Rohit Sharma, Ajay Devgn, Madhuri Dixit Nene and A.R. Rahman Lead Sony Pictures Networks India Content Slate
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has unveiled a broad new content slate spanning fiction, reality, sports and regional programming, headlined by cricket star Rohit Sharma's first foray into entertainment. Sharma will anchor and present his own show on Sony Entertainment Television and streamer SonyLIV from September, joining a roster of major names including Ajay Devgn, Madhuri Dixit Nene and A.R. Rahman as SPNI moves to broaden its reach across languages and formats.
The flagship title is "Kaun Banega Crorepati" Season 18, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan and billed as the franchise's first season built with artificial intelligence, shifting emphasis from trivia to reasoning under pressure. Ajay Devgn will front true-crime series "Crime Patrol 2026", while Madhuri Dixit Nene hosts the Marathi-language "Kon Honar Crorepati" and A.R. Rahman leads "Tamil Idol", the format's first Tamil edition. Other additions include comedy show "Indian Game Show", "MasterChef Tamil" with Samantha Ruth Prabhu, the Hansal Mehta-directed "Scam 2010" (now filming after a legal dispute with Sahara India Pariwar that SPNI's CEO says has been resolved), the premiere of film "Haiwaan", and an August 15–December 1 sports season covering cricket tours, the Women's T20 Asia Cup and the Asian Games.
- Rohit Sharma to host his first entertainment show on Sony from September
- KBC Season 18 with Amitabh Bachchan is franchise's first AI-crafted season
- New regional spin-offs, "Scam 2010", and a major sports programming window
New here? Start with this
Sony Pictures Networks India, one of the country's biggest broadcasters and streaming operators, has announced a large batch of new programming across its television channels and its streaming service SonyLIV. The plans cover several languages and genres, from game shows and reality formats to true crime and sport, and bring in a mix of celebrities from cricket, film and music to front different titles.
Among the names involved are Rohit Sharma, captain of India's cricket team, who is stepping into television for the first time, alongside established entertainment figures such as actor Ajay Devgn, actress Madhuri Dixit Nene and composer A.R. Rahman. Long-running franchises are also part of the slate, including the Hindi quiz show "Kaun Banega Crorepati", hosted by veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan, which is being extended into new regional-language versions.
The announcement matters because it signals how a major Indian media company is trying to grow its audience by pairing big-name talent with formats tailored to different language markets, at a time when broadcasters are competing hard with streaming platforms for viewers' attention.
More coverage