Ekta gets bossier, goes places

Balaji Telefilms is on an expansion mode. Apart from the three popular K serials — Kasauti Zindagi Kay, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki — being dubbed in southern languages for regional channels and re-produced in Pakistan, Dubai, and Sri Lanka with their local stars, she has signed a deal with INX group that has ex Star head Peter Mukherjea at the helm.

A Hindi entertainment channel will be launched soon. "Instead of regular saas bahu dramas Ekta will have reality shows and telenovellas. The deal consists of producing three serials and the satellite rights for a fixed number of Balaji feature films," reveals Ekta's right hand Nivedita Basu. "Since it's a new channel, we will help them with production too. Balaji's shows will be very different from serials being aired on other channels," she says.

The channel will be launched in December 2007 and Ekta feels her interest in Star (read equity) is safe as they aren't direct competition either.

And it doesn't end here. Ekta plans to launch her own television awards this December. "Balaji will soon make a formal announcement as Ekta feels this is the right time to have her own awards," says a Balaji source. Ekta too confirms it, without divulging too many details. "Yes, we will have a TV awards... things are yet to be decided... we will soon tell the whole world," she says. She allegedly has signed G S Entertainment as organisers of the show.

But when Ekta heard about Vikas Kalantri and Pooja Ghai's production house, Gold Leaf Productions, having tied up with Anuj Saxena's Maverick Productions for an awards function called the 'Gold Awards' in Mauritius in September, she immediately issued a note warning all the Balaji stars NOT to attend, perform or accept the Gold awards. The poor stars have little choice but to say "Yes Boss."