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Zee TV presents The Biggest Ever Historical Magnum Opus Shobha Somnath Ki

Following the glorious success of its immensely popular primetime show Jhansi Ki Rani, India's leading entertainment channel Zee TV carries on its legacy of bringing viewers the most impactful stories from India's rich history. Reopening a remarkable chapter lost in the by-lanes of Bharuch and passed on as a legend by mothers to their daughters in Gujarat, brings you 'Shobha Somnath Ki', a historical drama that narrates the awe-inspiring story of India's unsung heroine Shobha who stood tall and strong in the face of a fiery invasion by Mughal emperor Mahmud of Ghazni. No! She didn't wield the sword, she wasn't exactly the master of guerrilla warfare ... but she held an army of over 2 Lakh plunderers at ransom with the dexterity of a shrewd, agile mind. Ushering in a fresh wave of sparkling programming content on the channel in the wake of its brand revamp exercise, 'Shobha Somnath Ki' premieres on Zee TV at 8 PM on Monday, 20th June.

Born to a mother who succumbs to the pain of delivering her, Shobha is bereft of parental love all through her childhood, particularly from a bitter father who holds her solely responsible for her mother's death. But the eternally hopeful and bright-eyed Shobha isn't one to give up easily. The story follows her journey as she learns all about love, life, valour and sacrifice from her closest relatives, the noble King Daddachalukya and his beautiful wife Maharani Gayatri Devi of Bharuch. The beauty of her bond with cousin Chaula as the two girls blossom into strikingly attractive women and the twists and turns of fate that drive Shobha to emerge as a torch-bearing heroine of her time form the crux of this tale. Her shrewd game-plan for saving her beloved homeland from the clutches of Mahmud Ghaznavi will be remembered by generations in the land of the Narmada.

Built on a sprawling plot of over 9 acres, the magnificent set of 'Shobha Somnath Ki' is a vision to behold. The sweat and toil of over 500 skilled artisans working day and night for over a year and a half has indeed borne fruit, what with most passers-by mistaking the grand replica of India's ancient Somnath Temple for the original.  The sheer splendour of the palaces, the beauty of the re-created landscapes and the minute detailing of elements such as the traditional sun-dial used for telling time all create an illusion that one has stepped into a time-machine and been transported back to 11th century Bharuch. Sukesh Motwani, Head- Fiction Programming, Zee TV said, "We've gone the extra mile to ensure that we get the finer nuances right. Over a year of extremely meticulous research and development on the set, costumes, jewellery, dialects and diction, traditions and rituals has resulted in an extremely authentic re-creation of the royal lifestyles of Bharuch and Patan from over 10 centuries ago. The show will be shot on a Red HD camera with post-modern production techniques and state-of-the-art technology, giving it an extremely slick look!"

The cast of 'Shobha Somnath Ki' is an interesting melange of popular faces from the television and film fraternity. Playing Daddachalukya, the noble king of Bharuch is actor Yash Tonk in a never-seen-before avatar. Lending her grace, charm and dignity to the role of Maharani Gayatri Devi is model-turned-actor Amrita Raichand. BabyAshnoor Kaur who was last seen playing the incredibly cute Prachi in Zee TV's Jhansi Ki Rani will step into the shoes of young Shobhana. Veteran big screen baddie Sadashiv Amrapurkar will make his Hindi television debut as the evil priest Rudrabhada and send shivers down the audience's spine. Also making an impressive debut as the powerful Mahmud of Ghazni is newcomer Vikramjeet Virk. Other prominent names in the cast include Pankaj Dheer, Avinash Wadhawan, Roma Bali and Sudhir Dalvi.

Mr. Akash Chawla, Head- Marketing, Zee TV & Zee Cinema said, "At a time when most channels are making a beeline for high-TRP recipes with three basic ingredients - stars, controversies  and reality shows, Zee TV has chosen to take the least trodden path of digging into unexplored chapters of Indian history that have the potential of making a remarkable story when told interestingly."

Produced by Indira Media and Candlestick Productions, Shobha Somnath Ki is, doubtlessly, an epic drama you cannot afford to miss! 

Unveiling the Grand Sets of Shobha Somnath Ki

Viewers to be transported to 11th century Gujarat with the grandest set to grace the small screen!

Zee TV's much awaited historical magnum opus 'Shobha Somnath Ki' is all "set" to premiere on Monday, June 20 at 8 PM. But it's the sets of the show that are the talk of the town. The monumental re-creations of India's ancient Somnath Mandir and the royal palaces of Bharuch and Patan, laid an hour away from Silvassa on the Mumbai- Ahmedabad highway one go one step further in transporting the viewers to 11th Century Gujarat, as if put in a time machine!  

Built on a sprawling plot of over 9 acres, the magnificent set of 'Shobha Somnath Ki' is a vision to behold. The sweat and toil of over 500 skilled artisans working day and night for over a year and a half has indeed borne fruit, what with most passers-by mistaking the grand replica of India's ancient Somnath Temple for the original.  The sheer splendour of the palaces, the beauty of the re-created landscapes and the minute detailing of elements such as the traditional sun-dial used for telling time all create an illusion that one has stepped into a time-machine and been transported back to 11th century Bharuch. Sukesh Motwani, Head- Fiction Programming, Zee TV said, "We've gone the extra mile to ensure that we get the finer nuances right. Over a year of extremely meticulous research and development on the set, costumes, jewellery, dialects and diction, traditions and rituals has resulted in an extremely authentic re-creation of the royal lifestyles of Bharuch and Patan from over 10 centuries ago. The show will be shot on a Red HD camera with post-modern production techniques and state-of-the-art technology, giving it an extremely slick look!"

Talking about the impressive set, art director Jayant Deshmukh said, "A lot of meticulous detailing and extensive research has gone into getting our act right for Shobha Somnath Ki … we visited historical museums in Gujarat, went through reams and reams of ancient literature and history books to arrive at the exact architectural design for the palaces, temples and other buildings of the era. The interior decoration was a task by itself as it is further difficult to source pictures of the throne, the seating arrangements, the royal bedrooms, the staircases, the kitchen, etc. The grand opulence you finally see on the sets of Shobha Somnath Ki is a result of a lot of hard work, intelligent planning and extensive study married with our own aesthetic rendition of it all"

Stay tuned to Shobha Somnath Ki as it premieres on Zee TV at 8 PM on Monday, June 20

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Li'l Ashnoor Kaur's "Rabbit" Habit!