Concept/Characters/Articles~~No Comments - Page 6

Kituu Sabb Jantii Hain will now see a new character in the show. Tarun Khanna who will be seen as Kuljeet in Sab Sony's Maahi Ve from fifth of this month, will play a character in Kituu.. On asking him about the character he says, "I play the boss of the channel where Kittu works."

On asking him about any budding chemistry will be seen on screen with his co-star, he said, "Yes, I will have an affair with Kittu."

On further asking him, what about Rohan played by Amit Verma, he says, "You just have to wait and watch. Well that's the suspense."

Tarun was last seen in Sarrkkar, who was shown dead a while ago. "Well, I couldn't juggle between three series, that's Sarrkkar, Kittuu... and Maahi Ve, so Manish ended my character in Sarrkkar and I will be seen in Kittu.. soon."

Sahara One had a tough time finding the right Kituu for its new show till the channel zeroed in on Ami Trivedi. A dazzling smile and twinkling eyes is what sets Ami apart from the rest.
This 22 year old Mumbai girl has had a major theatre background and has also done cameos on television before she got lucky with the break.

Kavita Shyam caught up with the perky Ami Trivedi

Tell us something about your background.
I was born and brought up in Mumbai and graduated in science from Jai Hind College. Both my brother and I have been child artistes (Zee Horror Show and Humraahi) but I have also been doing Gujarati theatre seriously for the past six years.

Are you the first from your family to venture into the acting arena?
No! My father Tushar Trivedi is a theatre person, so we literally grew up in the theatre. My father is now directing plays in London and my mother is a housewife. My family is ecstatic about my show and they can't wait to talk about the show every where they go.

Have you done any other show before going on to Kituu Sabb Jaantii Hai?
I have done cameo roles in Kumkum, Babul Ki Dua Leti Ja and Khichdi besides doing theatre.

How did you get the role in Kituu Sabb Jaantii Hai?
I auditioned for the role and got a call in two days, saying I was on and I was the main lead in Kituu. I am enjoying myself thoroughly and we have shot about six episodes so far.

How different will Kituu be, from say Jassi or Miilee?

I myself have been a brat so I am very much like Kituu in real life. Kituu is very real, average looking, identifiable and her goals in life are different. It's about an extraordinary life of a middle class girl who wants to take up challenges in her life. She wants to make it big as a journalist who will take up social issues and do well for the society. She's traditional yet very modern in her own ways.

Did you have to prepare yourself for the role and how much can you relate yourself to Kituu?
No, having a theatre background helped, so not much preparation was required. My guy friends used to call me a terrorist and I was a little monster but now I have become a more subtle and matured as a person. So in many ways, I can associate myself with Kituu, and she also eventually evolves as a person.

Tell us about your personal life.
I am not dating anyone and I am still waiting for the right person to come my way. When I am not shooting I am reading a novel or listening to music or dancing around the whole house!

So what are your plans for the future?
I am doing Kituu Sabb Jaantii Hai which I am currently concentrating on besides this I would love to do films if I am offered in the future. I am open to continuing with theatre provided I have time for it.

http://www.tellychakkar.com/y2k5/nov/10nov/interview_kituu.p hp

If Sony's Jassi reintroduced our TV addicts to the Plain Jane with extraordinary dreams, then Zee's Kareena Kareena got even more cosy doing the desi wannabe's aspirations. And now two daily soaps are all set to carry the middleclass dream even further. Sahara's Kituu Sabb Jaantii Hai which went on air on November 14 and Sony's Ek Ladki Anjaani Si which kicked off a week later on November 21, are both about the hopes, dreams and travails of the average middleclass girl.

While the lead in the Sony serial is played by Kanchi Kaul, the chosen girl on Sahara's serial is Ami Trivedi. "We auditioned at last 50 girls before we zeroed in on Ami Trivedi. She has all the requirements for the role. We needed someone fresh-faced and able to connect with the audience…It's the story of one middle-class girl's journey in life.

"What sets Kituu apart is the fact that it's set in the media world. No other soap has done that," says producer Manish Goswami who's currently enjoying the success of his political soap, Sarrkkar, on Zee. "We're trying to do something different all the time. The glamorous business families are like dessert. Finally, the audience wants its favourite daal-chaawal. I want to make serials with real characters. That's where my earlier Kittie Party, then Sarrkkar and now Kituu Sabb Jaantii Hai score," asserts Manish. Does he foresee any competition from Sony's Ek Ladki Anjaani Si? "I'm not even aware of this serial. All I can say is, let's welcome soaps about real middle-class characters," laughs Manish. Tarun Katial of Sony has a different take on this. "Yes, Ek Ladki Anjaani Si is about a middleclass girl. But her journey is so jolting and so unexpected, and her experiences so far removed from what home viewers have seen so far that we feel Ek Ladki Anjaani Si will crack a new genre among the working-class serials."

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051216/asp/etc/story_5484406. asp

Ami Trivedi juggled between studies and the stage for years, before making her debut in the alternative reality world of television. She quickly stole the limelight as the effervescent Kituu in the serial Kituu Sab Janti Hai on Sahara One, playing the role of a young extrovert 20-something girl who takes the plunge to face the professional world. She confesses to being truly in love with her Gujarati culture — be it the clothes, the exuberant dandiya, or the food which she misses the most when shooting on the sets.

Ami's mother Jaya is the greatest inspiration in her life. Jaya commutes between Mumbai and London where her husband Tusshar Trivedi works as a drama director at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan. When she's in Mumbai, she frequently visits her daughter on the sets with homemade food and also helps her to select the right kind of work.

AMI:

Mom is the backbone of our family and takes care of all the housework. Had it not been for Mama, I wouldn't have been able to work in television. My mother always complains about how naughty I was when I was a child but she's the sweetest person I have come across. As my father was away in the UK, she was the person who was around all the time when I was growing up. She has been the greatest pillar of strength in both my professional and personal life.

I was not a spoilt child but my brother Karan is. I remember when I said that I wanted to become an actor, my father was against it. But my mother stood beside me and supported my decision. In fact, when I was in school, I never thought that I would grow up to be a television actress. I was very shy in school but used to do very well in studies. My parents never complained about my studies, as I would always come first.

Since I shoot the whole day, it's not convenient for me to stay at my parent's place which is located at Marine Lines. Instead, I stay at my uncle's place in Andheri, which is near the studio. Therefore, the one thing that I miss is my ghar ka khana made by my mother. But she makes up for it by bringing homemade food for me on the sets sometimes.

The one quality which I really like in my mother is that she is very honest and knows how to handle situations. She never imposes her views on me but explains the pros and cons of every situation. She takes care of each and every aspect of my life and pampers me a lot.

JAYA:

Ami was not bratty in school but yes, she was naughty. It was my son Karan who's one-and-a-half years younger than Ami, who used to give me all the trouble. We always had high expectations from Ami as she used to come first in her exams. By contrast, Karan was not good at studies and used to fail in his exams. But his best friend was Ami and she used to come to his aid whenever his father scolded him. I remember that when the results came out, my husband used to ask Ami what she wanted. And every time she used to request him not to scold Karan if his results were not up to the mark.

What I like about Ami is that even after achieving fame, she still remains very down-to-earth and simple. Once there was an accident on the road where an old woman was injured. At that time, she was passing by and stopped her car to help the old lady. She took her to the nearby hospital and immediately called me from there. I think this shows that she has a soft heart and is basically a good human being. I always tell her to be honest in her dealings with people. Ami gets emotionally upset if people don't praise her work. She shares every little secret with me and keeps calling me throughout the day.

As a child, she was very shy and was exactly the opposite of my son Karan. But what I can't stand is her choice of clothes. Though she hardly gets time to shop for clothes, if she happens to go on her own, she'll inevitably pick up the wrong stuff. Also she's a bit superstitious and if somebody tells her that a particular outfit doesn't suit her, she'll never wear that dress again.

Both my children love to surprise me on my birthday or when I come back from the UK. They stock the fridge with lots of vegetables and fruits so that I don't have to bother about going grocery shopping when I return home. Sometimes I also drop into Ami's sets with homemade food as she loves dhoklas. I always worry about her food as nowadays she's staying at her uncle's place. Ami also makes it a point to call up when she reaches her uncle's home at night. I go to sleep only after getting her call because I always worry about her erratic timings.

Though I might not show it, I am proud of my daughter. Her role of Miss Know-All in Kituu Sab Janti Hai suits her perfectly, as in real life too Ami has solutions for everything. And I don't really have any problems about being referred to as Ami Trivedi's mother. It just so happens that nowadays I have to take advice from her about day-to-day things.

Photograph by Gajanan Dudhalkar

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060318/asp/weekend/story_5957 374.asp

If you thought that the youth of today pursues a career in the same line as their education, this one is for you! Manav Gohil, for one, never dreamt that he would be an actor. Quietly, he did his B Com and MBA from Baroda and started a marketing consultancy firm where he trained company recruits on the art of selling their products. But destiny had other plans. Suddenly struck by glamour, he began his long drawn out struggle with an aim in mind that he won't let it go. Today, he is a known face on the tube.

Fast forward. After being bumped off unceremoniously in Miditech's Saara Akaash (Star Plus) which he claims was a case of 'changing tracks', he was doing quite a decent job in Manshaa (Zee TV). Now that the serial is over and done with, we were wondering if he was going to be twiddling his toes big time. But hey, here he comes in Sony's CID.

The time is right to meet this tall, dark and unconventional looker. Excerpts from an interview by indiantelevision.com's Vickey Lalwani.

How did a management personnel become an actor?
Just for a lark, I participated in a pageant in Ahmedabad which saw me crowned as 'Man of Gujarat'. The crown on my head started doing the talking, or rather, spinning my head. 'Why shouldn't I go to Bombay and try my tryst at modelling and television?' Cut to Mumbai. I stayed as a paying guest in Napeansea Road. I got a few screen tests, but failed. I felt intimidated; I couldn't speak when the moment came.

That must have been disappointing?
Disappointing? That was terrible. I was advised to join formal training in acting. I asked some money from my dad and enrolled under Kishor Namit Kapoor (pauses).

Go on...
I started doing theatre under the hope that someone from films and television would give me my first break. Time was running out, in the sense, my finances were getting dried up. Those days, theatre didn't have the market what it enjoys today. I was getting terribly frustrated. I don't know why but I didn't feel like going back.

And one fine day, I went to the UTV office asking for a role. I met a gentleman called Tripathi and told him that I wouldn't leave until I got some role in any of their shows. He obliged me with the role of a compounder in C.A.T.S. Luckily I was noticed. And then, Janam Samjha Karo and Chudiyan happened.

After which you got into the Balaji camp?
Not immediately thereafter. After Choodiyan, there was a small gap before I was offered Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii. Actually, Ekta had seen me in my struggle days. Once I was shooting for a pilot of a Balaji show called Kavita. The show was aired on DD, but the casting was changed. Ekta had dropped in there for some reason. Everybody got up to greet her. I don't know why but I thought that I should not give her too much importance as I didn't know her.

Later, I went to her office to collect my money. Incidentally, she walked out of her cabin at the same time. I said "Hi Ekta, I am Manav Gohil." She looked impressed, maybe by the fact that I had avoided that 'chamchagiri' which other people usually do. Anyway, she told the Kahaani... EP to cast me in the role of Vikram. Post Kahaani..., I did Kkusum, Kasautii... and Kahaani Terri Meri.

But you disappeared from 'Kahaani…' without an explanation as to how the character was terminated?
Did I? (smiles) I know what you mean. Rinku (Chaya, my wife in the serial) and I (Vikram) were packed off abroad in the story. Initially I thought that this was just a temporary phase and I would either be shown landing back in India or doing a few scenes from abroad, but… (shrugs). At this point of time, Balaji Telefilms called me for Kkusum.

But you disappeared from 'Kkusum' as well?
I was doing Kkusum and Kasauti Zindagii Kay simultaneously. I guess, both the roles were somewhat similar, both demanding me to suspect my wife. I went to the US for a few shows...

Sorry to interrupt you, but Ekta Kapoor is a very hard task master. Did she allow you to go for such a long time?
Yes, she is a very hard task master. She had her apprehensions in letting me go, but she didn't say much I guess because firstly, my roles were not so prominent and secondly I had given her a three month prior notice. There were five people from the Balaji camp who were going for the same show. Three of them who had major roles in the serials did face some kind of problem.

Go on…
While in the US, I had some time to myself. I thought that I was getting straitjacketed in the two serials without doing anything significant. The story in both the serials had no focus on me anymore. I was just hanging in the background. So when I came back from the US, I spoke with Ekta and told her that I had lost interest in Kkusum and Kasauti… She offered me the lead role in Kahaani Terri Merri. At this point of time, I started getting lots of offers- Mulk, Kum Kum, Saara Akaash. I thought things were changing in my favour, but… only if life was so easy!

But you did 'Kahani Terri Merri'?
But it wasn't before I underwent a period of hurt and agony. After Ekta and I spoke that day, I did not get any call from Balaji Telefilms and I started to get restless. I gave a call to Balaji Telefilms and learnt that they had already casted someone else for that character. I felt very hurt. At least, they could have informed me. I dropped Mulk and Kumkum thinking that I would be doing the lead in KTM. I had planned to allot three weeks for KTM and one week for Saara Akaash. Later, Ekta called me and asked if I wanted to do some other role in KTM or do Kya Haadsa Kya Haqeeqat, but I refused. A week later, I got a call from Balaji Telefilms that the guy whom they'd chosen as a lead in KTM was not happening.

And the agony intensified when 'KTM' went off the air abruptly?
(Smiles) Still, I got a platform to enact a lead. Thereafter, I started getting calls for better roles which were better than the ones that I had played before. Those who mattered began to see me in a different light.

What went wrong with 'KTM'?
There was a major communication gap between the concept and its implementation. A lot of re-shooting had to be done and we were struggling to make a bank. Ekta was doing her film at that time and she could not devote much time. By the time she looked into it, she made some major changes. But it was too late. Things had gone haywire. There was even a dispute between Balaji and Sony Entertainment Television; Balaji had projected the show as big as Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and SET said that they could not pay that much as the show was not fetching the TRPs.

And then?
I was shooting for Saara Akaash, which underwent some major changes because Star Plus wanted the family angle to come in. But then I don't blame them. Those days, there was a fear of conditional access system (CAS). So they wanted to play safe. Alongside, I did Mansha.

Does PR help in the TV industry?
To a certain extent only. But, looks matter a lot. I wish the focus was on acting abilities. Everything has become so glossy. Today, a serial like Buniyaad where the lights were slightly dim, will not sell. The channel will immediately complain and will want the cameraman changed.

Are you a methodical actor?
I was a methodical actor. But now, I am in the process of becoming a spontaneous actor. I can't go on rubbing my nose and think for every scene. I want to evolve from that phase. I want to get into the skin of my character that emotions come pretty quickly to me.

Do you prefer your directors to give you flexibility?
I like my directors to give me a little flexibility in the way I enact my scenes. If a particular scene is okayed by my directors and I feel that I could do it better, then I ask for a retake.

How did 'C.I.D' happen?
BP Singh called me and I could see that he was offering something very meaty to me. I have always had a fascination for thrillers. And I am sure that I'll enjoy every minute doing this one.

Why did you opt out of 'Saara Akaash'?
I have not opted out of Saara Akaash. I was shown dead and my track stopped there. Presently, I am talking to them and my track might restart again. But I really don't know when that will happen because I am supposed to go abroad for a month for my play Uncle Samjha Karo. For the time being, I am involved with building a bank for C.I.D which would be utilised while I'm away.

But Manish Gohil and Anuj Saxena have firmly opted out saying that the entire focus is on Sai Deodhar...
(Interrupts) Even I think that way. But I am game to restart playing my role. In a serial, tracks and focus keep changing. An actor should keep doing his work without thinking too much.

Are you going to be an integral part of 'C.I.D' from here on?
Yes. I'll be playing the role of Daksh who is this happy-go-lucky cop. He is shown to be just back from the US and is now part of the crackforce team.

Like what?
That nervous feeling breeds insecurity which in turn brings out the best from me (smiles).

http://www.indiantelevision.com/interviews/y2k4/actor/manav_ gohil.htm