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The new face of terror!

In conversation Surekha Sikri has given mother-in-law a new meaning, writes ANUJ KUMAR

Lalita Pawar is OUT! Surekha Sikri in "Ballika Vadhu" Television is replete with snarling mothers-in-law. But since Surekha Sikri has taken stage, as the hard-nosed Dadi-sa in "Ballika Vadhu", others seem to be innocuous overdressed ladies. Result, the series has become the number one show o n TV. Riding on its success, Colors has become number two in the general entertainment segment, which is seeing some real cut throat competition these days.

A veteran of art-house cinema, with two National Film Awards and a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award to her credit, Sikri agrees the role has overshadowed all her past performances in terms of sheer popularity or notoriety! "Right people have always noticed my work, but this is the first time that the masses are appreciating my work," says Sikri.

Among these right people, Shyam Benegal tops her list, as she has always been a usual suspect in his cast! In fact, she won her second National Award for the best actress in a supporting role for Benegal's Mammo. "He draws the maximum out of me."

She got her second National Award for Tamas, but after the touching performance, she was hardly seen on the small screen. "When television lost touch with literature and inanity descended, I decided to avoid the medium, but I couldn't say no to 'Ballika Vadhu', because after a long time I got a script where I could showcase my potential as an actor."

Opportunity is the key

An NSD graduate, Sikri holds opportunity is a big word in the entertainment medium. "Your talent is useless, unless you get a role. The bottom line is script is the backbone of any performance. I can make a character layered, as people say Dadi sa is, only if script gives me an opportunity to be vulnerable and arrogant at the same time. I am fortunate that I got to play all I wanted in theatre; otherwise it is quite frustrating for an actor. "

But it seems good times are back for actors. Naseeruddin Shah has again become a name to reckon with at the box office. And Sikri is holding fort on television. She gives in for a hearty laugh.

"The advantage with actors is they never age. Hum lambi race ke ghode hain. Stars fizzle out within a few years." Sikri holds what makes Dadi-sa special is it is not an out and out negative character.

"She has a viewpoint, it may be old fashioned or traditional but at the same time she is protective of her sons and at times even daughters-in-law. It makes her real. I am not from Rajasthan, but over the years I have seen and read about such characters. They are amidst us. It helped me as an actor because such people and their behaviour are there in your sub conscience."

As for how much she associates with Dadi-sa, Sikri says, "See, I love to play characters which are true to themselves. It helps me in making them convincing. Beyond that it is all script." She is all praise for young Avika Gaur, who is playing the title role. Some cynics have found her an actress with a single expression, but Surekha begs to differ. "She is too young to bring in the layering. For her age, she is quite expressive. Give her a chance, she will excel."

Influential!

Still isn't it a role which could influence people of Dadi-sa's age-group, old-fashioned, traditional…in the long run? "I don't really know, but it is a possibility. In serials, since the negativity is allowed to play for a much longer period of time in comparison to films, it could influence people."

As always, the industry is now after her to cash in the popularity, but Sikri knows the tricks of the trade too well. "I will not give in. Right now there is no time, either. A daily soap takes away seven-eight hours a day."

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Source : http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/11/17/stories/2008111750380100.htm

'Acting is my hobby'

Avika Gor says she doesn't use glycerine for tears

A natural Avika Gor with her award

In the fifth standard, there was a chapter in my history book which said Raja Ram Mohan Roy worked for the abolition of child marriage. I knew only this much about the subject of Balika Vadhu."

Actors love to share their research for the character, but Avika Gor has hardly anything to say to back her stature. This 11-year-old recently won the best actress award at the Indian Television Academy Awards, beating stiff competition from the much experienced 'bahus' and was nominated for the Indian of the Year in the entertainment category at the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year awards. For her, acting is a hobby and 'shooting-shooting' is her favourite game.

Avika's day out

Avika's rise is also reflective of the ambitions of the Indian middle class. She lives with her father Sameer Gor. He drives her everyday from school to the sets in his Maruti 800. "My day starts at 7 a.m. First I go to school. Then my father takes me to the studio for shooting. It takes us more than an hour. The shooting lasts one to four hours."

She is specific about the timing as four hours is the legal limit for a child to shoot.

But she never gives you the impression that her quotes are rehearsed. They come out as naturally as Anandi's (her character in the serial) inability to make out why a baby boy is preferred over a baby girl. "I rehearse my dialogues with my father. He tells me as much I need to know about the background. Some things I have learnt during the series. Like even today there are girls in Rajasthan who are married at a very young age. I want to tell them good days will come again. But I still don't know why dadi sa (played by Surekha Sikri) wants a baby boy."

The breaks are used to complete her homework, she says. "The good thing is Avinash (who plays her husband in the series) and I are in the same class. We share notes and help each other."

Some months back she said that she wants to become Miss Universe. "I still want to. I want to be a model and will continue to act."

Serials move from city to village
Sonali Joshi/Hill Road Media Gone are the days on TV when we watched business families doing unbelievably well in their huge bungalows with their lavish cars, wearing expensive clothes and heavy jewellery. More recently, the big havelis and jewellery has vanished and village life is taking center stage.
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Balika Vadhu was one of the first shows to start this trend. The serial revolves around Anandi, a mischievous girl, and her family who are living in a village in Rajasthan. The family struggles to fulfill their daily needs. Their house is made up of mud and Anandi plays on swings hung from trees; the whole look of the serial is pleasant and rural. Also shown are the desert areas of Rajasthan. The show deals with child marriage and the ill treatment of widows.

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Vikrant Massey earned a huge female fan following after making his television debut in Disney's show Dhoom Macha Dhoom. The young and dashing actor has now made an entry in one of the best currently aired shows on television, Balika Vadhu. Lets find out what Vikrant has to say about her character, love life and many more.

Q. What is your character in Balika Vadhu?

A. I am playing a character called Shyam. He is 18-19 year old guy who is born and bought up in the city of Rajhasthan. He is the first character in the serial who has come from a city and is well educated so his sensibilities are different from others in comparison to a Sikhri family who are the central protagonists of Balika Vadhu. He is also open minded, his mentality in terms of culture is modernized that is why he does not associate himself with the rituals. He is a very fun loving as well as a sensible character. I am really looking forward to play this character.

Q. You are coming in Sugna's life, so how true is that?

A. I cannot comment anything on this but yes I have interactions with Sugna and let's see how things roll.

Q. Do you believe in widow re- marriage?

A. Absolutely, I do believe. Widow is just a tag, even though we say that we are modernized but in some or the other way in today's date also, this still exists. As Vikrant and Shyam, I completely believe that every woman has the right to live her own life the way she wants to.

Q. Don't you think the concept of child marriage is having negative effects of the society?

A. This show is absolutely not reflecting negativity. They have got this concept because this is prevalent in today's world too which is very unfortunate. This show is made to bring out the message that such things are wrong. This is the basic motive to make this show and people have accepted this show with open arms. People have loved each and every character as well as the show.

Q. What do you personally have to say about child marriage?

A. Child marriage is wrong because we are taking away the childhood from the child. I think childhood for everybody is the most beautiful phase of their lives which never comes back, burdening a child with such a huge responsibility as marriage and taking care of the family is taking away adolescence and innocence from the child. I think this should be stopped.

Q. How was your first day shooting experience for Balika Vadhu?

A. It was fantastic. I did not even come to know that I am doing any new show. Post Dharmveer, I had taken a six months sabbatical. I was resting at home. I went out to Delhi with my family for my cousin's marriage. I enjoyed myself but the day I came on Balika Vadhu's sets, I did not feel that I am a new guy. The entire unit, the entire team welcomed me with open arms and they made me feel very comfortable.

Q. How did you bag this role?

A. I have worked with Sphere Origins before too. My relations are quiet good with them and besides all this it was thoroughly professional. They saw me in Dharmveer and I even picked up an award after that. They contacted me and I gave the screen test and that's how things rolled.

Q. Had you planned any special look for the serial?

A. As far as my looks and everything is concerned, I think it is better left on the people who are responsible for this. It's much better if it is left on the people who are especially hired for this.

Q. What do you look before taking up any character?

A. Most of the people ask me that am I looking forward for only main leads but that's not true, like I don't play a main lead in Balika Vadhu. I am just a parallel lead in the show and what is important to me is to have a satisfaction. After working for 10-12 hours a day, when I go home, I want to have a sound sleep because I want to be satisfied with the work I have done.

Q. Are you planning to participate in any of the dance based reality shows like Nach Baliye or Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa?

A. It is a very super hit concept but with absolute due respect for the show and for the people who are making it, reality shows are not meant for me. I would not say that I will never participate but atleast not for now.

Q. Tell is about your baliye in real life?

A. There are rumors spreading that I am seeing Sriti Jha but that's not true. Sriti and I are very good friends. I haven't met my baliye yet.

Q. Any Bollywood plans?

A. Yes, I believe that every actor wants to act in films; that is the ultimate goal. An actor who says that he does not want to do films is the biggest liar. Everybody wants to work with the best of technicians; the best of film makers.

Q. Are you following IPL? Which team are you supporting?

A. I am a cricket fan and I just love cricket. I wanted to be a cricketer once upon a time, but that did not happen. I am supporting Mumbai Indians as I am a true Mumbai-ite because I have been born and bought up here.

Source : http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/child-marriage-is-wrong-vikrant-massey_100190977.html

Avika Gor , who plays Anandi in Balika Vadhu , told us about her three mothers . Three ?


Well, her real mother, her reel mother and her on-screen mom-in-law! "I think I am the luckiest kid around to have three loving mothers. Bhairavi Raichura who plays my mother on the show is very sweet. I have lesser shots with her but she's amazing both on and off the sets," says the bubbly girl. Smita Bansal who plays her mother-in-law is more of a mother to Anandi than a saas.

Her fondness for Anandi knows no bounds, says Avika. Speaking about her real life mother, she says, "My mom is the coolest. Without her, it would have been impossible for me to manage my studies and my work. She works very hard just to help me out. I love her a lot!"

Avika's reel hubby Jagdish aka Avinash Mukherjee says, "In the show, I am the apple of everyone's eyes. My mother and grandmother in the show spoil me rotten both on and off screen! The case isn't any different at home. My mother loves to spoil me too but then she also scolds me when I don't do my homework. I love her. Her support is very important to me."

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/TV-/Tellys-tiny-tots-celebrate-Mothers-Day/articleshow/4502898.cms

There was a time when, to become a heroine or to even get a role in television shows or films, you needed to be Handsome or pretty. Looks were your passport to the celebrity world. In the recent past, however, things have changed drastically. Specially in the television industry. They have made it to the top solely on the basis of their acting prowess. Case in point is Vibha Anand, better known Sugna in Balika Vadhu.

One of the most popular actresses on Indian television today, Vibha started off as a greenhorn just about a year back. In fact, despite having done a course on acting from a school called Creating Characters, Vibha was so scared of facing the camera that she almost had a nervous breakdown. "Participating in an acting course is something and actually facing the camera is something else. I was very scared on the first day of my shoot and was trembling," remembers the actress. "To top it, I had to face experienced actors like Sulekha Sikri, Smita Bansal and Anoop Soni in the show. I just did not know how to move forward."

But Vibha managed to muster enough courage, move forward and prove to the world that she can act. "I am grateful to my director Pradip Yadav for giving me the confidence to act. He was the person who patiently explained every scene till the time I became comfortable. I wouldn't have been able to do what I did if it was not for him," says a grateful Vibha whose first serial – Balika Vadhu – has catapulted her to stardom.

Another factor, according to Vibha, that helped her a lot was the team spirit in the show. "This was possible because of the long time we spent together while shooting in Rajasthan. The first schedule of shooting was completely done in Rajasthan and the entire cast and crew of the team came together during that time. We have also formed a youngsters gang within the crew involving me, Neha Marda and Avika Gor and we have a blast the moment cameras are switched off! I feel it is this team spirit that has made Balika Vadhu the number one show today," explains a proud Vibha.

The perfect mix of youngsters and senior actors has helped the actress learn a lot and her performance has improved as a result. "It is of immense pride for me when I hear praises about my acting abilities in the midst of veterans like Sulekha Sikri, Smita Bansal and Anoop Soni. It would not have been possible without their active mentoring," says Vibha.

But it has been a sad story for her character in Balika Vadhu ever since her on-screen husband died in an Accident . "It was a complete creative decision. We had no idea of why it was done. In fact I got to know from the media that something like that is going to happen. But as you know, a new character – Krishna (played by Vikrant Massay) – has been introduced in the show. He will bring about some happiness in my life," says the actress who has been constantly seen crying in the show ever since the change in script. In fact, the story goes that Vibha doesn't even need glycerine to shed tears on the sets.

After her success in Balika Vadhu, Vibha has also started acting in a new Hats Off Productions' show – Shree, where she is playing the role of Kangana, as spirit. "It is a complete change from my earlier character. But it is very interesting and challenging and I am enjoying every bit of Kangana!" explains the versatile actress who feels she is a director's actress.

Interestingly, the same team spirit that Vibha enjoyed in Balika Vadhu is evident in Shree as well. "Today I have three families – my Balika Vadhu family, my Shree family and my actual family. I am equally at ease everywhere and they care for me equally," says Vibha.

Source : http://entertainment.oneindia.in/television/top-stories/specials/2009/vibha-balika-vadhu-110509.html

Can telly star do without their cell phones?