History
The company was registered as 'Balaji Telefilms Private Limited' on 11 November 1994 in Mumbai, India, with the objective of creating serials and other entertainment content by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor. Balaji has specialized in formatted programming that can be adapted for languages around the nation as well as abroad. The most notable success includes Kasautii Zindagii Kay where she introduced the biggest fictional characters like Prerna and Komolika and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Other examples include Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kaahin Kissii Roz, Kahiin to Hoga, Kkusum, Kutumb, Kohi Apna Sa, Kasamh Se, Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil, Pavitra Rishta, Parichay, Kya Hua Tera Vaada, Jodha Akbar, Tere Liye, Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, Naagin, Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki, Kumkum Bhagya, Bhagya Lakshmi 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.[20]
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.[21] 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.[21] 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.[21] During 2000–04 the stock market capitalization grew sixteenfold to ₹571 crores when Star India acquired a 26% stake in the business.[22] In 2005, Balaji Telefilms had 21 Hindi television shows on air at the same time, a record in the industry.
Balaji Telefilms started a media training institute in 2010. Known as ICE Institute of Creative Excellence,[23] it trains students in acting, cinematography, direction, modelling, etc.[24][25][26] [27][28][29]
In 2014, the company and Ekta Kapoor were subject to protests in Jaipur led by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS), a Hindutva group. These occurred because of perceived communal slights in the Jodha Akbar television series.[30][31]
In 2015, Balaji Telefilms produced a finite series, Naagin, which became the most viewed show on Indian television since its inception. The show won multiple awards and returned for its second and third season, which also generated high ratings. The fourth season of series was broadcast starting in December 2019 but it was not doing well on television so it was replaced by the fifth season of the series in August 2020.[32][33][34][35]
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.[36]
