Cinema VinesR Madhavan has been announced as the new host of the revived talk show Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, which will now air on the OTT platform Zee5. The program, originally hosted by the late Farooq Shaikh in the early 2000s on Zee TV, offered Bollywood stars a candid look at their personal and professional lives. Madhavan will take over from Shaikh to bring the classic format to a new generation of viewers.
In a statement, Madhavan explained why the show remains relevant in today’s social‑media‑driven landscape. He said, “Today, we have unprecedented access to the lives of people we admire. We know what they do, where they go, and what they share—but we rarely get to know who they truly are. That’s what makes Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai so relevant even today.” He added that the original series had created a rare space for honest, deeply human conversations that celebrated the person beyond the public persona, and that carrying forward that legacy is both an honour and a responsibility.
Madhavan also teased the type of guests the new version will feature. He said, “This season, we’ll bring together extraordinary personalities and legends who have taken India to the global stage, while uncovering the defining moments, relationships and untold stories that shaped their journeys because beyond every achievement and every headline is a human story waiting to be told, and those are the stories that truly stay with us.”
Zee5’s press note described the return of the show as a cultural phenomenon that left an enduring impact on audiences across generations. The series will spotlight trailblazers who have taken India to the global stage, moving beyond their achievements to uncover the defining moments and relationships that shaped their journeys. A streaming date for the web show has not yet been announced.
