The legend of 'Ram Kapoor' Article

JEENA ISI KA NAAM HAI Location: Studio No. 8 Filmcity, Goregaon On the sets of: Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, Zee's celebrity chat show which has host Roshan Ab- bas talking to television stars Star performers: Actor Ram Kapoor and his co-stars from Kasamh Se, his wife Gautami and veteran actor Manoj Kumar who's one of Kapoor's big fans. Going on air: The episodes featuring Ram Kapoor and Mo- hammad Iqbal Khan will be tele- cast next month E very thing is in place on the sets of Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai as the makers (Anu and Shashi Ranjan and host Roshan Abbas) are all set to can two episodes with Kasamh Se actor, the dapper Ram Kapoor aka Jai Walia, and the suave Mohammad Iqbal Khan. Ranjan, who has adapted the original concept — when the show had Farooque Shaikh hosting the show and the guests were film stars — to the newer one, which has TV stars on the hot seat. Says Ranjan: "Turning Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai into a platform for TV stars is a part of the Indian Television Acade- my's (set up by the Ranjans) endeav- our towards according a stature to the TV industry and its stars." Con- stantly on the move, between endless cups of chai, the Ranjans are also in the midst of organising their annual television awards, which is a fort- night away. If the tension of shooting wasn't enough then there is also the excite- ment because of the presence of the reclusive veteran actor Manoj Kumar amongst the guests talking on Kapoor. Kumar incidentally, is a diehard fan of Kapoor and thinks highly of his character Jai Walia. "It's a very humbling experience to have a living legend like Manoj Ku- mar as my fan," says Kapoor emo- tionally. "He often calls me and dis- cusses my work. I don't know how to express my gratitude," he adds. Kumar apparently "likes Ram's voice and intensity" and feels "he has the depth to do serious acts well." But the drama moments don't end at that, what with the surprise entry of a four-legged guest, for the first time in the show. "Getting my dog at the end of the show was indeed a welcome surprise. So was watching the cute lit- tle AV my wife had made on my daughter. Since she is too small, I had told my wife to not get my daughter on the sets. Instead, she made a very cute little clipping of her talking to me on the screen." The format of the show is such that it takes stock of the life of a star till date, starting from his birth through vi- gnettes from friends, family and admirers. Says Kapoor about his innings as an actor: "I have had my ups and down, but I also have had a lots of success on television. I am lucky to have always got very good roles," he says. The latest being his much ac- claimed character of Jai Walia that has got him the Best Actor nomina- tion in two major TV awards this year apart from the goodwill of half of its cast present on the show like Prachi Desai (Bani), Ashwini Kalsekar (the original Jigyasa) and good friend Na- man Shaw (Pushkar). "Like Jai Walia, I don't suffer fools gladly ei- ther and lik him, I also lose my tem- per when people don't know what they are doing. Jai Walia is very regi- mented and is principled but I am very easy go lucky." Unlike other TV stars who keep juggling channels and shows Kapoor believes in "doing only one thing at a time. I have always respected actors like Aamir Khan, who does one project at a time. It helps you give your best," he sallies, and soon it's time to cut the ceremonial cake. Meanwhile, on the sets, it's 7.30 in the evening and time for the next guest to arrive, a good two-and-a-half hours behind schedule, but the wait- ing audience (on the sets from 2 pm) hardly seems to be complaining. So it's over to TV's latest charmer Iqbal Khan and his life story.