Latest News related JJKN-No Thanks - Page 8

Vashi2Panvel.com: Navi Mumbai: October 3: Come Friday and Amitabh Bachchan enters the living room of million homes in his cool look on KBC2. Forget the flak his clothes have received, it was definitely an opportunity that Delhi designers Nikhil and Shantanu didn't want to miss. Like Bachchan, many stars and Indian fashion gurus are realizing the value of the idiot box to reach millions. TV serials, including the saas-bahu ones, are making a huge fashion impact. You can differentiate between Komolika of Kasauti with Dr Simran of Astitva. Bigwigs of the fashion industry like Manish Malhotra, Vikram Phadnis, Satya Paul and Ritu Kumar have now associated themselves with TV in some or other way.

Remember Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin(JJKN) the story of a plain Jane turning into a diva. It was a surprise for the fashion industry to find Satya Paul's name in the credits of the serial. The Delhi based designer made a special clothing line for JJKN. His sartorial sense for the sitcom made a loud fashion statement. The whole nation was trying to ape the Jassi look.

Then came Manish Malhotra who designed clothes for Sonali Bendre's show on Star plus, and for good friend Karisma Kapoor, who was making her foray in television in a grand way. After this Manish styled some shows for Ekta Kapoor.
The good-looking designer even hosts a style show and offers style tips to The Manish Malhotra Show on Zoom. Salman Khan's favourite Vikram Phadnis was invited by Zee to style their talent hunt contest, Cinestar ki Khoj.
Television has gone through a makeover by ace people of the fashion industry.

Television Divas according to Designers

Malaika Arora Khan
She is averse to 'K serials. Claim to fame: MTV veejay, hosts of events like Miss India, Filmfare
Awards.

Rakshanda Khan
Started her career as a model. Has a mixed bag of serials ( Kyunki and JJKN). Claim to fame: Role of Mallika on JJKN

Mandira Bedi
Played the lead role in Shanti produced by UTV. Doesn't work in serials anymore but hosts game shows, reality shows. Claim to fame: Sitcom Shanti but her appearance as a co-host during
world cup is considered as a comeback.

MONA'S RIGHT ON TOP

Mona Singh is slowly edging out of the Jassi persona and living life on her own terms.

Brat attack: I was quite a brat as a child. My father was in the Army, hence we kept moving from one place to another and all I remember is that I would always be making new friends.

Teen queen: I was a real terror in college. I studied at Saint Meera's College, Pune. For the first two years I stayed in a hostel since my parents had not shifted to Pune. It was here that I broke all the rules.

I had five sardarni friends and we were a group with whom no one dared to mess. At that time, I wouldn't have been able to accept a character like Jassi, serious, studious and subdued.

I was not like that at all! Professors used to be scared of us! Either we would be in the class or they! I always wanted to act, in college I found those avenues in the form of fashion shows, dramas and stage shows.

Mumbai masala: A friend gave me Deeya Singh's number and fixed an appointment for me to meet her. When I went to her office, I tripped and fell in front of so many models! I was embarrassed and wanted to run away.

I lost all hopes of making it but was taken aback when they called me for a screen test. I love wearing jeans and skirts but a month later they called me for...
... an audition and asked me to wear a

salwar kameez. I didn't like it. After the audition, before I realised what was happening, they were rejoicing over selecting me as Jassi.

Reincarnation as Jassi:

My parents were, at first, very uneasy with it. They didn't like the concept of not revealing my identity and found it difficult to cope with.

They didn't realise to how popular the serial was and the acceptance that Jassi got from people. Now they have learned to cope with it. My father tapes the serials regularly and sends the cassettes to my elder sister in New Zealand.

Where Jassi becomes Neha Shastri: I was not really happy with the transformation. I refused to walk out of the marriage. I was not convinced with the scene (leaving the wedding) and put my foot down.

But the director insisted that Jassi, being as she is a weak character, would only run away from the situation. Frankly speaking, I have finally come to the conclusion that a lead protagonist can never be happy.

She has to live only on sympathy. Finally, it's a TV soap, a drama and not a reality show. Even the Jassi Fan Club was very upset with...
her running away from the wedding!

There were tons of mails protesting this spineless behaviour. The makeover too was not accepted and they were very angry. But, I realise now everybody is slowly accepting Jassi as Neha and once again enjoying the serial.

Spot Analyses: Would I leave a wedding if my would-be husband suspected me? No, I would never walk away. In fact, no middle class girl would ever leave her parents at the wedding hall.

I would confront my would-be husband and refute any disreputable claims but never walk out of the wedding hall! I would be with my parents and we would face the accusations together.

Beyond Jassi: I have signed Bobby Pushkarna's next film, but the script is still being finalised. I am not allowed to talk about the character I am playing in it but all I can say is that it's going to be drastically different from Jassi!

Films are of course one step ahead but what matters to me is my desire to act. If I get a good TV soap, I am open to it too. I am grateful to Jassi as it has given me the best opportunity possible.

But before I get on to my next assignment, I am planning to go on a long, long vacation! I need to relax as I am working from 6.30 am to 11.30 pm. It's just crazy and once the serial is over, I need to get it out of my system!

hyderabadtimes@indiatimes.com

Mona: Darling of US expats
By: Chaitanya Padukone
October 4, 2005

Mona Singh lives it up! Unlike other TV celebs who usher in their birthdays in local nightspots, model-turned-TV actress Mona Singh, aka Jassi, will be celebrating her janamdin in Chicago on October 8, with her legion of US-based Asian fans. Eighth US trip "This is the eighth time I am making a trip to the US," says Mona. "They are having a surprise birthday hungama lined up for me. I am also visiting other US cities, including Philadelphia and New York. My fans were all trying to persuade me to be in their city on that evening. This time, it will be memorable, but I am going to miss my buddies Gaurav (Nandu) Gera and Rakshanda Khan when I cut the cake," she smiles. Last December, Mona was honoured by the US Consul General for being a Young Achiever (Showbiz), at the Indo-American Society Awards ceremony. Mona with Karan Oberoi Bevy of TV stars Is the actress expected to sing and dance on-stage during her live shows? "No, I would be attending the pooja that precedes the Navratri garba-dandiya, chatting up audiences and cracking jokes And maybe sway a bit to garba tunes with my fans," says Mona, who will be accompanied by other TV stars like Gurdip Kohli, Shama Sikander and Kuljit Randhawa during her 10-day US tour. Dancing to Karan's tunes? Is she planning a special appearance in boyfriend (singer) Karan Oberoi's music video, for his latest album Gaane Bhi Do Yaaron? The album is being released by Band Of Boys, which includes Oberoi. "Honestly, I would love to do a classy music video with an innovative concept. Prior to Jassi, I had featured in a Talat Aziz video, but since I have a hectic, ultra-busy work schedule now, there is no time. Let's see if things work out," she grins. thelist@mid-day.com

Dusky dreams


Actor Maninee feels that her dusky looks automatically slot her as a sexy actress.
Actress Maninee De Mishra is quite pleased with the way her career is shaping up. And she has her priorities straight. She wants to do good work, and knows that just one big break isn't enough to sustain a career.

"Some people get a headstart early in their career but fail to sustain themselves, while some get it late but stay in the business for a longer period. I'll prefer to be in the latter category," quips Maninee, who was recently in town with her actor husband Mihir Mishra to promote a dance competition show.

She has played prominent but no lead roles for TV and has no regrets. According to her, skin colour matters here. "There is a fixed notion about how the woman in the lead role should look.

She must be fair, with a long nose and innocent looks. I don't fit into the bill as I am dusky," she rues. But she has her own pluses. "Being dusky, I am automatically put into the 'sexy' slot.

So when people want a talented, good looking and hot actress, they know it's me," chuckles the actress who recently won an award for her portrayal of Pari in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin.

"Versatility is my calling card," adds the actress who is fine with the saas bahu serials but doesn't approve of such characters in real life. So what's the secret of their success? "In India, kitchen politics works better than office politics. Moreover we are an emotional people," reasons the actress.

She has done tit-bit roles in films like Rules-Pyaar ka Superhit Formula and 7 1/2 Phere but success even on the big screen continues to elude her, we wonder why?
I don't really know the benchmarks of success on TV or films. I want to do good work and I know a good job will always impress and get noticed," she says.

Interestingly, she was also considered for the role played by Sandhya Mridul in Page 3. Is there any similarity in terms of the work the two actors have done so far?

"I wouldn't like to compare or follow her, despite the fact that we are both Arians and belong to Delhi," she avers, adding that Delhi has made a major contribution to Bollywood in terms of better actors.

Look at Shah Rukh Khan. "Since we land in Mumbai leaving behind our homes, our focus is very strong. We have a saaf zabaan and our English is better. These are hard to come by in Mumbai," says she.

The actress has been more popular than hubby, Mihir (Rahul of Sanjeevani). So are there any ego hassles at home? "No, Never. Once we get home, we are spouses and not actors," quips she.

Maninee accepts that the Indian male mentality has undergone a drastic change. Incidentally, her marriage to Mihir was her second while it was his first. So how's it going? "It's rocking," smiles the bubbly beauty and signs off.