Nayi Soch: Star India announces talk show TED Talks India hosted by Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan is no stranger to television having first begun his career in 1989 with few TV shows, Circus and Fauji. The actor was last seen on television hosting &TV's reality game show India Poochega: Sabse Shaana Kaun? in 2015. The actor now returns to the small screen with a talk show on Star Plus. 

Star India, a unit of 21st Century Fox, has greenlit TED Talks India: Nayi Soch, a global Hindi talk show created in partnership with TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design). TED Talks India: Nayi Soch, which translates to 'new thinking', will feature speakers sharing big ideas in TED’s signature format of short, powerful talks. 

Founded in February 1984, TED is a platform run by the American private non-profit organisation, Sapling Foundation, under the slogan "Ideas Worth Spreading". The annual conference series began in 1990 after running losses for six years. This is the first time TED is collaborating with a major network and a superstar to produce a TV series featuring original TED Talks in a language other than English.

Khan began his career as a TV host by replacing Amitabh Bachchan in the third season of Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2006. The actor then hosted the game show Zor Ka Jhatka: Total Wipeout on now defunct network NDTV Imagine in 2011.

He stated, “Star India’s legacy of using television as an instrument of social change, and TED’s unequivocal drive to showcase simple but unique ideas in an effort to spark debate and conversation are a very powerful combination. I believe ‘TED Talks India: Nayi Soch’ will inspire many minds across India. It is a concept I connected with instantly, as I believe that the media is perhaps the single most powerful vehicle to inspire change. I am looking forward to working with TED and Star India, and truly hope that together, we are able to inspire young minds across India and the world.”

Uday Shankar, chairman & CEO, Star India, added, “At Star, we have always believed in pushing the boundaries with new ideas, creativity and fresh thinking. Nobody reflects this belief more than TED and we are thrilled to collaborate with them in bringing the power of ideas to our audiences with ‘TED Talks India Nayi Soch.’ In an age of high volatility, the role of ideas to fuel positive change cannot be overstated. We are delighted to have Shah Rukh Khan share our vision and lend his charisma to this exciting endeavour.”

“It’s incredibly exciting to be bringing TED to India in this form,” said TED curator Chris Anderson. "The country is teeming with imagination and innovation, and we believe this series will tap into that spirit and bring insight and inspiration to many new minds. We’ve been so impressed by the passion of our partners at Star TV and our host Shah Rukh Khan. We cannot wait for the launch.”

More information and details on the vision behind this unique initiative will be announced at the annual TED Conference to be held in Vancouver in the coming months. Keep watching this space for more.