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Dada Saheb Phalke, Raj Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, Satyajit Ray, Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachhan, Aamir Khan — the list of legends and living legends in the world of films is endless. However there is no such rule applicable in the world of television. There is not one particular actor who has an image beyond a particular character even if it's a big name as Smriti Iraani, Ronit Roy or Sangeeta Ghosh. In the world of television it's the character that is big and not the actor.

Therefore, serials like Sarrkkar, Viraasat, Devi, Rabba Ishq Na Hove, Kaalchakra, Saathiya, Thodi si Zameen Thoda sa Aasman etc haven't fared well in spite of the presence of stars in lead roles. Maybe that's the reason why the producers and the channels don't mind introducing new faces in strong characters and big budget serials.

"Nobody is permanent in the television world. The act can be permanent but the actor isn't. I myself have introduced many fresh faces on television like Renuka Shahane, Raju Kher, etc. Where are they today," says veteran producer-director Ravi Rai. Another veteran producer Dheeraj Kumar too feels the same. "Television stars have got a small life. I had done a film with Rekhaji in December 1969 called Raaton Ka Raja . And you can see that Rekhaji and Amitabhj are still working in films. But in TV things like that don't happen," says Dheeraj Kumar.

This explains the sea of new faces seen every year in serials like Saat Phere, Kasamh Se, Ek Ladki Anjaani Si and the more recent Paraya Dhan, Betiyaan, Saathi Re and Solah Sringar. Sanjay Wadhwa, the producer of the hit soap Saat Phere who also produces Paraya Dhan and Saathi Re explains in a one liner, "Everything has its value for a certain time only." He has his successful track record of hitting the jackpot in Saat Phere with the unconventional new actress Rajshri Thakur and trying to repeat the magic with Gauri Nigudkar and Parakh Madan in Paraya Dhan and Saathi Re respectively.

Director Hemant Prabhu, the maker of the Sahara serial Sati also tried to follow the trend by making his actress wife Mansi Salvi appear in the lead role in a completely new avatar. After losing oodles of fat and with better make up and grooming, Mansi was almost unrecognisable.

"Marketing is an integral part of the television industry. If the channel's marketing team finds a new face they would promote him or her. Even viewers like seeing new fresh faces on television. Once an actor signs a daily soap, he/she is all over the newspapers. The media follows him everywhere. Which gym he goes to, which restaurants he likes to visit, everything is being reported. Obviously the more you see a face, the interest level in that particular person falls down after some time. As for me Mansi's new look helped to incite curiosity in Sati initially. She was like a complete new package," says Prabhu.

Well, it's another story that Sati still hasn't done that well. It looks like, if all goes well, a TV star shines only in his debut serial. "A film can be a hit because of Shah Rukh Khan. But television is basically recognised by a banner, like Ekta Kapoor's serials come with a certain promise. In television the actors are not known by their acting skills but by the production houses they associate with. The best example of this is Mihir (Amar Upadhya). Everybody knows what happened to him once he developed a fake belief that Kyunki Saans Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is a hit due to him. He is not to bee seen anywhere now," explains Ravi Rai.

http://www.deccan.com/TV%20Guide/TV%20GuideDescription.asp#N ew%20faces%20rule%20the%20roost

There is no doubt in his mind that prime time television entertainment is dominated and driven by women. "All shows are women-centric and they begin with women protagonists. Men come into the picture only when the show picks up and settles down to decent TRP figures," says Gautam Rhode who debuted on television a year ago as NRI Anish in Baa Bahu Aur Baby. Gautam is happy that he is playing the lead character in a serial that is thankfully not a family drama but an action, comedy and adventure series. The show is called Lucky and the model-turned-actor is playing the title character.

"I am really happy to play the role because not only it's the lead but the character's name is also that of the serial," says Gautam who plays a conman in the show, which is targeted at kids and teenagers. Lucky is a story of a young man called Lucky who runs a fake antique shop in Chor Bazaar and has the simplest way of living.

He cons people by selling them fake antiques and actually making them believe that the artifacts are genuine. Says Gautam, "Lucky is a street smart, confident and intelligent young man who loves life the way it comes till he gets to know about the Rakshaks who were born to protect the priceless treasures and that now he is going to be the chosen one for the job, that is the fifth Rakshak. Though totally unprepared and unconvinced for the job he aggress to go with his new assignment on learning that his father was the fourth Rakshak who had died when Lucky was a kid."

Thus begins his new life that takes him and his gang on an exciting journey that promises to enthrall and entertain young viewers. "Basically Lucky is a conman who loves money and girls and his character doesn't change. The character will not go through many transformations and become a good guy," laughs Gautam who has also bagged a role in Betiyaan Apni Yaa Paraya Dhan where he plays lead protagonist Krishna's love interest Parth. "Parth is Lord Krishna's avatar. He is quite unlike Lucky, honest, levelheaded and talks less. But when he talks he talks sense," adds Gautam.

http://www.deccan.com/TV%20Guide/TV%20GuideDescription.asp#' TV%20is%20dominated%20by%20females%20only'

Sapana Patil Poojary

Time and again Mannish Goel has made headlines, more often for the wrong reasons. And now he did what he does the best - Walk Out!!! The actor who is known for his outspoken nature opted out of Star One's Paraya Dhan-Betiyaan as he was asked to wait for a few hours while the others were shooting.

Sunjoy Wadhwa, producer, Sphere Origins is very disappointed with his behaviour. He throws light on what happened exactly, "We were shooting for a dance sequence, and Mannish was asked to wait for an hour or two which pissed him off. So much so that he took to throwing tantrums on the sets and said he won't report to work the next day. And that's what he did - he really didn't turn up!"

Adds Sunjoy, " We didn't make him wait for eternity, and he certainly gets paid the same amount, waiting or no waiting. Mannish is the highest paid actor on the sets of Betiyaan Paraya Dhan. When an artist does something of this sort, where does his level of commitment go? We are a team of 18 actors and it is very difficult for us to chalk out scenes to fit in all of them. Mannish always knew that he will have scenes on and off. Things could have been sorted out but he chose to part ways this way."

No one can deny that Mannish had recieved a lot of appreciation for his intense character and rugged look in the show. So how does the producer intend to deal with the track now? "Our aim is to find a replacement now. We will try our level best to keep up to the audience's expectations. Mannish did a very good job, but probably we will find someone better than him," states Wadhwa.

Mannish was unavailable for comment.

This is not the first time Mannish has faced flak from his show or producer. Earlier he had a face off with Dolly Sohi while shooting of Star Plus' Bhabhi and no one can forget the showdown with Anuj Saxena (though the two tellywood men patched up on the latter's birthday). He has also been on a rejection spree where he has turned down quite some reputed shows like Kaajal, Viraasat, Pyar Ke Do Naam Ek Radha Ek Shyam.

Is Mannish still high on the Nach Baliye hangover? If that is so...he needs a wake up call!

http://www.tellychakkar.com/y2k6/dec/8dec/news_man.php