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Meet the parents

Jassi's is undergoing a makeover and S. Gupta finds out what the
creators have to say.

Sulakshana Gupta

New Delhi, November 7: THEIR baby has just turned one. And Tony and
Deeya Singh could not be more proud. After all, post a brief TRP
turmoil, Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin is finally out of the red. Shoots in
Singapore, celeb guest appearances and the introduction of Armaan
Sir's arch rival, Purab (not in the original Spanish screenplay)—
it's been a long list of experiments to boost ratings. ''In a
successful show, you can get away with a few stunts—some the
audience likes, some it doesn't,'' drawls Deeya, the creative head.

With many Hollywood stars making appearances on TV, she wants to
encourage the same synergy between cine and small screen stars in
India. Her personal preference for celebrity cameos is apparent.
Saif Ali Khan and Anupama Varma were roped into the show and, next
up, could be Deeya herself. ''Ideally, it will be a scene with Jassi
(Mona Singh),'' she grins, mentally chalking out the episode.
Alongside, she's also planning another outdoor shoot: ''This time,
it'll perhaps be in Maldives.''



But what's really on everybody's mind is Jassi's imminent
metamorphosis, in the coming few months. And will she go western or
retain the behenji get-up? ''Jassi wore trousers in Singapore and
will do so again, when the occasion demands,'' says Tony, the series
director.

Since Jassi's bete noir Mallika (Rakshanda Khan) is endorsing Satya
Paul, we wonder if the show's star will get designer threads too. Of
course, the creators insist Jassi has never felt the need for
designerwear, so let's just hold our breath.

What's also stringing viewers along is the debate on whom the
transformed will wed—the dreamy Purab (Samir Soni) or the
manipulative Armaan Sir (Apoorva Agnihotri). Insiders reveal that
goody-two-shoes Purab will valiantly give her up, realising her
heart belongs to another. But Tony refuses to confirm this. ''There
have always been three options for her—Armaan, Purab and Nandu,'' he
dodges, with a laugh.

It's not just the couple that's gripped with Jassi fever. When she's
not grappling with shooting schedules, Deeya sews home-made Jassi
dolls for relatives in USA! As for their kids, daughter Jia (8) is
an associate producer on the show and son Jashan's (6) summer job
will be to handle the clapper. ''The kids have always been lucky for
us. If nothing else, Jashan will learn his numbers,'' grins Tony. He
fondly remembers Jassi's birthday celebrations, when the whole
family went to wish her. Whom exactly—Jassi or Mona? ''Call her
whatever you want, they're both one and the same,'' he shrugs.
Transformation or not, some things just don't change.