trick played on angad and josh

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Posted: 20 years ago

vickey.lalwani@mid-day.com
Sasha duped by Londonwalli mem
By: Vickey Lalwani
August 16, 2005

Chetan Hansraj

Chetan Hansraj's dream to work in international projects will remain just that — a dream. Better known as Sasha, of Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, the actor was taken for a ride by a lady from UK, who calls herself Milli Wadia.

Wadia offered the long-haired dude a foreign serial and film. But now it comes to light that these were simply Wadia's fabricated proposals. The actor got excited about beginning work abroad and asked for official leave from Balaji Telefilms, to embark upon those projects.

Two international projects

Hansraj was offered the two projects long before his Sasha character became popular on telly.

The offers came when he had started shooting for Kkusum. He was supposed to leave for UK in January for a 40-day schedule. The actor was also offered a film called Meet Mrs Clooney with Robert Downey Junior.

The big break?

Hansraj rewinds, "Wadia called me and narrated the roles to me over the phone. After that she sent me a contract by mail. It all seemed very straight and legal. I was supposed to do a 13- episode tele-serial called Love Forever.com to be shot in the UK. I thought that it is the big break I have been waiting for."

There was no money involved

Did he pay any money to Milli Wadia? "I did not pay a penny to her. Neither she asked for it." It seemed that the lady derived some sadistic pleasure in giving high hopes to TV actors and blocking their dates"

Wadia gayab

When the shooting didn't take off as scheduled, I was told it's a small delay, "I was told that the projects were postponed, and I would be required in June instead."

At this point, Chetan suspected that all was not well.

He admits, "I got suspicious, and this time, I told them that I would like to see some payment as advance.

When I asked them for money, they said that they would roll in July." End of June, Wadia stopped calling the actor. And when Hansraj tried contacting her, the numbers that she'd given him — landline as well as the mobile — failed to evoke a response.

Bach gaya!

Unlike other actors, who bid adieu to everything they are doing at the sight of a overseas project, Hansraj hadn't asked his character or track to be culminated from his shows. Or else he would have been left with twiddling his thumbs.

Presently Hansraj is working in Kaisa ye Pyar Hai (Josh) and Kkusum (Garv). "I haven't shot for Kkusum since some time now; I don't know what's happening. But my loyalties are with Balaji. I am not looking for work outside," says Hansraj.

vickey.lalwani@mid-day.com

The trick was played on Iqbal Khan and Aamir Ali too

Iqbal Khan (Angad of Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai) and Aamir Ali (Sameer of Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii) also received calls from Milli Wadia. In fact, Ali had even warned Hansraj that Wadia was a fake.

Later, Hansraj learnt that even Khan had received work proposals from her. Incidentally, Khan and Hansraj were offered the same projects. However, Khan and Ali were not as gullible as Sasha.

Iqbal knew…
Says Khan, "From the day Wadia offered me the role, I suspected that something was fishy.

She used to call me twice a day. She also talked about signing some Bollywood stars in the projects, which she was offering me.

I have been in the industry for four years. Maine kafi papad bele hain. I could make out that she was talking in thin air. So I stopped taking her calls," he said, adding, "If she was a genuine person and making a big project, she would've had a PR agent at least. Which producer would herself keep calling the actors repeatedly?"

Khan says that he has received an offer to work in a US film, "This party is genuine. As I am required to shoot for KYPH for 20 days, I have told the US guys that I can offer 7-10 days to them. Let's see."

Ali's started getting scared of her
"Wadia called me about 15 times in 30 days," says Ali. "She started off by saying that she had found me very impressive in the Mountain Dew ad. She sent me a rough draft of the script. She said that she wanted to cast me in a film co-starring Matthew Perry and George Clooney.

She even seemed to know a few guys who work behind the scenes in the Indian TV industry," he said adding, "After a while, I started feeling scared of her. Instead of work, she started talking in a very friendly manner. She was rather weird. I think she got a kick by talking to guys from the television fraternity."