Balaji Telefilms is an Indian company which produces Indian soap operas, reality TV, comedy, game shows, entertainment and factual programming in several Indian languages. Balaji Telefilms is promoted by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor and is a public company listed at Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India. Its notable works include, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kaahin Kissii Roz, Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Kahiin to Hoga, Kkusum, Kasamh Se, Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil, Pavitra Rishta, Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Jodha Akbar, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki, Kumkum Bhagya, Kundali Bhagya, Naagin.
History
The company registered as 'Balaji Telefilms Private Limited' on 11 November 1994, at Mumbai with the objective of making serials and other entertainment content by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor. Balaji has specialised in formatted programming that can be adapted for languages around the nation as well as abroad. One notable success Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Other examples include Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Kaahin Kissii Roz, Kahiin to Hoga, Kkusum, Kutumb, Kohi Apna Sa, Kasamh Se, Pavitra Rishta, Parichay, Kya Hua Tera Vaada, Jodha Akbar, Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, Naagin, Kumkum Bhagya and Kundali Bhagya The later five are dubbed and re-produced in several languages across India and Asia. In recent years the company has been expanding its reality show output with shows such as titles such as Box Cricket League on Sony TV. Balaji was incorporated as a public limited company on 29 February 2000, and its name was changed to 'Balaji Telefilms Ltd' on 19 April 2000. The company made public issue of 28,00,000 equity shares of 10 each at a premium of 120 aggregating 36.40 crore. The issue included a book built portion of 25,20,000 equity shares and a fixed price portion of 2,80,000 equity shares. In the same year, Nine Network Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nine Broadcasting India Pvt. Ltd., merged with Balaji Telefilms Ltd. During 2000–04 the stock market capitalisation grew sixteenfold to 571 crore when Star India acquired a 26% stake in the business. In 2012 Balaji Telefilms started a media training institute known as which trains students in Acting, Cinematography, Direction, Modelling etc In 2014, the company and Ekta Kapoor were subject to protests in Jaipur led by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, a Hindutva group. These occurred because of perceived communal slights in the Jodha Akbar television series. In 2015, the banner produced a finite series, Naagin, which became the most viewed show on Indian television since its inception. The show was so popular that it won numerous awards and returned for its second and third season, which also generated high TRPs and were big hits. The production company is scheduled to launch the show's fourth season in 2019. In 2017, Reliance Industries acquired a 25% stake in Balaji Telefilms for Rs413 crore. The deal gave RIL access to Balaji Telefilms’ content for use by telecom unit Reliance Jio.
