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Zee TV presents Chhoti Si Zindagi

22 March 2011, Mumbai: Viewers, get set for a new show from India's leading entertainment channel, Zee TV! Be prepared to lose your hearts this summer to two extremely adorable little girls who're about to enter your lives! Premiering on Monday, 4th April at 7 PM, 'Chhoti Si Zindagi' is a touching tale about Isha and Ira whose innocence, sweetness, sense of mischief and zest for life are bound to tug at your heart strings and make you want to pick them up and give them all the love they don't get! Yes, the lovable girls must find their own in a world where they have no one to call their own!

Produced by J.D. Majethia of Hats Off Production, Zee TV's latest primetime offering follows the lives of Isha and Ira as destiny lands them in an orphanage despite having a parent. This life-altering moment gets Isha and Ira to develop an extremely close bond. They share an amazing adventure of hope, faith and caring.

Speaking of the show, Mr. Sukesh Motwani, Head- Programming, Zee TV said, "Chhoti Si Zindagi is a story bound to strike an emotional chord with you, whether you're a mother, father or just someone who loves children. The story is told from the perspective of Isha and Ira, two little girls learning the ropes of survival in the big, bad world. We are extremely confident that the viewers will fall in love with Isha and Ira and participate in their joys and sorrow."

With the lives of orphan children at the very heart of Chhoti si Zindagi, Zee TV endeavors to bring a smile to the faces of under-privileged and orphan children supported by Smile Foundation, an NGO that works relentlessly towards giving them a quality life. The channel has announced its support towards financing the educational needs of 100 children for a year.

Speaking of the initiative, Mr. Akash Chawla, Marketing Head- Zee TV said, "Earlier this month, we pledged our commitment towards the cause of women's empowerment and upliftment of society through Project Protsahan. Our association with Smile Foundation is a part of this mission. Apart from supporting the educational needs of their children, we intend to work closely with Smile Foundation and reach out to more and more such deserving beneficiaries."

"Smile Foundation believes that mass media has a key role in sensitizing citizens towards taking a more proactive role in empowering the underprivileged sections of society. ZEE TV has always been known as one of the most socially conscious and responsible media houses in India. We are glad to be associated with ZEE TV for this campaign and thank the channel for encouraging our children," said Mr. H. N. Sahay, Director Operations, Smile Foundation.

The show has been extensively shot in picture-perfect snow-capped peaks of Pahelgaum and Kasauli and has several interesting faces in the cast. While the role of elder sister Isha will be played by Richa Mukherjee, noted for her convincing portrayal of Laali's younger sister Rekha in 'Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo', the young Ira is played by Shruti Bhist, an adorable and innocent fresh face on the television circuit. Playing the father fraught with severe adversity, yet putting on a smiling face for his girls is the well-recognized film and television actor Pavan Malhotra. Veteran baddie Sushmita Mukherjee with her inimitable serpent-like vicious quality has been cast as the diabolical Devki, the much-dreaded matron of the orphanage. Her right-hand and accomplice in all her misdoings at the orphanage is her brother Bhola played by Sachal Tyagi.

Speaking about his role in the show, Pavan Malhotra said, "It's always exciting to play roles with layers, rather than characters that are open and shut cases of 'good' or 'bad'. My character Shyam has a very interesting graph in the show - at different points of time, the audience will feel very differently about him. To be able to play such a part convincingly is a challenge and I am looking forward to it!"

Expressing excitement about her new assignment, Sushmita Mukherjee said, "It did not come as a surprise to me when Zee approached me for the role of a wicked orphanage matron. After all, playing villainous, ferocious, negative characters has always been my forte. All I want to warn my audience is to hold your breath as you wait for the diabolical Devki."

So, what does your heart say about two little girls whose father leaves them one day at an orphanage? What could possibly have prompted a man who immensely loves his daughters to take such a drastic step? To find out, stay tuned to 'Chhoti Si Zindagi' every Monday to Friday at 7 PM only on Zee TV.

Sushmita Mukherjee in Chhoti Si Zindagi

Some people just have it and others spend the better parts of their lives trying to imbibe it... Sushmita Mukherjee, for one, is a complete natural when it comes to exuding an aura of pure, unadulterated wickedness! With a vicious serpent-like quality and body language that can put a witch to shame, she can easily send chills down anyone's spine!

It is no wonder, then, that Sushmita has been cast by Zee TV in the role of Devki, a cruel, conniving matron of an orphanage in its latest primetime offering 'Chhoti Si Zindagi'. Slated to go on air in early April, Chhoti Si Zindagi follows the lives of two innocent little girls Isha and Ira, until destiny packs in a nasty blow, landing them in an orphanage despite having a parent. This incident changes their life forever, requiring them to be strong, spirited and independent in order to survive! In the face of these trying circumstances, they develop an extremely close bond, with the elder sister doubling up as the younger's mother.

A lot is being said about Sushmita's eerie look on the show. Apparently, when the child-artistes cast in the roles of orphans on the show were shown her photographs, they were all extremely reluctant to come in front of her. Of course, they were relieved later when they realised how warm and affectionate she really is as a person.

Speaking of her new assignment, Sushmita said, "It did not come as a surprise to me when Zee approached me for the role of a wicked orphanage matron. After all, playing villainous, ferocious, negative characters has always been my forte. All I want to tell my audience is... hold your breath as you wait for the diabolical Devki, she'll scare the daylights out of you."

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We contacted Pavan Malhotra who says, "This track will provide for the major twist in the show, and I cannot reveal any information".

All our efforts to reach Bharti Patil were in vain.

Let's see what's in store for the little girls now...

Reporter and Author: Tejashree Bhopatkar

Remembered as the hot assistant Kitty who accompanied detective Karamchand to the crime scene in hit TV show "Karamchand", actress Sushmita Mukherjee feels the overall passion for work on the small screen has been lost.

"I feel that the heart of the industry has changed. In our times there was less work, quality work, there was passion, which was not driven by money or TRPs," Sushmita told.

"Today everything is driven by money. Earlier a producer or director could never think of saying that audiences are not liking it, we should change the track but it is happening today," she said.

"They are even compromising with the content because there is lot of money involved," added Mukherjee, who was here to promote Zee TV's new show " Chhoti Si Zindagi", in which she features.

Sushmita started her career with Doordarshan's detective show "Karamchand" as Pankaj Kapur's assistant Kitty and over a period of 27 years she has shows like " Tara", " Kahin Kissi Roz", "Kulvaddhu" and "Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo" to her credit.

In most of the shows Sushmita has been seen playing negative roles. However, the actress has decided that she would not be doing shrewd roles anymore.

"It's not that I am fascinated with negative roles. It is something like what you are offered at the right time and the right place," said Sushmita, who will be seen in yet another such role in "Chhoti Si Zindagi".

"I hope I get comedy and some emotional roles after this. After this I am not doing any negative roles for a long time," she added.

The actress has also been part of films like "Rudaali", "Sir", "Golmaal", "Aaja Nachle" and "Dostana".

Sushmita also has her own production house Prayas Productions and produced shows like "Mujhe Chaand Chahiye" that was telecast on Zee TV in 1998.

After that Ekta Kapoor struck the small screen and gave the glamour that people were paying to see in films through television. Sushmita admits she took a backseat as it was hard to match up with what Ekta was offering.

"She gave people a fantasy land and changed the way television operated, making it impossible for smaller production houses like ours to churn out programmes with heavy sets," the actress said.

"You can't make a serial in three-four lakh rupees today. There is lot of money involved in it," she said.

Although Sushmita has certain projects in the pipeline as a producer, but she is not yet ready to venture into the small screen anytime soon.

"The scenario is little market-driven right now. It's a very big game now and not a three or four lakh thing anymore. You have to be business-minded for that," she said.

Meanwhile, Sushmita is awaiting for the release of films like Deepa Sahi's "Tere Mere Phere Main" which is a comedy and Raja Bundela's "Son of Flower".

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