IS SHILPA SAKLANI...NEW KKUSUM

When Ekta Kapoor's search for Nausheen Ali Sardar's replacement in Kkusum ended, she must have been one relieved person. The soap Queen never had it so tough being stranded without the main lead of one of her flagship serials. Not even when Amarr Upadhyay (aka Mihir Virani) quit her show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi would she have had sleepless nights.

After tapping every potential candidate, including the likes of Gautami Kapoor, Iravati Harshe, and even Meenakshi Seshadri, she finally got someone to fill Nausheen Ali Sardar's shoes. Suddenly, she remembered an actress — simple and sweet, no flamboyance, so very like the reel character of Kkusum.

The only hitch was: "Would the actress agree to join back the daily grind, after a hiatus of two long years? A few phone calls and a handful of meetings later, things fell into place. The show would go on thought a relieved Ekta. Which it did, but now suddenly something seems to have gone wrong.

Rumours are flying that it's just a matter of time before Manasi ceases to be a part of the show! Is Manasi Joshi Roy opting out of Sony's Kkusum or has she been asked to leave? Shilpa Saklani (Ganga of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi) is one of the main contenders to step into Manasi's shoes, they say.

Manasi denies the rumours as preposterous, though she admits that they have been flying thick and fast. "I would like to meet the person who started these rumours. I am very sure of what I am saying. I have not received any such orders, neither from Balaji nor from Sony", she said firmly and added "I am fit and fine. I am still shooting. There is no replacement coming."

Funnily Saklani had this to say. "I have been offered the role, but I did not ask any details about it. I am not sure if I want to take up more work. I have got married just few months ago (to Apoorva Agnihotri). So I am giving more time to my husband. But let's see."

Ekta's assistant Nivedita Basu said, "We have offered Saklani a role in Kkusum but that's another character, a negative role. Kkusum is not changing," Basu effectively squashed the rumours. As for Nausheen Ali Sardar who is currently busy with a non-happening show Kaalchakra, she had recently claimed that Ekta Kapoor had wanted her back in the title role of Kkusum.

Let's see where this hi-drama is taking everyone!