After an eventful 2016, channels are readying a slew of new shows this year. From regular soaps to costume dramas to talent hunts, there is something for everyone. Here’s a lowdown...
Peshwa Bajirao
Telecast: January 23
This has nothing to do with the film Bajirao Mastani, and their passionate love story. This historical will be more about the Maratha warrior’s journey to becoming a Peshwa and battling the Mughals. With actors like Raza Murad and Pallavi Joshi headlining the cast, it is Sony’s big-ticket show this year. Rudra Soni is playing little Bajirao, while Siddharth Nigam who essayed Ashoka in Chakravartin Ashoka plays Shivaji.
Yeh Moh Moh Ke Dhaage
Telecast: Tentatively February
It’s being touted as the unlikeliest of love stories as it is about a 40-year old man falling in love with a 20-year-old girl. Eijaz Khan plays the main role as a villager called Mukhi and Niyati Fatnani is his love interest. This May-December romance is on Sony.
Ek Vivah Aisa Bhi
Telecast: Yet to be fixed
The only similarity it has with Sooraj Barjatya’s film Ek Vivah Aisa Bhi is the title. This is the story of a young girl who, due to circumstances, lives with two mothers-in-law. It marks the return of Tasneem Sheikh along with Himani Shivapuri and Sonali Nikam. Watch this on &TV.
Chandrakanta — Prem ya Paheli?
Telecast: March
A romantic fantasy drama about two lovers from rival kingdoms, it is an adaptation of Devki Nandan Khatri’s novel Chandrakanta. When Doordarshan had aired a serial based on it, it was the numero uno show. It will be interesting to see how the new version turns out. The cast is yet to be finalised. Incidentally, Chandrakanta is being made by two producers for two channels. Nikhil Sinha is producing this one for Life Ok, while the other one is being produced by Ekta Kapoor for Colors.
Ghulaam
Telecast: January 16
Set in a small town of Berahampur, considered the crime capital of India, Ghulaam highlights the atrocities against women, and the men who rule the land. Param Singh plays the title role as a loyalist who will do whatever Chaudhary (Bhagwan Tiwari) and his son Vikas Manaktala ask him to do. This crime drama is on Life Ok.
Har Mard Ka Dard
Telecast: First week of February
This sitcom will help men find out what women think, a question that has plagued them for centuries! The show revolves around Faisal Rashid, who is a lecturer at a girls’ college and makes a sincere effort to keep his wife (Jinal Belani) happy but fails to understand what his wife really wants. Figure this out on Life Ok.
Meri Durga
Telecast: End of this month
After Aamir Khan’s Dangal that was about a father coaching his daughters in wrestling against all odds, comes a serial that has a similar premise. Though this has nothing to do with sports, the serial, like the film, is set in Haryana and is about a father who is determined to educate his daughter for her better future. But the beti despite her best efforts keeps falling short of his expectations. This story of father–daughter relationship has Vicky Ahuja as the father and Ananya Agarwal as his daughter Durga. This one’s on Star Plus.
Dil Hai Hindustani
Telecast: January 7
It’s all about loving Bollywood music. The show will cull talent from across the globe and will have all kinds of performances —Solo, duet and group performances consisting of bands, choirs, and acapella. The show will have Karan Johar judging a music show for the first time and Badshah making his debut as a judge on TV. Others on the panel include composer Shekhar Ravjiani and singer Shalmali Kholgade. Tune into Star Plus for this.
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs 6
Telecast: February end
Whenever there’s a kids’ talent hunt, be it music or dance, it surely grabs attention. This will be the sixth edition of Li’l Champs for which the auditions are already on. Himesh Reshammiya, Neha Kakkar and Javed Ali will be judging the show. Catch this on Zee.
Woh Apna Sa
Telecast: January end
Hollywood film Stepmom was remade in Hindi as We Are Family. Woh Apna Sa is the telly version of it. Sudeep Sahir and Riddhi Dogra play a married couple, while Disha Parmar will play the third angle in the family drama to be aired on Zee.
Dil Se Dil Tak
Telecast: First week of February
Remember the Salman Khan-Preity Zinta-Rani Mukerji starrer Chori Chori Chupke Chupke? This serial is loosely based on that. Siddharth Shukla and Rashami Desai play a married couple who desire to have a child, but their wish can be fulfilled only through surrogacy. Jasmin Bhasin plays a bar dancer who helps the couple have a child. Watch this on Colors.
The Rising Star
Telecast: First week of February
The Indian version of the international hit show by the same name where the judges’ interactive format will put the power of determining a contestant’s fate in the viewers’ hands. Shankar Mahadevan and Diljit Dosanjh are the celebrity judges. Colors has got this one.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Peshwa Bajirao")
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}