Posted:
We wonder if bringing in a new actor to play a well-loved character is a good idea
Every actor on Hindi television knows that you can be the most popular one in the country, but that doesn't mean you have job security. Your show can end abruptly (Apurva Agnihotri's Aasman Se Aage), your channel can go off air (Changragupta Maurya on Imagine TV) or you may simply be replaced (that list is endless). Giaa Manek being thrown out of Saath Nibhaana Saathiya after two long years is just the most recent incident where channel wars have forced an actor to quit the show that made them famous. There have been instances when the actors have taken the decision to be replaced. We take a look at some of the replacement decisions and the impact they've had, both on screen and off screen:
Out: Mohnish Behl
In: Sharad Kelkar
Did it work? No
After Sanjeevani and Dill Mill Gayye, Mohnish was playing everyone's fave doctor once again. Opposite him was the much younger but beautiful Kritika Kamra. Jaded mediapersons who attended the show's launch still remember the chemistry the two shared in a live skit they performed. The show was doing somewhat fine till Mohnish's back gave way. He had to quit the show for health reasons. The producers brought in Sharad Kelkar instead. BL fans were among those who expressed outrage over the replacement - not only did they not want Mohnish to quit, but they were not in favour of Sharad either. But the switch happened and three months later, the show is yet to regain its popularity.
****************************************
*NOTE - STRICTLY No BASHING*
