#WrapUpMay: This month REPLACEMENTS and COMEBACKS took center stage!

And CONTROVERSIES took a back stage. Read on to know more.

- By "Swarupa Tantravahi"
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Unlike the month of April where there were plenty of controversies to read about, this month passed peacefully.

Here's what transpired this month:



This month, the entertainment industry lost one of its stars, actress Reema Lagoo. The actress passed away on the 18th of this month due to a heart attack.

ENTRIES



Last seen in 'Kaala Teeka', actor Rohan Gandotra will enter 'Naagin 2', a show which is no more a TRP Topper. Actress Supriya Shukla aka 'Kumkum Bhagya's' Sarla, joined the cast of 'The Kapil Sharma Show' and tried her hand at comedy. Actors Nidhi Uttam and Parineeta Borthakur entered Zee TV's 'Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani', in the roles of Raja's sister and a politician respectively. 'Bigg Boss Season 9' fame Priya Mallik made her acting debut with Colors 'Savitri Devi College & Hospital'. After being one of the first actors to have signed on the dotted lines, actress Preetika Rao will soon be entering 'Love Ka Hai Intezaar'. Even though the actress' entry was scheduled to be late, it is finally happening.



Actress Ishita Ganguly and actor Karan Suchak have been locked in to play the grown up Kashibai and Bajirao in Sony TV's 'Peshwa Bajirao'. Also, actors Manoj Chandila and Saurabh Gokhale will soon enter the show in the roles of the grownup Nasir (currently played by Vishal Jetwa) and Chimmaji Appa (currently played by Ayaan Zubair) respectively.



Sehban Azim recently made his entry into television's mixed-doubles special, Colors 'Udaan'. Sehban is seen essaying the character of Inspector Ajay, who will be impressed with Chakor (Meera Deoshthale) and will eventually end up falling for her. 'Diya Aur Baati Hum's' second season 'Tu Sooraj Main Saanjh Piyaji', saw the return of their previous season's male lead Anas Rashid aka Sooraj. Anas reprised his character in flashback sequences where he guides his daughter Khanak (Rhea Sharma). While 'Tashan-e-Ishq' actress Anjali Mukhi entered Star Plus' 'Ishqbaaaz' earlier, actress Additi Gupta, who was last seen in 'Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil', will soon enter 'Ishqbaaaz', as Shivaay Singh Oberoi's (Nakkul Mehta) girlfriend post his separation from Anika (Surbhi Chandna). Veteran actress Nilu Kohli, who was last seen in 'Jamai Raja', will enter 'Naamkarann' as Neil's (Zain Imam) grandmother.

EXITS



After having a delayed entry into Star Plus' 'Jaana Na Dil Se Door', Shashank will be seen making an abrupt exit soon. Actress Smriti Khanna will soon quit Colors 'Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki', as the show is all set to take another leap soon.  

COMEBACKS



Actors Shruti Seth and Karanveer Mehra will be making their respective comebacks to television after a really long time with Sab TV's 'TV, Biwi Aur Main'.



It is a comeback of sorts for actor Varun Toorkey, who was last seen in Star Plus' 'Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyaar Kya Karein'. The lad will be making his comeback with Life OK's next, which is loosely based on 'House Of Cards'. Also making a comeback with Life OK's upcoming revenge drama is the very sexy Monica Bedi, who was last seen in Star Plus' 'Saraswatichandra'. 'Pavitra Rishta' actress Savita Prabhune and 'Bade Acche Lagte Hain's' Amrita Mukherjee will be seen making their comebacks with Life OK's next mystery thriller 'Inteqaam Ek Masoom Ka'.



Yuvvraaj Malhotra, who was last seen in Zee TV's 'Fear Files', will finally be making his much-delayed comeback with Colors recently launched 'Savitri Devi College & Hospital'. Last seen in Colors 'Uttaran', actor Ajay Chaudhary, will be seen making a comeback with Star Plus' 'Chakravyuh'.



Ashish Sharma and Sonarika Bhadoria have been locked opposite each other and are all set to make their comeback with Sony TV's next, based on the life of Malwa's King Prithvi Vallabh. Actress Shweta Gulati made her comeback to the screens after a long break with Sony TV's 'Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan'.

REPLACEMENTS



Due to Reema Lagoo's untimely death, the makers replaced her character in 'Naamkarann' and roped in actress, Ragini Shah to play the antagonist Dayavanti Mehta.



Actress Anuja Sathe, will soon be replaced by Rajeshwari Sachdev as the grown up Bajirao's mother, as the former is way too young to play a mother to a grown up character.



This is a weird case of replacement. Even before Sony TV's ambitious project, 'Porus' went on floors, two of their key characters were replaced over creative differences. Actor Rohit Roy, who was all set to make his comeback and play King Bamni is replaced by Aditya Redij.



Also Bani J, who was all set to make her television debut as Rohit Purohit's character Alexander's mother, backed out from the project and was hence replaced by Aisha fame Ira Dubey.



Life OK's upcoming reincarnation revenge drama also saw a major replacement with their finalised antagonist, Manav Gohil being replaced by Manish Goel.

ON AIR



Not one, but six new shows went on-air this month. And they are 'Sajan Re Phir Jhoot Mat Bolo' on Sab TV, 'Love Ka Hai Intezaar' on Star Plus, 'Savitri Devi College & Hospital', 'Bhaag Bakul Bhaag' on Colors and 'Aisi Deewangi Dekhi Nahi Kahi' on Zee TV.



Also, the much awaited 'Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai Take 2' went on the web this month.

OFF AIR


Sab TV's 'Y.A.R.O Ka Tashan' went off air on the 22nd of this month.

LINK UPS



Rumours of 'Naamkarann' co-stars Nalini Negi and Zain Imam dating each other made it to the news this month. However, both the parties denied the news.

ENGAGED



Actress Dipika Kakkar was left delighted when boyfriend Shoaib Ibrahim went down on his knees and proposed marriage to her.


Actress Khushboo Tawde, best known for her character in 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah', got engaged to Marathi actor Sangram Salvi in a close knit affair.

MARRIAGES



Last seen in 'Jamai Raja', actor Sandit Tiwari got hitched to his non-industry partner of 6 years, Priyankona Das on May 8 in a close-knit affair.



Actress Priya Bathija, who was last seen in Sony TV's 'Suryaputra Karn' got married to DJ Kawaljeet Saluja.

BREAK UP

Well, this was not a breakup per se...



'Naamkarann' fame Aditi Rathore who plays Avni in the show, recently announced her apparent 'breakup' with her long time boyfriend Sreedhan Singh on social networking site Instagram. But when the media picked up this news, Aditi quickly clarified that it was a prank that she and her guy played on their friends.

Well Aditi, now that you are a well known face, all this will keep happening.

GOOD NEWS



Actress Deepali Pansare who rose to fame with her stint in 'Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon's' first season, recently gave birth to a baby boy on the 8th of this month. Also, 'Ruk Jaana Nahin' fame Pooja Sharma, announced her pregnancy this month.

CONTROVERSIES



Actress Shilpa Shinde made it back to the controversy list after her last - alleging producer Benaifer Kohli's husband, Sanjay Kohli of sexually harassing her. This time, it was for being expelled from CINTAA (Cine and Television Artists Association).



Actress Nia Sharma walked out of the press conference of the recently launched 'Khatron Ke Khiladi: Pain In Spain' after giving a couple of interviews to the media.



Kishwer Merchantt and Anusha Dandekar had a huge face off when Anusha and VJ Gaelyn commented and made fun of Kishwer's friend's Punjabi accent.

TRP SHOCKERS



A special mention should be given to this month's TRP Charts, as something unimaginable happened. Consistent TRP topper 'Naagin 2' was dethroned from its No.1 position THRICE by none other than the very sloppy 'Kumkum Bhagya'. While the first time 'Kumkum Bhagya' solely pushed 'Naagin 2' to the second slot, the second time 'Kumkum Bhagya' grabbed the No.1 spot and 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai' grabbed the second spot, thus pushing 'Naagin 2' to the third slot.

BUZZ



Choreographer Terence Lewis suffered a wardrobe malfunction on the 'Nach Baliye 8' stage recently, but took it in his stride. Terence was performing, when this incident happened and everyone present on the stage burst out laughing.



Something unbelievable happened with 'Ishqbaaaz' actor Nakuul Mehta. The actor's bank account was hacked and he had to part with some of his hard earned money with a heavy heart.



The makers of 'Kumkum Bhagya' have decided to bring a spin off for their series. Looks like they are closely following the footsteps of the makers of 'Ishqbaaaz' and its spin off 'Dil Boley Oberoi'.



Sanaya Irani, who was all set to make her much awaited comeback with Sony TV's 'Kavya Ki Prarthna' has decided not to, as the project has been delayed multiple times.

Well, there were more number of comebacks and replacements this month than anything else. But all in all, the month was interesting.