| Gaurav Chopra gets cosy with Saumya Tandon in Aisa Des Hai Mera |
Aw, chee!
Saumya Tandon of Aisa Des Hai Mera objects to being hugged and kissed on the nape of her neck by hero Gaurav Chopra
Sapana Patil Poojary
There's tension brewing between lead actors Gaurav Chopra and Saumya Tandon (Samay and Rusty) of Sony's Aisa Des Hai Mera. The trouble apparently began when the two were shooting for a promotion capsule for the serial. It required Gaurav to approach Saumya from behind, hug her and kiss her on the nape of her neck. Saumya objected to all of the above.
Producer Manish Goswami says, "The promo-capsule required a cosy scene, which we shot aesthetically. Saumya was given the brief and she shot for it. She didn't say a word until the shoot was over. But after that, she objected to the scene, expressing her discomfort. I realised that she is a little conservative, but some hugging and kissing scenes are now required in TV serials. If she feels this strongly about it, perhaps she not have been in this industry in the first place."
He wonders why the actress didn't voice her objections before doing the shot.
Goswami adds that tension over this is affecting the entire unit: "Since Saumya complained about the promo, there has been tension between the two. My concern is that Rusty and Samay are a newly-married couple in the serial and there will be several intimate scenes to come. Saumya's behaviour is affecting the atmosphere on the sets and also reflecting in the on-screen chemistry between the two. Each time we need to shoot an intimate scene, we have to spend time to convince her about its relevance. She should understand that we wouldn't shoot something that we won't like to watch with our family. Besides, if the promo capsule had looked obscene, the channel itself would have refused to air it. We always ensure that there is nothing objectionable in anything we shoot for the serial."
So, what does Gaurav have to say about it? "I think Saumya didn't object as much to the scene as to not being told about it beforehand. I am more concerned about the atmosphere on the sets, which has become rather awkward. I wouldn't like to be part of the creative team which needs to convince her before doing every scene like this."
Saumya, on the other hand, doesn't seem to want to comment on the issue. When contacted, all she told us was that she was in a shoot and abruptly disconnected the call.