Times Television Network’s starry bash with Anil Kapoor and Vidya Balan
If you’re sitting in front of your television set in America, it’s as good as being in India! That’s because of all the Indian programming available here now – and the latest to join the party is Times Television Network, part of one of India’s largest media conglomerates, the Times Group. It launched its news and entertainment channels – Times Now and Zoom – on Dish Network with a bash at the Marriot Marquis in New York.
“Regardless of age and demographics we try to be part of every Indian’s life every single day,” said Sunil Lulla, CEO of Times Television Network. “With over 80 million viewers a month, Times Now is the English news channel which for the last three years has been the No.1 English news channel in India. We have more than 17 studios across India and are in 19 countries, from Australia to India to Africa – and now North America.”
Guests at the gala enjoyed a live sneak peak of ‘Encounters’, hosted by Zoom editor-in-chief Omar Qureshi with stars Vidya Balan and Anil Kapoor who had flown in for the event. Both are Capricorns and both were born in the suburb of Chembur. They also share a history of consistently good work in challenging roles and of course, lots of awards. The tone of the interview was zippy and fun.
For a while Anil Kapoor turned interrogator and asked Vidya when she was getting married. When she said, “I’m not in a hurry – there’s a lifetime to be married,” Kapoor chipped in, “Why, there’s nothing wrong in being married, see I got married so early in my career!” With which, he cheekily asked the host, “Omar, when are you getting married? You’re 50 and not yet married!”
The good-natured ribbing continued with Omar asking Vidya, “You’ve played mother to Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, would you like to mother Anil Kapoor?” To which she retorted, laughing, “No, I’d like to be paired romantically opposite him – I’m done with playing mother!”
Photo credit: Gunjesh Desai/Masala Junction.com
