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It's Friday the 13th today, but that doesn't seem to be deterring any of our otherwise superstitious telly stars.

On a schedule that is even tighter than a tight rope, our telly stars are juggling between shoot dates. So 12, 13 or 14, there is no break from shooting, despite the inauspicious portents of the date today.

Ajay Gehi, who plays the funky Rahul in Star Plus' daily soap Miilee laughs, "We are the ghosts, the evil. What ill fortune can happen to us!"

"We aren't stopping shoots. In fact, we are shooting overtime today with no relaxation on the following days," he adds.

Manav Gohil, who is sharpening his skills to host Sony's latest reality show Fame Gurukul remarks, "Frankly, I am too busy to even realize it's Friday the 13th! I used to be superstitious when I used to play cricket. At that time, tying the lace of my left shoe first came naturally to me."

Kiran Karmarkar who plays the elderly and obedient Om in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii staunchly asserts, "I am an atheist unlike my wife Rinku (Dhawan). I believe in destiny." He smiles, "Today can't be bad day for me. I am appearing in both Batliwalla House No. 43 and Aahat today".

Popular chat show Pop Korn host Mini Mathur is chilling out in Malaysia. "Friday the 13th? What's different about it?" she quips.

The bubbly Kulraaj Kaur, lead protagonist of Kareena Kareena laughs at the idea of 13 falling on a Friday having to do anything with superstition. "I don't believe in all this. Maybe sometimes as a kid, I must have been superstitious, but not anymore".

Forget being superstitious, our actors are in fact positive about this day as Ajay remarks, "Somewhere in the world, it's still 12 or even 14 May, so why keep worrying!" Who can best explain this phenomenon other than Shilpa Saklani who starts shooting today for her lead role in Sony's Kkusum?

Remember the peppy young lad in a yellow singlet, gyrating in the chorus line behind Shahrukh Khan to the Koi Mil Gaya number in Kucch Kucch Hota Hai years ago? Or the girl who appeared with Juhi Chawla in a song in Gang just as long ago?

Chances are you won't. But the good news is that these young aspirants with stars in their eyes didn't just fade away into junior artiste oblivion. The young lad is now the star of Sony's Friday prime time Batliwalla House No 43, playing another Shahrukh - Shahrukh Batliwalla! And the bit girl in the Juhi song is crafty Pallavi of Kahaani… - Shweta Kawatraa!

Television teems with similar stories. Humble beginnings in Bollywood that morphed into success sagas on the small screen. "I myself didn't remember that, forget about people remembering me!" laughs Shweta. But there are no qualms. "I had no reputation to guard. I didn't mind doing short but good acts. In fact, it paid me really well. It was nothing cheap at all," she shrugs.

Kuch Kuch… apart, Bhaktiar also danced in the background when Manish Goel did the music video of Dil Le Gayee Kudi…."I had done music videos, ads and even served as air attendant with Air Sahara," he admits candidly. Bhaktiar has featured in Mumbai ekdam danger place with Javed Jaffrey for Bombay Boys, and most of Nitin Bali's videos. Roll On, Band Aid, Percy Sweets and Rasna Cola Cola --- Bakhtiar has worked as a child model too.

Then there's Jasveer Kaur aka Smriti of K.Street, Pali Hill who also danced behind leads in films. She was a part of Pyar mujhe hone laga, the shadi number from the film Kuch to hai, and a cameo in Shah Rukh starrer Badshah apart from others. Remember?

Jasvir doesn't mind that no one does. "I live for the day. I was happy doing it because dancing is my passion. I did my part and went home."

Now, of course, it's a different story. "I got mobbed recently in Kolkata and at Ansal Plaza in Delhi. It feels nice now. The reaction has been very different. Now I have more friends and I always have a hand on my shoulder," laughs Bhaktiar.

"I had a Maruti 800. Now I have a lancer and a Gypsy," beams Jasvir with pride.

The list of those who started small but persisted till they hit big time on the telly is long. Eizaj Khan (Kavya of Kavyanjali) did a bit role in the sizzler Delhi Ki Sardi with Amrita Arora and Bhanu Uday (Aryan of Special Squad) played one of the soldiers in Lakshya.

Life may have started big and turned small, but it's the small screen where they have hit big time!

Everyone dreams to be the star or personage they admire. We peeked into the busy lives of our tele - stars on their

Tassnim Sheikh: big dreams!

sets and asked them the celebs they would love to swap places with for a day.

"Oh, I forever dreamt of being Bill Gates," says the chirpy Tassnim Sheikh. "I always wanted to be a software engineer, go abroad and work for Microsoft. The genius that he is, it would be a dream to be Bill Gates for a day. Amitabh Bachchan would be my choice for being an Indian celebrity. I would have roamed the entire city signing autographs and later, would invite all the Bollywood celebs for a lavish dinner," she giggles.

Sumptuous dinners and eminence is every actor's dream. But sexy stud Parmeet Sethi considers power and reigning command a reason to swap places. "I would love to be the woman who calls the shots of the world's most powerful man in the world- Mrs. Bush. Women are the most commanding genus in the world and to have the

chains of the President in your hands is quite fascinating," says Parmeet.

His ideas of adventure range from extravagant pleasures at the White House, having a gala time with all the international celebrities of the world.

Politics and showbiz indeed go hand-in-hand! And where showbiz is cornered, every actress wants a role opposite King Khan. But vivacious Shraddha Nigam leaps a step ahead. "The best I could do to act with Shah Rukh Khan is by becoming Kajol," she laughs wickedly. "I am crazy about Shah Rukh and I loved Kajol in DDLJ. Hence by swapping places with Kajol for a day, I would be with Shah Rukh and also get a chance to act in DDLJ," she says, dissolving into laughter.

If Shraddha's naughty mind can trade places just to be with her pin-up star. Then there is the sweet hunk who would get into the shoes of his idol just to learn his craft. "I would love to be Mr. Bachchan for a day, to learn his acting and style. Being a powerhouse of performance I would actually pilfer some of his attributes," smiles Chetan Hansraj mischievously. "I would buy myself a Mercedes and shop for watches, as I have a fetish for them. And would like to play the same role he did act in the movie Khaki as he had given a stellar performance," he says.

Serials require our TV stars to celebrate Holi with exuberance, TV shows need them dancing joyously to Bollywood Holi songs. But in reality, do our telly stars love playing Holi? Natasha Havewala decided to find out.

Television couple Rinku and Kiran Karmarkar are truly romantic when it comes to celebrating the festival of colours. "The vibrancy of colours in the air makes the entire ambience look like rainbow," sighs Rinku.

When it comes to playing with colours the couple is as different as chalk and cheese though. Kiran is reclusive, while Rinku is impish. Reminiscing, she says, "Last year when we were spraying colours on each other, a friend of ours suddenly played the song rang barse. I pulled Kiran to dance with me and we ended up doing the typical rang barse dance number and everyone applauded."

"This Holi my son Ishaan and me are going to get commended as we are rehearsing on the holi khele raghuveera number," laughs Rinku.

For Poonam and Manish Goyal, this Holi is a special event as it is their first Holi as proud parents of a baby boy.

Not much of a colour person, Manish loves to gorge on food and bhaang. "Poonam loves playing with colours. I remember our first Holi, when we had gone to my mother- in- law's place at Bandra. I was just chilling out, watching everyone play. Suddenly Poonam came from behind and soaked me with gulal. I ran after her and poured the entire bucket of coloured water on her and we started applying gulal on each other. The fun part came later because we took three hours to wash off the colours," he says.

Holi brings joy and colour in lives and is celebrated with high spirits without any geographical distinction. And that's precisely the reason; Niki Aneja Walia still cherishes the Holi she played last year with her hubby Sonny, who had the joie de vivre of colours for the first time in his life.

"Last Holi is special to me as it marks an antithesis in my life. It was the first time I drenched my hubby with colours and the last time I played with my dad. I remember my friends and family got together and coloured everyone black and blue. Of course the first doze of bhaang and jalebis kicks you high on the spirit of the festival with the ever flirtatious dance rang barse bheege chunar wali being a treat. In fact Sonny is excited about playing even this year," says a smiling Niki.

Indeed, Holi without bhaang is not only incomplete but imperfect and who better would know than the reticent Chetan Hansraj.

"All my friends had gathered to a friend's place in Bandra and after showering everyone with colours, we had bhaang. It was the first time I tasted it. I sneaked in the maximum share of thandai, sat under the sun and started waiting to get a kick. I kept wondering about the after effect but nothing seemed to happen. After some time, I remember laughing and not stopping," giggles Chetan recollecting nothing after the bhaang had its hypnotising effect.

His first Holi after the nuptials, Chetan plans to make it memorable for his wife Lavinia. "It will be the first time she would be playing with colours. I've planned to invite friends, drink bhaang and drench her with coloured waters; no dry gulal for me," he says matter-of- factly.

A twist in the story, or a foible of the production house? A channel whim or an actor's tantrum? What is it that results in an actor being replaced by another in an ongoing show, and how do they cope with the sudden changes in their life? Vickey Lalwani probes the issue.

SWETTA KESWANI: She kicked Ekta Kapoor's 'Kahaani...' for Aroona Irani's 'Des Mein...'. But was it any use? She was asked to leave 'Des Mein...' if she wasn't ready to age. While 'Des Mein...' sucked up to Sangeeta Ghosh for a revival in its fortunes, Swetta was not given even a second look. On the other hand, Ekta's 'Kasautii...' is still rocking. Says Swetta, "I would say that television works on a day-to-day basis. If you are not happening, or the script needs
to be twisted in order to arouse the interest- you can't blame anybody. There are big stakes involved here, at times, far more than in a film. Would you want to term this as cruel? shouldn't
you rather say it's too strict and professional?"

SHWETA KAWAATRA: The lady opted out of Ekta Kapoor's 'Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii'. She claims she has received good offers but who knows the inside story? Recently, she nearly lambasted Balaji Telefilms in an interview to a section of the press. People said that Paravati and Pallavi were the two eyes of 'KGGK'. Did 'KGGK' go down on TRPs after Shweta's walk out? Not a bit!

ASHLESHA SAWANT: Where did this girl go after Balaji reduced her to a photograph on Sumeet Sachdeva's table in 'Kyunki...'? Some people say that she is very pally with Sandeep Baswana, while some even say that the two are living together.

PALLAVI JOSHI: Star Plus' 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Dhoom' changed tracks suddenly and in the process, Pallavi was left out of the storyline. Says she, "I was narrated an entirely different story. But the story was going in an altogether different direction when I started shooting. I was supposed to fall for a younger guy (played by Vishal Singh) but there was nothing happening on that front in any of the 18 episodes I worked. I am a senior actress who loves challenging portrayals and I had been reduced to a glorified extra." The production house didn't even bother to inform her
personally. "They just sent me a letter one fine day, that the track was changing and I wouldn't be required anymore."

Still smarting from the slight, "Creativity has been reduced to zero, television has gone completely corporate. It feels like TV has been reduced to selling shampoos."

SANDEEP BASWANA: One hears that Balaji had problems with Sandeep, because of which he was ousted from 'Kyunki...' and 'Kkoi Dil Mein Hai' almost around the same time. The inside story? The poor guy needed a break; he had reached a point where he felt that he was saturated. He asked Balaji to cut his roles for some time so that he could spend some time on a holiday. Result? Need we repeat!

MIHIR MISHRA: Dr Rahul of 'Sanjivani- A Medical Boon' may have thought that he would grow as an actor by taking up something different in Zee's 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa' (Aditya Ramchandran) but
did that last long? Didn't he end up virtually saying that the show was a bane and not a boon? But who cares? Producer Shrishti Arya quickly winded up the entire Ramchandran parivaar!

SONIYA KASPOOR: Bechari Soniya got wiped out of Zee's 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa' for no rhyme or reason. Just because her on-screen husband was giving trouble to the makers of the show, she was told that she was no more required. 'KHKN' is going on as if nothing ever happened. The three friends' story is being tweaked to accommodate more characters, a fresh storyline is being worked out. Says Soniya, "This is not fair. I am really disappointed that television functions like this. I didn't even realise what was happening on the Mihir front. Everything seemed so hunky dory, but the off-screen drama seems to be more intriguing!"

NAUSHEEN ALI SARDAR: A household name as long as she did the 'Kkusum' title role. After that, she's almost been left twiddling her thumbs in Star Plus' 'Kalcchakra'. People cruelly discarded her in her three portrayals in the thriller show; not even one role has really been appreciated. She has signed a couple of films. But have those projects kicked off?

GITANJALI TIKEKAR: Where did this Aparna disappear? Back to her hometown Pune? Or has she married Cezanne Khan and tucked herself safely in some corner in Mumbai as the grapevine goes? Whatever,
while Aparna committed murders, people went crazy about her character, but when she decided not to play the 18-year leap, Balaji ternminated her character without any delay. So what if the leap was delayed by few months? The dead do not come back on Indian television if they challenge the Creatives!

RAJEEV KHANDELWAL: Where was his character heading? 'Kahiin To Hoga', the show which started with him in the lead should have him in the centre at least most of the time. Why don't the same rules apply on Niki Aneja Walia, Juhi Parmar, Ronit Roy, Sakshi Tanwar and Smriti Z Iraani? They're always around. Plus some of the scenes shot on him have been pretty laughable. Remember the scene where he applies cold cream on his face and Aamna springs out of nowhere and the couple rub each other's cheeks? The way the ratings are going steady, despite Sujal (and even Kashish) hardly being there, we feel Balaji can continue the show well enough even without him. Or will it? Says Rajeev, "Agar main hokar bhi nahin hoon, to this, I think you should ask the Creatives."

AKASHDEEP SAIGAL: As long as he was Ansh, he was a rage. Some even thought that no character on Indian television had been conceived bigger than this. But once mother Tulsi Virani shot him dead, people stopped talking about him. His new role as Trishul in 'Kkusum' has failed to create even a whimper. It will not be wrong to say that he will require luck to draw eyeballs to his role in Ketan Mehta's new show on Zee TV.

MAULI GANGULY: The day she left 'Kaahin Kissii Roz', she found herself swimming against the tide. 'Saaksshi' on Sony was a major disaster but the poor girl kept her cool. Think about it, did she have a choice? Her recent return to Manish Goswami's forthcoming show ('Sarkaar' or 'Swaarth'or whatever the channel finally decides on) is no compensation for her earlier roles. Last time, she told us that she was not sure whether she'd go ahead being Rohit and Ronit Roy's sister in the same show, for she wan't happy the way her track had been worked out.

VINOD SINGH: Agreed that he behaved violently on the sets of Sony's 'Aayushman'. But if a film actor does the same (and there have been cases galore!), is he chucked out? Where is that
programme which he told us (soon after the police case in 'Aayushman') was happening for him on Star Plus?

Will Mona Singh continue to be noticed and talked about after she unveils herself eventually?

Or is it that popularity on Indian television has a short shelf life? Is this popularity just 15 seconds under the sun?

"I am Monisha. Completely. I am a dimwit, I bargain even at Shopper's Stop, I am a terrible cook, and, yes, I am very

clumsy," laughs Rupali Ganguli, who plays Monisha in Star One's Sarabhai vs Sarabhai.

This, from a lady who has done such a wide array of roles that could easily make other actors on the telly, green with envy!

Sample this --- a double role in Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi, a negative character in Star Plus' Sanjivani, a mentally unbalanced girl in Sahara's Zindagi Teri Meri Kahani, a prostitute in Bhabhi, a politician in Star Plus' Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and her favourite, Monisha, a stingy middle-class housewife in an upper middle class household, in Star One's Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. All these characters being as different from one another as chalk from cheese.

Surprisingly, Rupali has also managed to act in one of the saas-bahu serials, without being typecast as a long suffering bahu! "I have done enough of that in Sanjivani, heavy make-up and the jewellery. I want to do something different every time, otherwise, however big the banner, I am not interested," says Rupali vehemently.

Daughter of acclaimed film director Anil Ganguli, who has made films like Kora Kagaz, Rupali has carved a niche for herself on the telly. She started acting when she was seven years old with a bit role in the film, Saheb, following it up with an award winning performance in her father's film, Bolidaan. But after doing a couple of forgettable films, she decided that this was "rubbish" and gave it all up. She did not even give screen tests, but concentrated on theatre and gave a commendable performance in Papa Don't Preach.

Fortunately for telly viewers, God had other things planned for this lovely lady! Soon after, she got calls to audition for roles in different serials, and then there was no looking back. We ask her about her dream role and she tells us that she would like to play a schizophrenic character, and 20 years down the line she would just love to play Maya, Ratna

Pathak's character in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. She is hoping that one day she will be offered a role similar to the character that Jaya Bachchan played in Kora Kagaz.

Talk about Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and we hear Monisha, not Rupali, pour her heart out. She tells us how the rest of the cast are forever on her case and how Ratna Pathak ( her mother-in-law in the comedy) comes to her rescue ---- "but there are times when even she joins in," says Rupali, who says that initially she was in awe of this great actor but warmed upto to her once they started sharing a room while working on the show.

Whatever else Rupali might well be, she is certainly not a dimwit. She is an artiste who has made her presence felt in shows that had senior actors in them. A versatile actress, she plays out her characters with an ease that makes us wonder if she was acting out parts of her own life!

The love bug has certainly bitten the television industry. How else do you explain the rash of impulsive marriages we

witnessed in the space of less than two months? Mind you, hardly one of them was a long drawn affair that culminated with the solemn vows of marriage. The rest were whirlwind romances, fast paced courtships and quick decisions of matrimony.

Naturally, these couples are walking for the first time, hand in hand, into Valentine's Day. Do they have surprises packed in gossamer and tinsel for their loved one? Or have they already charted out how they plan to celebrate V Day?

The glowing couple, Sai Deodhar and Shakti Anand are just back from their honeymoon and are back to rigorous shooting schedules. "But this Valentine's Day is going to be very special for both of us as it's our first together. I never had a boyfriend and now Shakti is both my lover and my husband," she blushes.

Among the plans she's making for hubby are a long drive out of town, carrying some ghar ka khana, putting up a tent and just being together, "enjoying the ambience and him," she says wickedly. As for gifts, Sai might just buy Shakti a laptop. "He is extremely computer savvy and I am sure this gift would be a perfect Valentine Day souvenir to him."

Almost as an indicator of perfectly attuned minds, Shakti too wants to take Sai for a long drive to a secluded place "with dinner and champagne". "The place has to be positively cosy, warm and romantic. No clichd flowers or cards for me," he says tongue-in-cheek.

But perhaps not everyone believes in V power. Varun Badola tied the knot with Rajeshwari Sachdeva in late November and doesn't see a reason to single out one day as Valentine's Day. "Every day should be

celebrated for love and with your loved one. I am not oblivious of this day, it's just that I never celebrated it." As a hasty afterthought, he adds, "Rajeshwari is definitely more romantic than me but I am learning to be more expressive now. I'll start off by gifting her red roses and a beautiful card. And in the evening get her an elegant sari or a pendant. We both are very romantic but she is just more demonstrative. We will be working till 10 pm, but I am sure we will find the time to celebrate," he says smilingly.

As this would be our first Valentine together, I am going to make it extraordinary. I am good at writing my emotions, so I might just write a love note to him and give him over a romantic dinner," she says candidly.

For Shweta Kawatra and Manav Gohil, it's going to be a double celebration of sorts, as Shweta's birthday is just four days before V Day. "For Manav and me, this day means expressing love. By just being with Manav and doing small things for him, I think it is an absolutely wonderful way to let him know that somewhere, every day, he is thought of with love and affection."

Will Rajeev rule the roost? Will Mandira have a good innings? Will Mona have the same following as Jassi did? Questions only time can answer. But so can the father-son numerologist duo of BANSILAL and SANJAY B JUMAANI.

Read on for their take on what 2005 has in store for TV stars…

SAKSHI TANWAR: The year hardly matters. She is blessed with a very good date of birth. She will never be out of work.