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'Mona and Karan definitely an item'
By: Upala KBR
September 21, 2005

Mona and Karan Oberoi at the Jassi bash The on-screen chemistry that's brewing between Raghav (Karan Oberoi of the Band of Boys) and Jassi (Mona Singh) of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahi on Sony TV, has spilled over off-screen. According to insiders in the Jassi unit, the two are definitely "a pair and are going around with each other." Plate date The speculation began at the show's second anniversary bash held at Vie Lounge and Deck, Juhu, last Friday. Before the papparazzi and the entertainment frat, Mona and Karan boldly entered and exited the party together. Karan's hand remained firmly on his lady's elbow, all evening. Mona even had dinner from Karan's plate, before she waltzed off with him to join the Sony gang at a party at Enigma. According to insiders, the two met and were attracted to each other during the Mauritius schedule. Karan, as part of Band of Boys, had sung a song, Har ghadi (Kal Ho Naa Ho), in Jassi. Karan admits that's where he met Mona for the first time. Mona walked into the party with Karan on her arm Blame it on Jassi When contacted, Karan did not deny the affair. "I don't want to comment on it as I don't like talking about my personal life. I am extremely superstitious that things might go wrong." He says they are "very good friends", but when quizzed about whether it's more than that, he says, "Now that would be telling. Jassi is a very easy person to fall in love with. She has an extremely endearing personality, which shines across on screen. Jassi is exactly what Mona is and that's why the show is so successful." Continues the actor, "I can't hide what I feel. I am a very impulsive and transparent person. I can't put up a faade. We share great chemistry on screen. We get SMSes from lots of people and unit members, who tell us this, and we feel very happy about it." Musical calling Mona left with Karan Pics: Yogen Shah Karan is a Virgo and they are supposed to be nitpicking and finicky. "That's true," he laughs. "Mona will tell you how nitpicking I can be. I am a lot like Raghav — music is his vocation." Karan has acted in two films, Agar and "a thriller", which he doesn't name. Both are complete, "But I don't know when they will release," he says. He joined Jassi to promote Band of Boys as, "The show is one of the most high-profile ever. I know Deeya and Tony (Singh) and when they called me to join, I said yes." Ye meri life hai Mona played it safe. When we quiz her about seeing Karan after breaking up with former boyfriend, Vimal Oberoi in January. She says, "I don't like to discuss my personal life in public." About sharing Karan's plate, she says, "I was eating from my plate Karan just served me." How is Karan as a co-star and singer? "Karan is a great guy to be with on the sets, a very talented singer. Like Gaurav Gera, he is also a good friend of mine."

Why do Television Actors Pretend to be broke?

Friday, September 23, 2005 15:2:39 IST
Most television actors show a desperation to make a quick buck. But we wonder they behave in a petty manner when it comes to spending money!

There was a time when television actors were regarded as small fry, especially in comparison with film stars, but today the balance has changed! Television actors seem to have become bigger than film actors. Blame that on 'media overhype'! Of course, it also had to do with mainstream Bollywood actors entering television to make their mega bucks. To a certain extent, this growing popularity of television also had to do with the quality of Bollywood films a while back. In comparison, people felt TV soaps were far more progressive and in-tune with the present times. With the kind of budgets allotted they looked glossy too. So it came as no surprise when people thought it was worthwhile staying back home and watch television. Also blame this trend on the soaring ticket prices. So with this close proximity to television came a closeness to the television actors too.
The media sensed this and cashed in on this in a big way. If you recall a few years back a reputed publishing house had introduced a magazine exclusively for the television industry but no one seemed interested in reading about them then. The magazine vanished soon. Today it's a different story. Every little thing about television actors, including their bowel movements, is regarded as gossip! With this hype came the star status. Even a debutant television actor can become a star overnight if he plays his cards well. All he needs is a few friends in the media and a well-oiled PR machinery. No wonder today unheard of names on television have become household names. Like film stars and cricketers, television actors too have become very busy with ribbon cuttings, shows, appearances at Navratri functions in India and abroad, and recently a restaurant inauguration too. They are even willing to travel anywhere, even remote areas. Some time back a group of television actors traveled by train to reach a place about five hours from Surat for a show. The other popular places are Ahmedabad, Raipur, and Baroda.
The festive season is approaching and soon they will get busy striking deals with organizers. Most of them inform the production houses well in advance and their shooting dates are rescheduled according to their show dates. The actors are even said to work overtime and finish a big chunk of their work before leaving. It's said that each one has their rates worked out according to their market status and a lot of haggling and negotiating too is involved. They are even said to cross check and double check about how much the other is being paid. Obviously the bigger stars command a higher price sometimes even going up to 3 lakhs. Of course, this is the figure quoted by them but they probably get about a lakh or so lesser. Nausheen and Anuj Saxena are said to quote this figure. Here again, Balaji actors are said to command a higher price. Swetta Keswani has gone on record to say this some time back. This is also Balaji's way of compensating the actors for their haywire shooting schedules. Poonam Dhillon is said to demand 2 lakhs but finally agrees to a lesser amount whereas the smaller ones get as much as 25,000 to 50,000. Rajeev Khandelwal had quoted about a lakh for an appearance recently but finally agreed to 40,000. Call this desperation to make a quick buck or making fruitful use of their free time! Shama Sikander of 'Yeh Meri Life Hain' is heavily into endorsements thus cashing in on her newfound fame. Hiten Tejwani and Gauri Pradhan charged a bomb for their Gutkha ad.

Hiten Tejwani, Juhi Parmar, Hussain, Aashka Goradia, Tasneem, Rucha Gujarati, Sweta Kwatre, Sakshi Tanwar, Swetta Keswani, Narayani, Manav Gohil, and Chetan Hansraj are said to be very willing candidates. A group is said to have just returned from a show in Pakistan. Mona Singh (Jassi) is cashing in on her popularity in a big way and charges a hefty sum for every appearance. She's even said to leave without informing the production house or the channel. Even the organizers are not spared of the actors' tantrums and demands. It's said that the married lot ask for their spouses too to be accommodated while the single girls insist on their mothers accompanying them. So most times, it's a case of the actors not just making money but also having a blast at the organizers' cost.
Of course, money is important and everyone is here to make a fast buck. While Balaji is known to underpay their new actors, the established actors are minting money.
Even character actors in daily soaps are paid a decent sum and most of them are doing at least two or three daily soaps. So we wonder why this desperation to make a fast buck!
Now the big question is, when they are making their moolah through their work and otherwise, why are they, barring a few, always cribbing and behaving in a broke manner. Message any television actor asking him to call you for an interview and he'll very promptly and sweetly request you to call. One gets the same response if the actor by mistake returns a missed call on his cell. He'll politely ask you to call him back in five minutes. Irrfan Khan and Chaitanya Chaudhari are known for this. But here we have to add that Smriti Malhotra (Tulsi) always makes it a point to return every missed call and has none of this petty behaviour. But otherwise this petty behaviour on the part of TV actors today, besides their false sense of stardom, is obnoxious and putting off to most people!

What's in a name?
MANAJARI SABHARWAL

Lots, say tele stars who say being known by their screen names is proof of a job well done!

Superstars and cine stars - there's more to set them apart than the 70mm and 21 inches screen width. Both may enjoy the Fs of Fame and fan following but when it comes to deciphering the who's who between a Shahrukh Khan and Ronit Roy, we know who'll win the game hands down. Reason? The larger than life characters played by tele stars.

Quite naturally then, Tulsi has taken over Smriti Irani-Mehrotra, Pooja has put Shama Sikander behind her and Mihir is far more popular than Ronit Roy.

Still wondering what the name game is all about? Mona aka Jassi of Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi finds her screen name having a greater impact than her real name.

All thanks to her stunning looks in the soap. "Till date, most people refer to me as Jassi. Actually when you start playing a role you totally surrender yourself to the character and this is exactly what I did.

I love being called Jassi as it portrays a unique on-screen character," says Mona Singh, the Jasmeet Walia of JJKN, who kept viewers glued to her braces and thick framed glasses.

Karan Oberoi with Mona Singh


Jassi's boyfriend married?



Karan Oberoi was hitched to actress Melody Dachuna earlier



Reena Thapar Kapoor



Karan Oberoi has been making news lately as the man in Mona Singh's life. He has also been in the limelight because of his association with Sony's Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi as an actor. According to the grapevine, the two have been spotted together on the sets, even sharing the same make-up room. Dinners and lunches have been happening for a long time between the two.

But there is something that many are not aware of. Karan was married to model-turned-actress Melody Dachuna. The lady had made her debut in Rinkie Khanna,Dino Morea starrer Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi. After going around for sometime the couple even tied the knot. But like other couples from the glamour world, this one too couldn't stand the test of time. As a consequence of it, they broke-up and snapped all ties.

Today, Karan doesn't even know her whereabouts. We traced the man who was in Ahmedabad on some assignment. "Melody was a part of my life. We started dating and eventually even lived-in together for a while. But we weren't ever married." he reveals. "My past is something that I don't talk about. I don't know how this story has come up after so many years. I don't want my past to be a part of my present. Not now, not ever," he stresses.

Whatever his maritial status, the fact is that Karan's love life rocks! Talking about his present status quo with co-star Mona Singh, he says, "Let people speculate. What Mona and I share between us is not for publicity. My answer to it is neither a yes or no. My relationship with Mona is unique and I wouldn't want the media to barge in my personal zone."

Karan's singing career has been on a downslide for sometime. But now with Jassi in his kitty looks like he already has another career option waiting for him.

In courtesy to Luckiegrl1322

How to woo a man in 6 steps
By: A hitList Correspondent
September 26, 2005

Cheers to you and cheers to me: Aren't we glad Rajesh, everyone is having a rocking time, asks Vandana? Rajesh Khattar (Parvatlal of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin) celebrated his birthday at Rock Bottom, Juhu, on Saturday night among telly and Bolly friends. And Khattar and his 'good friend' theatre personality Vandana Sajnani certainly know how to make the party rock so that no one leaves the dance floor. Spotted were Rati Agnihotri, Tejaswani Kolhapure, Shveta Salve, Tanaaz Currim, Himesh Reshammiya, Vrajesh Hirjee, brothers Rajiv and Rakesh Paul, Delnaz Paul and a host of others besides a host of usual party suspects. Khattar, who is back on the small screen with Jassi, is looking at Bolywood offers while Sajnani has her plays Please Divorce Me Darling with Agnihotri and Beauty Brains Personality with Kolhapure. And if you have any doubts about how the couple Khattar and Sajnani ( we are dropping the good friend tag!) rocked the party here's proof enough… thelist@mid-day.com Take my arm: Ok, Vandana, we need some time of our own Hugs: Whoa! Now that's some reason to cheer for Vandana Don't talk just kiss: A birthday wish for Rajesh Whisper whisper: Many happy returns dear Rajesh Khattar Moment: A pic for the Khattar — Sajnani album Pics: Yogen Shah

Novel inspiration
Not only Bollywood, even TV serials get 'inspired' by the West.

Getting inspired by Hollywood isn't a new thing for Bollywood filmmakers. But good heavens! Its not just Bollywood, even our television people, these days lift ideas from foreign channels.

The latest on 'inspiration' chart are serial makers who are lifting stories from international novels. For instance, Kohinoor is said to be inspired by Da Vinci Code, and other serials like Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi, Time Bomb are lifted from the of Spanish novels.

But who cares? Even some time back the much hyped serial Karishma — The Miracle of destiny, starring Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor was dragged into a controversy when author Taylor Bradford asked for the serial to pull off air because it violated copyrights.

The author claimed the Indian series had plagiarised her novel A Woman of Substance. Does that mean there aren't any original ideas or good writers in our country?

Director, Veena Bakshi, says, "Novels have always been an inspiration for serials and if serial-makers have paid for the copyright then it's a different story altogether, but you just can't pick a whole novel and turn it into a serial. Then it is nothing else but theft. Serial-makers are running out of the ideas because here aren't many writers with original ideas."

However, there lots of people in the industry who don't see any harm in making serials based on international novels. "Not only novels, but even foreign game shows and programmes are being completely lifted by Indian television producers.

Its not that we lack ideas but if something is really good then adapting it to a serial is not a bad idea. This helps Indian audience to see good content. Most of the time serial-makers admit that they have been inspired by a particular international novel but if they are just lifting the idea without admitting it's a fault."

Even television actress Sheetal Takkar, doesn't think getting inspired by foreign novels is wrong. "If actors can get inspired by international actors what's wrong in being inspired by a novel. Only script writers shouldn't do anything without permission,"says Thakkar.

pallavi.kharade@timesgroup.com

Jassi has a boy friend
No, not in the TV serial but in her life. Unit members say actress Mona Singh and Band of Boys singer Karan Oberoi were spotted on more than one occasion holding hands, whispering sweet nothings and sharing a rapport that's much more than "just friends." On screen too, in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi, the two have hit it off well.

At the show's second anniversary party held at Vie Lounge and Deck, Juhu, recently, Mona and Karan entered and left the party together. They held hands all evening and even ate from the same plate!

According to sources, the two met during the Mauritius schedule and seemed to be attracted towards each other instantly. Karan does not deny the affair.

"I don't want to comment on it as I don't like talking about my personal life. I am extremely superstitious that things might go wrong", it was reported. He said they are "very good friends".

As for Jassi, she continues to behave like the screen personality — very secretive, evades a direct answer, letting your imagination run wild.

The many phases of beauty

Aesthetic clinics are the new-age architects who promise an as-you-like-it look. Market forces, too, have contributed to this obsession for the perfect face and figure. Komal Vijay Singh reports on the boom


Beauty lies in the hands of the makeover artists. Innovations in cosmetic surgery promise a youthful appearance

IMPROVE thy looks. Yes, that seems to be the new commandment a large number of us are consciously following or aspiring to. Market forces have contributed to this cosmetic obsession and the urgency to look good at all costs. The entire media machinery is busy promoting youthfulness. It is tough watching TV or reading a magazine without being bombarded with images of picture-perfect faces asking you to take a second look at your less-than perfect looks and decide in favour of some treatment or product. When a large number of middle class, middle-aged or nearing middle age people view mothers and mothers-in-law in their favourite soaps getting younger and more beautiful by the day, some of them start questioning their own looks. Reams were written on the carefully manufactured ordinariness of Jassi of Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin fame (how this ugly duckling goes about doing her work dedicatedly, how she is a role model, how much of a woman of substance she is and how she manages to snag Prince Charming despite her less than ordinary looks, if you please). And then, there was a major media speculation, fanned by the serial makers, about when and how Jassi would get a makeover. This turned into a frenzied fascination with her transition into a swan. When gawky Jassi turned into a sylph-like damsel, there were very few people who groaned aloud: "Jassi jaisi har koi."