ability to work with challenging materials and produce versatile, aesthetically pleasing, and finely crafted jewellery is a testament to the high level of expertise present in our country. The innovation displayed at the awards reinforces my belief that India possesses superior capabilities in terms of design, quality, and finishing.

    “As for elevating jewellery into wearable art, initiatives like The Artisan Awards play a crucial role. By encouraging designers to view jewellery as an artistic expression rather than just ceremonial or status symbols, we encourage a shift towards wearable art. Supporting and motivating young designers and jewellery brands to embrace this perspective will contribute to the evolution of jewellery as a form of artistic expression rather than merely a complement to attire or a symbol of status.”

  • Can’t insist producers to use only their members: Competition Commission to FWICE

    Can’t insist producers to use only their members: Competition Commission to FWICE

    MUMBAI: In a landmark judgement, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has told the All India Film Employees Confederation and Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) that they cannot insist producers to take only their members to work with them.

    On 31 October 2017, the CCI passed cease and desist orders against certain national and regional trade associations of film artists and producers for engaging in practices of controlling/limiting the supply of services and market sharing. Such acts have been held to be in contravention of sections 3(3)(b) and 3(3)(c) read with Section 3(1) of the Competition Act, 2002 (Competition Act).

    The  final order by the CCI was passed on an information filed by Bollywood producer and director Vipul Shah who alleged that specific provisions of the MoU dated 1 October 2010 (MoU) signed between FWICE and producer associations i.e.  IMPPA, FTPGI, and IFTPC relating to various matters including member-to-member working, fixation of wages, etc., are anti-competitive in nature.

    Thereafter, on 8 August 2019 an application under Section 42 of the Act alleging noncompliance of the aforesaid order by other parties was received by the Commission from Contiloe Pictures Private Ltd (CPPL).

    On 12 March 2020, the matter was listed for hearing between FWICE and CPPL. Upon hearing the counsels of CPPL and FWICE, the commission observed that the contents of the directives issued by FWICE to its member affiliates/producers were in the nature of direction to its members not to engage the non-members and were in violation of the order of the Commission dated 31 October 2017.

    Later, FWICE submitted that they would withdraw their letters dated 29 March 2018 and 26 November 2018 issued to its affiliates and also the letter dated 30 November 2018 issued to CPPL, without any conditions. The association also tendered unconditional apology for disobeying the directions of the Commission.

    The Commission directed FWICE to issue communication to its affiliates," all production houses/ producers including CPPL regarding withdrawal of the said letters and file a copy thereof with the Commission within a period of 10 days. Further, FWICE was also directed to file an affidavit along with status/ compliance report within ten days to the Commission."

    However, the commission later observed that none of the parties have filed any evidence. Therefore, the commission has directed all the parties involved in the matter to file an affidavit along with status/compliance report through e-mail at secy(cci.gov.in, latest by 15 July 2020 without fail.  The secretary is directed to inform FWICE and CPPL, accordingly.

  • Industry needs to handhold to come out of this crisis

    Industry needs to handhold to come out of this crisis

    MUMBAI: The film and television producers are gearing up to restart shooting in the wake of guidelines issued by the Maharashtra government and the easing of lockdown restrictions. Film and TV post-production activities in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana have also resumed, albeit with restrictions.

    Indiantelevision.com reached out to leading TV producers to understand their plans in the days ahead.

    Shakuntalam Telefilms founder Shyamashis Bhattacharya said, “People are eager to work; getting them on set is difficult but getting them to work is easy. We have new challenges before us like sanitisation and social distancing, but we will strictly adhere to all the norms.”

    But how production houses with lower budgets will work with added costs of sanitisation and other procedures? According to him, Hindi GECs would be able to sustain and work as soon as the government gives permission. Budget constraints, however, will pose challenges to regional channels. In that case, they might take more time than others to think of suitable measures. He said that broadcasters and production houses are already in talks to find out if there can be deduction in production budgets.

    Producers already have plans to start fiction shows with a lesser number of crew. Non-fiction shows, however, will be on hold as they require larger crews. According to him, broadcasters are also under pressure as there haven’t been any advertising revenues for many months.

    Optimystix Entertainment founder-MD Vipul D Shah suggests, as a measure of social distancing, that editing rooms will require redesigning. A separate space will be allotted to editors with one in one room. Most preferably, they will be asked to work from home.

    Makeup artists and hairdressers are constantly required to be with actors. But, to maintain social distancing, actors will now have to work without makeup artists at least for a few months. However, all these measures are still on paper; one has to wait till shooting starts to test the efficacy of their implementation.

    Indiantelevision.com reached out to Vaishnave Media Works Ltd MD-chairman Kutty Padmini to understand how things have progressed in the Tamil industry.

    She said, “Full-fledged shooting has not yet started in the Tamil industry as not more than 15 to 20 people can work together at a time. So, we have requested the Tamil Nadu government to grant permission for 40 people.” She adds that 30 people can be present inside the set and 10 outside; they will include drivers, generator operators and the rest.

    She said that the pending post-production works like dubbing, CJI, and VFX have started.

    According to Padmini, the Tamil Nadu government decided to resume shooting with 20 people after someone suggested that in Hollywood the shoot is happening with just 22 members. She says that this scenario is not relevant to India.

    “Resuming shoot with minimum people is possible for me as I do my own scripts and everything else, but it might not be possible for other people. It is not quite difficult also. Today, the technology is so advanced that we do not need so many lights or technicians like in the black-and-white era.”

    Padmini made it clear that she is planning to resume shooting only after 15 June. Currently, she is busy creating content for her YouTube channel.

    On creating a bank of certain episodes, Padmini says that now broadcasters allow the creation of banks of only five episodes. Story narrations might change in accordance with other factors like change in TRPs. And then there are many other factors like availability of actors, who come from Karnataka and Kerala.

    During the pandemic, a lot of production houses had to lay off employees, but the situation has been different for Padmini as she preferred to hire people based on projects.

    Padmini is utilising this lockdown period to create scripts which are doable with lesser crew. She is currently working with MSN, Amazon Prime, Dangal and Aha Media in Hyderabad.

    Creative Eye founder Dheeraj Kumar is positive that soon Maharashtra will also start post-production works like other states. Kumar’s 20-year-old show Shree Ganesh will make a comeback on Star Plus. The show will premiere on 2 June and air from Monday to Sunday at 6:30 pm.

    “The show is going to start but I have to do some additions, promos, and post production works. So, I am giving whatever technological help that is required through constant communication with editors and technicians. Basically, my problems are very immediate. The bigger challenge is we cannot start our post-production works until and unless we follow all the guidelines imposed by Maharashtra government,” he added.

    Kumar has his own studio, pro-cut machines, tools, equipment for mixing and sound. Apart from this, he regularly sanitises his studio building. He is bringing in place sanitise tunnels to effectively disinfect offices and equipment. In order to maintain social distancing norms Kumar has enough rooms that could be allotted to the technical staff.

    Kumar is also going to implement an odd-even formula in terms of staff to begin shooting. He believes broadcasters and producers will have to support each other in these troubled times.

    “Going forward we will have to think very carefully with regard to logistics and finances. Necessity is the mother of invention. We will have to learn to work with less crew and a tight budget. Industry needs to do the handholding to come out of this crisis,” he concludes. 

  • Colors to air new fiction series ‘Krishndasi’ from 25 January

    Colors to air new fiction series ‘Krishndasi’ from 25 January

    MUMBAI: They are women of strength; brave carriers of culture, rich tradition and all-embracing devotion to one divine force – Lord Krishna. Kick-starting the year, Colors presents an untold tale of the Devadasi community shrouded in secrecy and mystique with its newest offering Krishndasi. The show will trace the story of three generations belonging to the Devadasi lineage with Kumudini (Indira Krishnan) being at the helm of it. She holds pride in her legacy and strongly upholds the Devadasi tradition passing it on to her daughter Tulsi (Chhavi Mittal), who, to protect her daughter Aradhya (Sana Amin Sheikh) from this legacy hides the truth. But in pursuit of her real identity, Aradhya ends up uncovering the truth about her lineage and reopens pages of history that her mother worked hard to keep hidden.

     

    Produced by Optimystix Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd with Vaishnavae Media Works Ltd stepping in as Creative Producers, Krishndasi, an hour-long proposition, will go on-air starting 25th January 2016, with subsequent episodes to be telecast every Monday to Friday from 10:30 PM to 11:30 PM.

     

     Commenting on the launch of the show, Colors CEO Raj Nayak, said, “With every new show launch, we strive to meet the audience expectations by presenting something unique and diverse. Exploring different ideas and genres has always been the channel’s priority and we are taking a massive leap by presenting a show that is based on the ancient Devadasi system that was outlawed many years ago but is still rampant in some parts of the country. We have consistently strived to showcase socially relevant content and with Krishndasi, we are looking forward to taking our contribution towards societal awareness one step further. The show has been a runaway hit down South and we’re certain that the newer version, now on COLORS, will appeal to viewers in the rest of the country as well.”

     

    Speaking about the content to be showcased on the show, Colors programming head Manisha Sharma said, “Our programming mantra has focused on creative storytelling bringing stories that are buried in folklore to mainstream. While traditions might have changed, the way they impact women remains the same. Over the years, women have been depicted as mothers, caregivers, and relationship-drivers. This is passé, and with Krishndasi, we are delving deeper into the untold story of women of God with Aradhya’s life story. Krishndasi is a story of today’s time and era where Aradhya belongs and how she discovers her own identity as she moves ahead in life. Backed by a strong concept and riveting storyline making for a gripping hour-long watch, the show will be high on drama and intrigue factor built around the elements of love, mystery, struggle and self-discovery.”

     

    Set against the backdrop of present-day Pune, Krishndasi will showcase the story of three generations whose heritage holds secrets that shape their contrasting personalities. Kumudini, the authoritative matriarch of the family is a devotee of Lord Krishna and takes immense pride in being a part of the age old Devadasi custom. On the other hand, Tulsi is a gentle and compassionate woman who is forced to embrace the Devadasi culture and follow her mother’s footsteps. Having experienced a gruesome life as a Devadasi, Tulsi protects her daughter from getting caught in the web of exploitation and humiliation. Though she is born into an over-protective environment, Aradhya grows up to become an independent girl with a modern outlook but struggles to find her identity and the truth about her father. Her struggles escalate her personal insecurities and relationships but her life takes a turn for the better when she meets Aryan (Shravan Reddy) and finds herself falling in love with him. But her ancestry strains their love story under the pressure of conflicts and traditional differences between their families.

     

    Optimystix Entertainment producer Vipul Shah said, “The production value builds on the grandeur of the tradition while showcasing Aradhya’s dilemmas about her roots and pedigree. Kutty Padmini and Vaishnavae Media Works Ltd. have tremendous experience when dealing with the Devadasi concept; with help of dynamic creative team at Optimystix we have touch upon a fresh perspective to this property. With this show, we are extending our partnership with COLORS and look forward to combining our energies to make this show a national success.”

     

    Speaking about the concept of the show, Vaishnavae Media Works Ltd creative producer Kutty Padmini said, “Krishndasi explores an age-old practice; a concept that has been lost in the pages of history but continues to exist in the bylanes. We have made an effort of maintaining a contemporary backdrop to build present-day relevance engaging viewers across the country. After tasting success with the Tamil version of the show, we are excited to recreate the drama for the Hindi viewing audience and replicate the success once again with Krishndasi. ”

  • Sab to replace ‘Yam Hai Hum’ with Optimystix’s ‘Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle’

    Sab to replace ‘Yam Hai Hum’ with Optimystix’s ‘Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle’

    MUMBAI: Broadcasters are ringing in this new year with a host of new shows for viewers. After channels like Star Plus, Life OK, Zee TV et al are prepping to launch new shows this month, now Sab TV is all set to launch a romantic comedy titled Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle produced by Vipul Shah’s Optimystix Entertainment. The show will launch on 18 January and be aired at 10:30 pm from Monday to Friday.

     

    It will replace Swastik Productions’ Yam Hai Hum, which is going off air from 15 January. Yam Hai Hum was launched on 15 December, 2014 and will complete the journey of 283 episodes on Sab TV.

     

    Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle will have a hilarious love triangle set amidst a hospital and will present a fresh concept of a love clash between two men, Nathu Nakabandi (Ali Asgar) and Dr. Ranbir (Ather Habib) for the pretty Dr. Diya (Krishna Gokani).

     

    A source close to the development informs Indiantelevision.com, “The approximate per episode expenditure of the show is approximately Rs 6 – 7 lakh.”  

     

    Commenting on the launch of the show, Sab TV senior executive vice president & business head Anooj Kapoor said, “The idea was just to come up with a romantic comedy and the title and concept of the show itself is very clear. We have done several shows together with Optimystix and Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle is another show in that direction. Sab TV and Optimystix have had a very fruitful relationship for several years and we are hoping to deliver another successful show together.”

     

    Talking about the infinite nature of the show, Kapoor informed, “It’s very difficult to comment when the show does well; the audience continues to enjoy the show. Currently we have shot four – five episodes for the show but our initial contract with the production house is for 130 episodes. So let’s see where it goes.”

     

    Sab TV will be going all out to aggressively promote Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle across 360 degree marketing mediums including TV, print, radio, digital and outdoor.

     

    In addition to a series of seven rib-tickling promos, Sab TV has produced a music video sung by Kumar Sanu, which is being played out on leading music channels.

     

    On digital, the channel has developed a unique engagement game through a microsite, which features rivalry between Dr Ranbir and Nathu over Dr Diya. Fans can help Dr Ranbir win Dr Diya, by tweeting #Tweet4Rabir or Nathu by tweeting #Tweet4Nathu.

     

    Optimystix Entertainment India CCO & MD Vipul D Shah said, “We were thinking of coming up with a show based on a romantic youth comedy and we’ve not dabbled in this genre since a long time, so we decided to bring in the concept of a love triangle. I think Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle is a classic format when two men love one woman.”

     

    Some of the shows by Optimystix, which have previously aired on Sab TV include Sajan Re Jhooth Mat Bolo, Pappad Pol, Baalveer and Sab Ke Anokhe Awards.

     

    “Comedy is an interesting genre. I think humour always grabs eyeballs. At a time when so many dramas and saas-bahu soaps are running, there is a large audience, which needs comedy shows. And that’s what they come to Sab TV for. Comedy has always been my preferred genre,” said Shah.

  • Deven Bhojani to direct a Bollywood film

    Deven Bhojani to direct a Bollywood film

    MUMBAI: Who can forget the Kareema of Dekh bhai Dekh. The TV actor Deven Bhojani became to household name with his impeccable performaces in Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, Office Office etc. The actor who turned director with his serial Sarabhai vs Sarabhai is all set to enter Bollywood.

    According to reports, Vipul Shah has roped in Bhojani to direct his next, which is a romantic comedy. The makers of film are now looking out for actors as soon as the script is complete.

    Interestingly, it was Vipul who had given Bhojani his first big role in his serial Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka and since then the two have always been good friends.

  • Eros Intl acquires global distribution rights for ‘Namastey London’

    Eros Intl acquires global distribution rights for ‘Namastey London’

    MUMBAI: Bollywood media and entertainment firm Eros International has acquired the global distribution rights for Namastey London.

    It has been directed and produced by Vipul Shah and co-produced by Ad Labs.

    The film stars Akshay Kumar as Arjun, a tough but fun loving farmer from Punjab who is trying to make a success of his arranged married to sophisticated English Rose Jasmeet Singh. Jasmeet, aka Jazz, played by the beautiful Katrina Kaif, is determined to cherish her love for her British boyfriend Charlie Brown.
    Namastey London is an emotional drama told in a light vein is love about giving or taking? Will Indian values surrender to Western upbringing and whether Jazz or Jasmeet will prevail?

    Eros’ first co-production Waqt – A Race Against was also a Vipul Shah directorial venture.

    Eros will also release the soundtrack for Namastey London as well. It has 18 tracks including lounge remix versions. Music director Himesh Reshammiya has given music to the film.

    Eros will release the film globally on 9 March, 2007. After the success of the Othello inspired Omkara, Eros has three global releases in the run up to March 2007 – Salaam-E-Ishq, Eklavya and Namastey London.