Arshad and Maria to host show together

Arshad and Maria to host show together

Husband-wife duo comes together for reality award show

Reena Thapar Kapoor

Television is known to capitalise on the chemistry of real-life couples for their shows. More recently, the stupendous success of Nach Baliye was a case in point. Now, Arshad Warsi will be joined by his wife Maria Goretti, a former MTV VJ, Star Gold's reality awards show – Sabse Favourite Kaun.

Warsi has been anchoring the show for the past two years, but with his wife joining him the show promises to be different. Shoot for the show is underway with promos having been shot last evening at Filmistan Studios.

With his many Bollywood assignments, Warsi's choice to host the show comes as a surprise. But the actor clarifies this notion. "I've been associated with Sabse Favourite Kaun right from the day it started. That was the time I didn't have any experience in television. But I've enjoyed the experience tremendously and now I make it a point to find time for it. For example, this year, I will be returning from Bangkok just to shoot for SFK. My schedule is very hectic but I don't mind giving time for this particular show," says a sentimental Warsi.

Elaborating on the show, Warsi adds, "I feel that as an award show, SFK is really authentic. Besides, the people I work with are fun." While he cannot seem to contain his excitement, facing the camera with his wife is giving him the jitters. "I am scared of performing with Maria. Finally, people will know that she is a better actor than I am. It's like getting exposed finally!" So, the actor has categorically instructed the director Samar Khan to keep Maria and him together in minimal frames. "I'd rather he shoot us separately," he adds jokingly.

While Arshad is anxious about this joint venture, wife Maria is more comfortable about the prospect of being paired with her husband. "We've choreographed fashion shows together in the past, but that was different. Working together behind the camera is different from facing it," she adds. Despite the odds, she is looking forward to it. "I've been watching Arshad host the show for the last two years. I knew he was enjoying himself. This year when the channel approached him and, surprisingly, me as well, I jumped at the offer. I'm looking forward to working with my husband," she says.

Maria who has been on a prolonged maternity break says that she is now open to the idea of doing more work. "Our son Zeke Zidaan is now old enough and I'm comfortable with the idea of leaving him at home. I might take up more work but it has to be something constructive. I can't run around trees aimlessly ." While Maria awaits her new innings to start, Arshad career is on a roll. And hopefully their real-life chemistry will translate to the screen.


• people will know that she is a better actor than I am. It's like getting exposed
– Arshad Warsi