Gen-leaps are the order of daily soaps

Mumbai - Generation leaps seem to be the in thing on daily soaps. Practically every soap is taking the jump, though a lot of the cast is reluctant to age.

Iqbal Khan, who was asked to age in eKaisa Yeh Pyar Haif, told IANS: eI was ok with aging by some years. But generations? That was awkward. Finally, Ekta (Kapoor), who is very fond of me, adjusted my character accordingly and all is well.f

Not all producers are that accommodating. When Manish Goel refused to age in the afternoon soap eBhabhif, he was asked to leave.

Even Ekta didnft give in to Nausheen Ali Sardarfs ewonft-age stancef in eKkusumf and replaced her with Mansi Joshi. Itfs another matter that the serial went downhill after the replacement.

Ronit Roy was persuaded to sport salt-and-pepper hair on eKasauti Zindagi Kayf to take the gen-leap. However, on Ektafs eKyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thif, Ronit appeared with jet-black hair to play father to grownup kids.

Smriti Irani, who plays the new eBaf in eKyunkii Saascf, says she had no qualms about turning grey.

eIt was a fallacy created in part of the press that I didnft want look old on screen. Ifm an actress playing a vital role in a soap. Ifve to go with the plot. In fact, I insisted that I should look old to play Ba.f

As Saharafs only USP eWoh Rehne Wali Mehlon Kif (WRWMK) prepares to take that leap, its petite producer Kavita Barjatya frankly admits gen-leaps are the order of daily soaps.

eIt canft be helped. With daily soaps being telecast five days a week, viewers need to keep interest. The story gets exhausted very fast and so do viewers. In WRWMK we didnft want the storyline to drag. To retain a freshness we had to take a leap.f

Did WRWMK have to change because its leading man Arjun Punj decided to opt out?

eTo be very honest, when we decided to make the leap we asked both the leads, Arjun and Reema Kapoor, if they would like to move ahead chronologically with their characters. They declined. So we re-worked the story so that Reema remains. But shefll now appear as her characterfs daughter Pari.

eThe story no longer demanded Arjun. Hence he left. It was very simple. If they had agreed to age, theyfd have done so together. Otherwise, both characters had to go,f explained Kavita.

Kavita is acutely aware of her responsibility as the TV software producer of her home banner Rajshri.

eNone of my seniors at home have ever interfered with my decision. But theyfre all there to guide me. I donft want to do anything that would compromise the Rajshri banner. Ifm constantly aware of the values that my banner has upheld for so many years.

eIn fact, I myself started reading the eRamayanf after I got involved with WRWMK. At the same time Ifve to make sure that the daily remains entertaining.f

Rajshrifs second soap ePyar Ke Do Naam Ek Radha Ek Shyamf on STAR Plus has apparently not done as well.

eI agree it hasnft generated all-India interest. But it has generated huge TRPs in parts of Uttar Pradesh where STAR Plus had made marginal impact until this soap.f

A gener

ation leap is on the anvil for ePyar Ke Do Naamf as well.

eI guess thatfs inevitable. Wefve another project being planned. Family dramas are in. And viewers want to see another generation take over after a while. Actually, Ifd like to refer to our serial as eWoh Rehne Wali Mehlon Ki Part 2Πafter the leap. Itfs a healthy trend. It keeps both the makers and the viewers on their toes,f said Kavita