Four actors get the boot

Kumkum seems to be already doing its Diwali cleaning. Juhi Parmar and Hussain have been retained in the serial but the four youngsters — Vivan Bathena, Gaurav Khanna, Nikita Thukral and Megha Gupta who played Kumkum's sons and daughter-in-law have been replaced by Vishal Vatwani, Amit Khanna, Snigdha Srivastava and Ira Soni.

"Most of them didn't want to continue anyways so it was in the best interests of the show to let them go," says Karishma Grover, creative head of the show. Vivan Bhatena, who played Dhruv, explained, "I have just signed a new show on Star One Chhoona Hai Aasmaan and already am doing the lead in Zee's Maayka so the role in Kumkum didn't seem so exciting." Gaurav Khanna, who played Sharman didn't want to continue with Kumkum. "I was doing Meri Doli Tere Angana on Zee TV and so dividing time was getting tough. I told them to take a stand and they did." Nikita Thukral, who played Sia got a South film the remake of Don opposite Nagarjuna while Megha Gupta who played Niti was not happy with her negative role she got and opted for a better role in CID.