9X

After a dance-based reality show <em> Yeh Hai Jalwa</em> and music-based reality show <em> Chak De Bachche</em>, 9X is set to make a foray in comic genre. Apparently, the channel has roped in Optimystix production house (makers of <em> Comedy Circus</em>) to produce a comedy-based reality show . Says producer Vipul Shah, "It's a very different concept. We are developing it with our Spark Network partner. We are discussing it with 9X and will be able to speak on the show in another 15 days time."

Despite their denials on the epic it is now almost confirmed that Ekta Kapoor is making <em> Mahabharat</em> and yes it is to be aired on 9X. A well placed source in the channel says, “Ekta’s<em> Mahabharat</em> is undoubtedly for 9X. It is expected to air on the weekends that is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, starting from 15th of August.” “The show will have all the Balaji’s loyal actors from Makrand Deshpande, Ronit Roy, Akashdeep Saigal, Sakshi Tanwar, Hiten and Gauri Tejwani,” adds the source.

Smriti Irani is the current talk of the town. After creating news with her return to <em> Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi </em> as Tulsi, she is once again in the news. This time it is 9X that puts the actress in the spot. The current news doing the rounds is that 9X is at crossroads with the actress cum politician, Smriti Irani. As Smriti’s show Mere Apne as well as <em> Yeh Hai Jalwa</em> (as host) is on 9X currently it is alleged that the channel is playing the aggrieved party as Smriti appears to have shifted loyalties to a rival channel, Star Plus.

Channels are now turning to the Gods to ramp up their TRP charts and break the clutter from the routine <em> saas-bahu</em> sagas. After NDTV's <em> Ramayan </em>, STAR introduced Mahabharata and Sony too followed suit and decided to re-telecast <em> Jai Hanuman</em>. Now a little birdie tells us that 9X is also joining the bandwagon and have approached veteran producer Dheeraj Kumar to produce a mega devotional show for them.

The comedy show <em> Jamegi Jodi.com</em> on 9X which marked the comeback of Mona Vasu and Mihir Mishra is soon to go off air. This show had been launched with much fanfare but has now ended in a whimper. We called up Mihir to know what exactly went wrong. “I have no idea why the show is going off air. It was the number one show on 9X initially,” says Mihir. “My last shooting schedule of seven days is pending. I don’t have an exact idea but I think by April end or May it will be pulled off air,” he adds.

Reshuffling of the shows has become a common norm in the television industry. In order to pump up a sagging show the channel often changes the timings of the show. The latest in the row is 9X’s <em> Begum Nawazish Ali</em>. The show which was earlier airing on Saturday’s at 10 p.m. is now shifted to Sundays at 11:00 p.m. If rumours are to be believed then the show will be pulled off-air in April.

With the success, rising TRP's and financial gains of reality shows , channel 9X has decided to do a dance based reality show. It is reported that 9X's reality show is being produced by Cineyug and is directed by <em> Jhalak Dikhla Ja</em> fame Arun Shesh Kumar. The show claims to be different from other reality shows.

Ekta Kapoor is all geared up to step into the world of non-fiction. After creating a history of sorts on television with her <em> saas-bahu</em> sagas, Ekta is now eyeing greener pastures. With the success of reality shows on different channels it was only time that Balaji tried a hand at the same.

Harsha a new face is debuting on television with <em> Nelanjanaa</em> on 9X. This 21- year- old is very excited to play the lead but the problem she faced initially was her diction. “I had to go for classes as my Hindi was very poor. I had to take voice diction classes for a month. Besides that my production house had also arranged for a workshop that helped me get a hold on the language,” says Harsha.

Sid Makkar, better known as Satyakaam of <em> Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan</em> is back on television with the brand new show <em> Mere Apne</em> on 9X. He is going to essay the role of Shankar in the show. Elaborating on the character he says, ??€?“I??€â„?m playing the character of a raw, rugged action- oriented guy, a spoilt brat of a son to Smriti Irani and Vinod Khanna. Besides that I also sport a new look, with a beard and long hair, unconventional in today's shows as we see.??€Â?