Balaji Telefilms conducts auditions across North India
Namita Nivas
Posted online: Friday, May 05, 2006 at 0000 hours IST
Krishnatulsi is to take over the mattle of Tulsi from Smriti Irani as Tulsi moves into Baa's place. A press conference to announce the mega talent hunt for Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi's new entrants was held recently.
The serial is all set to take another 20-year leap from June 7 and will have five new boys and girls each as the kids of Virani parivar grow up. Walk-in auditions for a mega talent hunt for the next generation of the Virani family was held in New Delhi's Marwah Studio, NOIDA on April 29 and 30; Shimla on May 1 at Chaura Maidan College and on May 2 at Dev Samaj College for Girls, Chandigarh. The auditions were open for the general public in the 18 to 25 years age group. The conference was headed by Shivangi Singh Chauhan, Creative head, Sudha Shivpuri who plays Baa and Smriti Irani, the famous Tulsi. The trio confirmed that emphasis, during the search for Krishnatulsi, will be on good diction, brilliant attitude and acting skills. When asked why the hunt was held in the North, Smriti laughed, "How do I know? I myself came from Delhi," before adding that talent is talent wherever it comes from. "Of course, there is no dearth of talent in Mumbai. But Balaji doesn't seek to centralise in any place. Options are open for all." She also mentioned that hunt was held in Mumbai and Gujarat before going Northwards. When questioned what would happen to Baa after Tulsi takes her place, Smriti said, "Nobody can ever take Baa's place. Sudhaji is loved by all and will never go away from people's hearts. As for the serial, Baa will have a 'graceful' exit."
|
| < = src="http://banners.expressindia.com/banner/screenfullstory. js"> < = src="http://banners.expressindia.com/adsnew/adjs.php?para=no &n=883529399&what=zone:443&target=_blank&exc lude=," =text/> < src="http://www.ketoo.com/campaigns/rect_300.js " language="javascript"> < = src="http://media.fastclick.net/w/get.media?sid=22908&m= 6&tp=8&d=j&t=n"> |
When queried as to whether the duo will miss each other, Sudhaji said, "We have to call each other at least one time during the day." To which Smriti said, "I am very grateful to Sudhaji for encouraging a rank newcomer like me who did not know the 'A' of acting when I joined the cast of Kyunki.... She has taught me acting. She is very special to me." Dressed in a salwar-kameez and looking much younger, Sudhaji pointed that as the generation grows, each family member gets promoted to a higher position and so every actor has to take it in his stride. "Tulsi was an 18 year old girl when the serial started. Now she plays a 55 year old and soon she will move to play a 70-80 year old lady. As for me, all good things have to come to an end," she grinned. Does it mean that finally Tulsi will apply whitener to her hair? To this Smriti laughed and said, "I wanted to have grey hair during the last leap. But the creative people at Balaji discouraged me as some seniors in the serial refused to colour their hair. Ekta had said, 'Smriti it will look odd if your hair is white when they are sporting jet black hair. She said most woman dye their hair black these days.' But this time I have insisted that I look old as per the requirements of the character. My vesh bhusha will be that of an 80 year old." She even mentions that when filmstars like Karisma Kapoor and Preity Zinta did not hesitate to dye their hair white for their roles in the serial Karisma-The Miracle of Destiny and Yash Chopra's Veer Zara respectively, what is wrong to do so on television. Talking about how age is not a limit for characters in serials, Smriti reiterated that recently she felicitated 108 year old Chameli Devi from Delhi's Krishna Nagar. "The grand old lady walks steadily. She is witness to five generations of her family," the actor smiled. Krishnatulsi, Shivangi said, will be a young and patli girl. Smriti nudged Sudhaji good-heartedly when she intervened, "When Tulsi came she too was very thin." Grinning, the creative head mentioned that it will be revealed later as to why the character has been named Krishnatulsi. "While dealing with an issue of female infanticide, Tulsi will find a young child on the ghats of the Ganges. She will save her and bring her home.
The kid will grow up with values imbibed by Tulsi," she said adding that as of now 80 percent of the current cast will stay. When asked how long she plans to continue the serial, Shivangi said, "It can go on for as long as it is liked and watched ardently by its religious viewers. It could be for the next seven janams." That means there will be a lot of stretching? To which, she replied, "No. We have discontinued our serials that did not work. For six years Kyunki ... has been the No 1 serial and we hope it continues to do so forever." "Safalta ki charan seema ko chua hai iss serial ne. And we plan to keep it that way. Only now it depends on the younger generation to continue the tradition," added Smriti who was attired like Tulsi in a bright blue embroidered saree. "I am told that everytime I cry, the TRPs of Kyunki ... goes up. So I don't mind doing all those rona-dhona scenes as long as company ka bhala ho raha hai," she laughed when someone posed a question about why she was shedding tears all the time in the serial. Hey this is an article from sreenindia.com .. it says that after the leap only 5 new characters will be introduced as the grandkids.. shouldn't there be more? There's Nakul, Mayank, Bhoomi, Tanya and Karan's child, Nandini and Karan's child, Eklavaya, Ganga and Sahil's child ..lucky i think his name is.. thats alot more than 5.
And i'm really happy they are looking for talent in North India.. hope the new Tulsi actor is from Punjab! Bruahhh
But, do u guys think the leap might be postponed again.. if its supposed to happen June 7.. thats really close.. and they have just held auditions a few weeks ago.. the Balaji team seems to be lagging quite a bit.. actors are supposed to be found well in advance.. especially for such a crucial role as the New Tulsi.. therez no news on whether they have found someone to play the new Tulsi character.. so times running out.. and i think they might postpone yet again ! Balaji really needs to start being more responsible and professional.
Edited by js13 - 19 years ago
Current Affairs
