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Pallavi joins Balaji

With her latest venture 'Karam Apnaa Apnaa',( Star Plus) being currently shot in Kolkata against a Bengali backdrop, this time producer Ektaa Kapoor has trained her sights on the culture of the north-east.

Curiously enough, the girl who plays the central character Gauri , is not from Kolkata but is a Maharashtrian model-turned-actor Pallavi Subhash. The show also has Sumeet Sachdev (Gomzi of 'Kyunkii…') playing her fianc.

Pallavi has to her credit nearly a dozen Marathi films and TV serials. She was even nominated for the 'Best Actress Zee Gaurav Award' for her performance in the film 'Kumkum Zaala Vairi'.

Speaking from Kolkata, Pallavi who recently played Preeta in 'Tumhari Disha' (Zee) can't believe that she is part of a Balaji show.

"It's a dream come true for me. Apparently, Ektaaji noticed me in 'Tumhari Disha' and instantly felt that she had found her Gauri. I was immediately asked to get ready to fly to Kolkata. I didn't even have to visit the Balaji studios for the mandatory auditions. Also, I have always been enamored by Bengali culture and I freak out on their mishti (sweets)," Pallavi gushes.

As Gauri, the actor is clad in full-sleeved salwar kameez and wears minimum make-up.

"I could connect easily with Gauri as I believe in a simple lifestyle and have a chulbuli yet sober temperament. My character is not required to use a regional accent except for a few Bengali phrases. But my biggest challenge is living up to Ektaaji's expectations," informs Pallavi.

When asked which female character from the Balaji shows is her favourite, Pallavi reveals, "It's Prerna (Shweta Tiwari) from 'Kasautii Zindagi Kay'."

Ekta debuts Karam Apna Apna


Thursday, August 17, 2006
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Mumbai (UNI): Marathi television actress Pallavi Subhash is Ekta Kapoor's new find on prime time with her new serial ''Karam Apna Apna'' which goes on this month air on Star Plus. Star Plus will introduce its new prime time star Gauri (played by Pallavi Subhash) in the forthcoming serial of the channel with Balaji Television starting August 29 at 2130 hrs. A new member and an addition to the Star Parivaar, the promising young and talented Pallavi Subhash will play the lead in the show.

Before being spotted by Ekta, the dimpled actress featured in two Marathi daily soaps ''Char Diwas Sasuche'' on ETV Marathi and ''Adhuri Ek Kahani'' on Zee Marathi. An all-new concept, ''Karam Apnaa Apnaa'' promises to be a show with a difference from the Balaji Telefilms stable. With its simple narrative, it vows to touch many a hearts and become a part and parcel of the viewers' life, soon after its launch, the channel said in a press releaseWith the impressive ensemble of seasoned and popular faces of television in its line-up, the cast of the show includes Roopa Ganguly, last seen as ''Draupadi'' on television's path-breaking and biggest historical series of its time, Mahabharata, cricketer-turned-actor Salil Ankola, Apara Mehta (Savita from Kyunki), Sumeet Sachdev (Gautam from Kyunki), Geetanjali Tikekar (Apo*na from Kasautii) and Delnaaz Paul to name a few.

It is a story of a middle class, likeable and non-ambitious character ''Gauri'' who hails from Kolkata and puts her family's interest before anything else in life. ''Karam Apnaa Apnaa'' will be told in a simple format, as its focus remains on the central character. Gauri's only dream is to live a simple, happy married life with her husband and her kids, and as she reaches to the threshold of realizing this by getting married to her fianc, Shashank, her life takes on a different journey all together, on a path she had never imagined to walk.

Deepak Segal, ex VP Content of STAR India said ''Star plus has been successful in entertaining the audiences, continuously for the past six years. With the launch of 'Karam Apnaa Apnaa', we further aim to consolidate our leadership in the prime-time slot and stay on, with our single-minded endeavour to provide compelling entertainment and content for the viewers.'' Produced by Balaji Telefilms, the show is conceptualized by Ekta Kapoor. The screenplay is by Mahesh Pandey and Aniruddh Pathak, the dialogues are from Brijmohan, and the show's directed by Anil V Kumar.hrs.




SO SHE IS GOINA GET MARRIED TO THT SHASHANK KID

Rajev and Delnaaz Paul

Made for each other

After Sharad Kelkar and Keerti Gaekwad, Hiten Tejwani and Gauri, real life couple Rajev and Delnaaz Paul team up for Balaji's new production, Karam Apna Apna. This serial is significant in the couple's life for many other reasons. This is the first time that Delnaaz is acting in a Balaji soap opera and has been paired opposite each other. Rajev says, "Though we were together in a serial called Parivartan in the early 1990's, we never really got the opportunity to share screen space as a couple. But Delnaaz was there only for two days, so we didn't really get to act together in a serial. Not many married couples get the opportunity to work with each other. The last time we worked together was on Nach Baliye dance competition. I am very happy. For once she will not say 'don't flirt with your co-star'," adds Rajev on a lighter note. The two are currently at Kolkata shooting for the serial. The serial also features Sumeet Sachdev, Vinay Jain, Salil Ankola, Apara Mehta and Shakti Singh.

I don't want to dance with my
fiancee on screen'

Iqbal Khan refused Nach Baliye 2 because he didn't want to drag his fiancee Neha to television

The makers of Nach Baliye 2 recently asked television actor Iqbal Khan to join the show with his finacee Neha, considering his huge popularity among female fans. But the actor refused.

Iqbal, who is planning to walk the aisle with Neha early next year, seems to have reservations about asking his fiance to dance on television. "Pati sab ko entertain kar raha hai… ab patni ko bhi le kar aaoon kya?" jokes Iqbal. (Isn't it enough that the husband is already entertaining the audiences, why drag my wife into it too?)

The actor seems says he didn't want to force her to do something which she would be uncomfortable doing.

"I am working 16 hours a day, doing two shows simultaneously. Now if I had agreed to do Nach Baliye 2, then I would be spending few more hours on rehearsals and then the shooting. I think it's not humanly possible to work beyond 16 hours a day. I am working so hard, only to make my own house and get some security in life. Frankly speaking, I get to meet Neha only on Fridays and I don't want to spoil things by going for rehearsals. I have nothing against couples who are comfortable doing the show with their partners, but it's my personal choice not to dance with Neha on screen," says Iqbal.

The actor was recently in Kolkata for a day, to shoot for Ekta Kapoor's new serial Karam Apnaa Apnaa. Incidentally, the lead actress of the serial was scared and she couldn't deliver her lines properly.

"Yes, I did read about this. But do I look that scary?" he laughs. "Jokes apart, I think she is a very good actor and we have not even spoken beyond formal 'hello'.

Iqbal is disappointed with the fact that he couldn't binge on mishti doi and sandesh during his stay in Kolkata.

"I reached early morning and we were shooting non-stop. By the time we packed up, it was too late. Next morning, I was back in Mumbai. I hope some fan from Kolkata sends me mishti doi," he says.



* I think it isn't humanly possible to work beyond 16 hours a day. Frankly speaking, I get to meet Neha only on Fridays and I don't want to spoil things by going for rehearsals — Iqbal Khan

Who's that girl?

Meet prime-time's new poster girl and Ekta's latest find - Pallavi Subhash

Jagmeeta Thind Joy

SHE says she's a true-blue Maharashtrian girl who grew up watching ''not much'' television but working in ''loads of Marathi serials, ad films and theatre.'' Still, Pallavi Subhash's name and face doesn't ring even a tinkle bell, leave alone a resounding one! But, from what we are told, she's prime-time's new girl and drama queen - Ekta Kapoor's new find. Currently shooting for her new show Karam Apna Apna (which will replace the popular Kkavyanjali on Star Plus in the 9:30 pm slot) in Kolkata, Pallavi and fellow actor and former cricketer Salil Ankola took out time for a five-city video conferencing. Here are some bytes. ''While I have done many Marathi serials, I debuted with Zee's Tumhari Disha,'' mentions Subhash who says it was a 30-second clip that Ekta Kapoor saw that had her impressed. ''She just saw a short clipping and remarked, 'that's my girl','' smiles the lady, clearly riding high on her new found status. Ask her where she sees herself in the lineup of the likes of Tulsi and Parvati and Subhash answers in true Balaji style - ''I would hate to compare myself to Tulsiji and Parvatiji. I'll just try and do my best.''

And joining in her new role is cricketer-turned-actor Salil Ankola who'll be seen playing mean. ''Yes, after CID Special Bureau and Kehta Hai Dil this is my new show. It's also one where I am playing a negative character for the first time,'' mentions the actor who is sticking to his mantra of one project at a time. And as far as ties with the cricketing world goes, Ankola is, as he says, ''in touch with friends.'' And we hear he's rounded up actors who have a passion for the pitch and are set to form a team. ''Yes, I have friends in the industry like Shabbir Ahluwalia, Vikas Shetty, Manav Ghosh and we are trying to put together a team,'' informs Ankola. Till then, you'll have to do with all the action on screen.

Rupali stages a comeback

Vidya Prabhu
Friday, August 11, 2006 19:50 IST

Talented actor Rupali Ganguly (of 'Sanjeevani' fame) has returned to theatre after eight years.

This weekend will see her in Paritossh Painter's play, 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Speak No Evil-plot 2'. "I'm really excited about doing it. In fact, I was supposed to do another play with Paritossh but the script is still being worked upon," she enthuses.

Ask her about her role in the play and the actor, whose previous plays include 'Papa Don't Preach' and 'Aatmakatha', replies, "It's not what you'd call a meaty role. But it's the script and not the length of the role that matters to me." So what made her come back to theatre?

"I have never intentionally stayed away from theatre. It's just that things have now fallen into place for me," she explains.

A talented actor, Rupali is very keen to continue with TV as well. However, the actor is not game for roles that require her to step out of Mumbai, which explains why she had to opt out of Ektaa Kapoor's 'Karam Apna Apna'. "Yes, it's true that I had to turn down the offer; I can't tell you how disappointed I'm to have done so," she laments.

She adds, "They wanted me to shoot for around a month in Kolkata. I have been working non-stop for the past three years. Moreover, my father is not feeling too well; so I had to stay back here and miss out on a great role."

STAR Plus fights back with 'Kkavyanjali' wrap
Aug 07, 2006 08:58 AM

In India, the 21:00 - 22:00 timeslot has seen some intense competition between STAR Plus and ZEE TV, with the latter giving market leader a run for its money in a big way!

India's top rating channel STAR Plus is axing Balaji soap 'Kkavyanjali' later this month (next month in the UK) and replacing it with another Balaji offering called 'Karam Apna Apna'.

Commenting on the change, Shailja Kejriwal, Creative Director, STAR India admitted that 'Kkavyanjali' hadn't worked as per expectations. She said, "The show started very well and we had always designed it as a finite show. It has even given us 12 plus on peak days. However, I think the problem came in when we changed the story track to give it another lease of life. The show has been slipping since and we didn't see any point in dragging it further."

ZEE TV's 'Saat Phere' and 'Kasamh Se' have been delivering record numbers in the past few days and so rival STAR Plus is pulling out all the stops to make sure it remains the most watched in that timeslot. Recently, the channel also launched 'Virasaat' during primetime. 'Virasaat' was brought in to replace 'Milee'.

'Viraasat' has so far been playing in between the 4 and 5 TRP region for STAR Plus, which by STAR standards are very low. Commenting on the numbers of the new show, Kejriwal said, "At present, I am very happy. The show has clocked in an average of 6 plus last week and that indicates that it is on an upward trend, which is very good news."

With ZEE TV launching 'Dulhan Banoo Mein Teri' and Sony launching its mega dance show 'Jhalak Dikhlaja', its good timing for STAR Plus to make the changes. But will the changes perform? Keep it with BizAsia.co.uk for updates.

New drama from Balaji sees duo

Rajiv-Delnaz to play couple for the first time in Balaji's next.

The Nach Baliye power packed couple Rajiv and Delnaz Paul are going to be back on screen again and this time are going to play their real life relationship of husband wife on screen too. The couple for the first time is paired opposite each other in a family drama called Karam Apna Apna produced by Ekta Kapoor. Rajiv recalls, "Delnaz and I worked together last time in a serial called Parivartan where we shot together for two days only. After Nach Baliye, people wanted to see us together and this offer was too good to resist." Also this happens to be the first Balaji project for Delnaz. The show will go on air on this 28 th of August and will replace Kavyanjali on Star Plus in the 9:30 pm slot.

The pair will play Ranbir-Promila's character, the shoot is underway in Kolkatta and we definitely are looking forward for this happy go lucky couple to rock the small screen once again.