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. 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 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, it 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 (SRKS), a
Hindutva group. These occurred because of perceived communal slights in the
Jodha Akbar television series. 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. 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. ==Current productions==