Articles Archive - Page 2

Tara to play wannabe socialite

Navneet Nishan, aka Tara, joins the cast of Nimmo...

Reena Thapar Kapoor

Navneet Nishan

Sujata Mehta

Navneet Nishan became a household name with her show, Tara, and was a pioneer of sorts in the television industry. Despite her popularity, she disappeared into oblivion once the show closed shop. She was seen playing small parts in a few big films but none could get her the same recognition.

Nishan seemed to have vanished even from TV. She says, "I admit that there are no great roles written for women these days. After Tara, no producer or director offered me any earth-shattering roles. Hence, I couldn't retain the standards that I set for myself after Tara."

The talented actress is now set to begin a new chapter in her life, and will be seen in Balaji's new show Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka on Star One. Incidentally, Nishan had turned down Balaji's Kavyanjali last year. So, what prompted her to take up Nimmo? "I guess I was destined to be part of the Balaji group sooner or later..." she laughs. "I play the part of a wannabe socialite, Pam, on the show. Pam is a Punjabi woman who is stylish and poised. I'm terribly excited about playing this grey character."

Nishan reveals that the character has been conceived by Ekta Kapoor herself. "I'm told that she doesn't meet too many people but I'm glad that we had a great and long meeting over 'Pam.' Ekta had a certain image of the character in her mind, and has explained it to me."

Nishan began shooting for the show yesterday. "I've got a stylish hair-colour to suit the character," she says.

However, the idea of shooting for a daily show does have her running scared. "I hope I can cope with the pressures," she concludes.


• After Tara, no producer or director offered me any earth-shattering roles. Hence, I couldn't retain the standards that I set for myself after Tara – Navneet Nishan


AUNTIES ARE BACK

• Sujata Mehta in Nimmo...

• Tabassum in Dyar Ke Do Naam Ek Radha Ek Shyaam

• Rati Agnihotri in Sixer

Eijaz enters Nimmo as Kunal
By: Tushar Joshi
March 18, 2006
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Eijaz Khan
Eijaz Khan stepped into someone else's shoes in Kavyanjali almost a year back. Now, he has started shooting for Star One's Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka.

"I wasn't really sure in the beginning if I was part of Nimmo. I only believed it the day I was asked to report on the sets." So what is Khan doing on the show? " I play Kunal Sehgal — a successful entrepreneur who lives life lavishly. He likes having pretty girls around him and doesn't shy away from flirting."

Fun at work

Apart from bagging a new show and a fresh start, Eijaz is also relaxed as he's working with good friend Sanjit Bedi. "We have lots of fun on the sets. Both of us hate Himesh Reshammiya songs, and can't stand the way he sings. Like me, Sanjit, too, is a foodie. We keep ordering food from outside, and the atmosphere is definitely more fun."

Playing a lead in Kavyanjali, one of television's most ambitious shows, took a toll on the actor. It took a while for Eijaz to adjust to the long working hours and haywire schedules.

"It has been a bumpy ride. I have had my share of accolades and brickbats. Kavyanjali has definitely been a learning experience for me, not just as an actor, but as a person as well," he says.

New look

When asked about his look on Nimmo, he said, "It's definitely different from what you have seen of me in Kavyanjali. The hairstyle and the clothes are more fun and less serious. I am really excited about my entry sequence that has been shot in a really different way. Also, you will see me wearing pyjamas and t-shirts, something younger and more contemporary."

How was it working with a newcomer like Sanjida? "She doesn't seem like a debutante at all. She's an extremely intelligent girl, and knows exactly what she's doing."

Recently there was buzz that the actor will make an exit from Kavyanjali. "Yes, I have heard about it. But I don't know, it may or may not happen. I really don't want to get involved with creative decisions. I will do exactly what's asked of me."

Added Nivedita Basu, creative head for Kavyanjali, "We haven't decided anything regarding Eijaz's track in Kavyanjali yet. Both he and Iqbal (Khan) will be sharing screen space as of now."

Sources indicate Kavyanjali is focussing on the love angle. "Yes, I think the story is now going back to where it all began, the romance between Anjali and me," said Eijaz.

March, 17 2006
Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka, Star One per
After the stupendous success of shows like The Great Indian Laughter Challenge & Nach Baliye, Star One is bringing its biggest show to hit television screens – 'Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka' (KHNK). Produced by Balaji Telefilms, KHNK will be aired on Star One from Monday to Thursday at 10:00 p.m., starting March 20, 2006.

This half hour show, Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka, boasts of a spectacular star cast including the veteran telly actors like Dara Singh, Dolly Thakore, Bharati Achrekar, Sujata Mehta, Navneet Nishan and some of the popular stars such as Rakhi Tandon, Sanjit Bedi, Muni Jha, Eijaaz Khan & the protagonist Nimmo, played by the newcomer Sanjeeda. And that's not all…the surprise package comes in the form of Navjot Singh Sidhu in a never-seen-before avatar, as he plays GOD himself!

Says Ms. Shailja Kejriwal, Senior Creative Director, Star India, "Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka will by far be one of our biggest launches this year. After the successful launch of shows like The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Dwitiya, D.O.N and other shows on the 'Fantastic Friday', we aim to create the same excitement with Kya Hoga Nimmo Kya on weekdays. Produced by Balaji Telefilms, the leaders in television programming, KHNK has one of the most promising star cast. Star TV's association with Balaji Telefilms has been a successful combination and we are thrilled to welcome them to be a part of the Star One family now!"

Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka is a Cinderella story of a middle class girl, Nimmo Mathuria… a girl who is very confident, bubbly and full of life! She is very content and satisfied with her life. But she is very clumsy as she trips often…breaks glasses quite often and gets into trouble. Nimmo accepts everything gracefully as part of her life. She has a close-knit family that consists of her mother, Kantaben, two sisters Naina and Swati and her dad, Anand. Nimmo is closest to her dad. Comparatively, her two younger sisters Swati and Naina are very different… Naina wants to be a Miss India and wants to marry a rich man, whereas Swati is highly practical, bold and wants to marry a guy who either has his own news channel or should have enough money to open one of his own! Nimmo's mother dreams of being a Page3 regular, but her father is a humble man & the closest to Nimmo.

Will Nimmo's luck finally change? Will she be able to carve a niche for herself in the Segal family & in Kunal's heart? To find out all this & more… share a tear, few smiles & lots of laughter with Nimmo & her family on 'Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka', starting March 20, 2006, Monday to Thursday at 10 p.m. on Star One.

Ejiaz Khan

One gets replaced on soaps at the snap of a finger

Ejiaz Khan speaks about his insecurity over sharing screen space with Iqbal Khan in Kavyanjali and being the second choice in Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka

Subhash K Jha

Even if Ejiaz Khan danced with Amrita Arora in the 'Dilli ki sardi' in Zameen, it was only after he essayed the role of Kavya in Ekta Kapoor's Kavyanjali did he start getting fan mail by truck-loads. Today, Ejiaz is so busy that he does not get time to go through his mail. And with his serial Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka to be aired tomorrow, Ejiaz is only expected to get busier.

"And to think that before working with Ekta Kapoor in Kavyanjali to me I used to look down on television. Now, I look on soaps as serious commercial entertainment," says Ejiaz. "I just want to act, no matter what the medium. In my new serial for Ekta, Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka, I play a different character from Kavya. What more can an actor ask for?"

Acting is an unusual choice for Ejiaz since he comes from a family of engineers. "Television was the last thing on my mind. I grew up in a church in Chembur. I was mother-less and not on good terms with my father. So my brother and I were close to the Anglo-Indian community there. I couldn't even speak Hindi properly," he says.

So, he first modelled, and did music videos and a couple of dances for films. "I've a background in dancing. I danced with Abhishek, Aishwarya and Gautami Gadgil for 'Tumhein aaj maine jo dekha' number in Rohan Sippy's Kuch Na Kaho after some actor backed out at the last minute. Then in 'Dilli ki sardi' in Zameen some guy couldn't get his steps right. I stepped in."

All was going well till tragedy struck. "During the shoot for Sohail Khan's Maine Dil Tujhko Diya, I broke my shoulder. After surgery I fell on the same shoulder. I was bed-ridden for eight months. I thought it was the end of my career."

During the period of recuperation, Ejiaz. had to cope with long spells of isolation. "I think those months made me stronger, though the movement in my shoulder is frozen forever. For a model, dancer and actor, it was quite a setback, something I have grown accustomed to since childhood."

After touching rock bottom, things started to look up. "I was looking at a film career and met up with Ken Ghosh for Ishq Vishq. I was offered Kul Vadhu which finally became Koi Dil Mein Hai. When I was leaving the Balaji office Ekta saw me and offered me an exclusive contract. I started with Kahiin To Hoga and then did Kesar. I was soon shooting non-stop for thirty hours. But it's Kavyanjali which was a learning ground."

But was he a last-minute replacement on Kavyanjali? "Rakshak Sahni who was doing it was raw while I had already done five Balaji soaps."

Now, he will be seen sharing screen space with the Iqbal Khan on Kavyanjali. "Iqbal and I have lots of dramatic scenes together, but there is no rivalry. There is some insecurity, because one gets replaced on soaps at the snap of a finger. In fact, I stepped into Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka after Hiten Tejwani said no."

While work takes precedence in Ejiaz's life, love is on hold. "I had someone very close to me whom I never spoke about because she wasn't from the industry. There was just no time for a relationship. After a hard day's work all you think about is some sleep, not a relationship. We tried to make it work. I miss her sometimes. But all isn't lost."


* "Before working with Ekta Kapoor in Kavyanjali I used to look down on television. Now, I look on soaps as serious commercial entertainment"

Finding Nimmo

Abhishek Mande

That was what we were left doing at the launch party of Kya Koga Nimmo Ka? in Boehmia on Friday. So we had to actually look out for Sanjeeda the protagonist of the show who was dressed in a jet black dress. And we're assuming that this rookie has learnt her first fashion funda in showbiz. Black is not always a safe bet… especially when you're partying in a dimly-lit nightclub.

So, perhaps out of experience or simply because of the hot weather, quite a few actors turned up in white. For one there was Hiten Tejwani who seemed all over the place in his white shirt. Then Rakshanda Khan trooped in fashionably late in a white top and a pair of simple blue jeans with a belt of the same colour to go with. Dolly Thakore also looked pretty cool in her white sari. But the one who we though made a poor style statement in the colour was Sujata Mehta. We thought the hideous transparent (for the want of any other word) bangle she wore was bad till our eyes fell on the innumerable rings she sported on her fingers. Ekta Kapoor also came in and breezed out just as quickly… though not before giving out sound bytes to the media. Also spotted at the do were Riva Bubber, Chaitanya Chaudhary, Narayani Shastri, Hiten Paintal with Kishwar Merchant, Yash and Gauri Tonk, Joy Sengupta and Achala Sac

Achala Sachdev and Sanjeeda

Kishwar, Bakul and Narayani Shastri

Hiten Tejwani and Gauri Pradhan

Ekta Kapoor

I am a rebel with a lost cause'
Wednesday, March 08, 2006 20:10 IST

< name=searchDtls1 =http://www.dnaindia.com/SearchContents.asp?catID=search&pagenum=1 method=post> </> Navneet Nishan says accepting 'Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka' is a lucrative career choice After playing protagonist Tara on television years ago, actor Navneet Nishan is back in the soap stream with Balaji's 'Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka'. She clarifies the misconception that she had diappeared from the small-screen. Navneet explains, "My comedy show 'Sabse Bada Rupaiyya' did not get noticed. So people assumed that I had quit." Navneet reminisces about 'Tara', "We were way ahead of our times. Times have changed now." She believes in keeping pace with the generation, "I didn't want to be a fence-sitter and bask in the glory of my old days. My closest friend Amrita (Singh) and Sushmita Mukherjee has been working with Balaji for over a year now. So I decided to join the gang." She says of her role in 'Nimmo', "I play a typical NRI woman who is a social climber." Nishan was keen to work with Balaji. "I had heard about the company's professionalism and the opportunities it provides for long-term employment. There is nothing much you can do in a two-hour film with 12 main characters. So I'd rather do a substantial role in soap." Navneet is excited about 'Nimmo' as it has an interesting ensemble including actors Dolly Thakore, Sujata Mehta and Navjyot Singh Siddhu. She adds, "Besides that I get to work with the new generation and learn much from them." Navneet doesn't regret succumbing to the stereotype, "I am used to the good life and material comforts. For that I need to stay employed," she quips. "I am the rebel with a lost cause. Parallel cinema did not even consider me. So where else could I go?" Navneet concludes

Sanjeeda turns down Madhavan for Ekta
She's already on air with the promos of her debut show - Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka (Star One). Sanjeeda, who plays Nimmo, is the newest Balaji entrant.

Did she stand in line with hundreds of aspiring actors to get noticed? No, destiny made life easier for her. The actress was present at a party where Ekta Kapoor, too, made an appearance. Still searching for her Nimmo at that time, it took just one glance for Ekta to realise her leading lady was standing right before her.

Describing how she got the role, Sanjeeda said, "Both of us happened to be there in the room at that time. Ekta just walked up to me and said she wanted me to work for her. The next day, I got a call from Balaji asking me for an audition, and in a matter of days, I was at the Nimmo set. It all happened so fast, that it took time to believe it."

Already an established name in the film industry down south, Sanjeeda has done a handful of Kannada and Tamil movies. "I was happy doing films and working with big banners, she says. I really had no particular ambitions about being a TV star." However, once she got Nimmo, her priorities changed. "Who wouldn't want to work with the best production house in the country? After I heard the story and realised how passionate Ekta was about the show, I decided to fully concentrate on the project."

In fact, she even turned down an offer to work in a film opposite Madhavan due to lack of dates. "I had to say no to Madhavan - he's a huge star down south - but since I wanted to give Nimmo my best, I had to turn down the offer." Sanjeeda is new to acting. Previously working as a choreographer for celebrity weddings, like those of the Hindujas and Rahejas, this Ahmedabad girl never thought seriously about acting as a livelihood.

When asked about her on screen character, she said, "She's a happy-go-lucky girl, who has no regrets whatsoever in life. " Sources claim that Nimmo's character Nimmo is based on Ekta's own life. Is Sanjeeda aware of this? "Many people ask me this… am I playing Ekta? Is Nimmo's story based on her life. Well, wait and watch!".

Deepak Segal (Executive Vice President, Content Star) says, "I foresee further fragmentation in the TV industry, what with new channels, and technology like DTH and mobile coming up. For us at Star we hope to put on some shows that get into the marathon and some shows that could sustain in the race and keep leading in the marathon."

The workaholic TV tycoon Ekta Kapoor says, "I see a continuing fragmentation of viewership. Star Plus will continue to be on top in 2006. But Zee and Star One will inch forward. For me innovation is the key word. As far as soaps go, my biggest challenge this year is Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka on Star One. It takes me into an entirely new territory. My other new soap Kasamh Se is a sweet warm story that I hope to use it to lure urban audiences into watching Zee. And Kandy Floss on Sony will be my first non-fictional show. I'll also be launching one of my biggest soaps ever at year-end. There're other things on the anvil. But these are the main challenges. As far as Indian television is concerned, the sky is no longer the limit."