Ganga flows into the small screen

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Posted: 18 years ago

Ganga flows into the small screen
By: Tushar Joshi
October 26, 2006

Mrinal Kulkarni in Solhah Singaarr

In a first time of its sorts a television show will be based in the city of Benaras with Ganges as the backdrop. Produced by Kinnari and Jay Mehta (Sindoor Tere Naam Ka), Solhah Singaarr is shot in the holy city.

Star-struck

Talking about the show, Kinnari says, "It was a major challenge shooting in Benaras because they worship television stars. Every one wanted to meet these guys, take pictures and watch the shoot. Also, we were shooting right in the middle of Dussera so it was totally chaotic.

There were some five lakh people in the city at that moment. Apart from humans we were also given the responsibility of taking care of the cows and buffalos that would keep raiding our sets."

Revolving around a mother daughter relationship the show stars Anuj Saxena, Mrinal Kulkarni, Rajeshwari Sachdev, Apara Mehta, Sudha Chandran and Akangsha Rawat.

After the success of Sinndoor, have the producers tried to recreate the magic by using the letters 'S' and 'R' as the beginning and ending of the title? "Yes, the writer of my show suggested that, so I stuck to it. I don't know how much it will help me, but it's a belief that I want to follow."

Har har Gange!

Was it difficult getting such a big cast together? "Not really, when I narrated the subject to the artists they were quite excited and thrilled to be a part of it. Also working in Benaras gave a new high to them."

Mehta recalls shooting a scene in the middle of the Ganges, which she calls one of the highlights. "It was amazing. The camera was on a boat, while the artistes were on another. We were right in the middle of the river. I had goosebumps during that scene."

On the Sinndoor front, there is buzz that Gurdip Kohli is going to be replaced as the lead. Reacting to this she says, "It's not true.

We have another positive character on the show and Aashka Goradia has been cast in that role. But she isn't going to replace Gurdip. In fact, Gurdip's role will come to an end some time in November." Will we see her coming back on the show? "That I cannot comment at the moment," signs off the producer.