Not sorry for the break |
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A. L. Chougule Three years ago, when Rajeev Khandelwal quit Kaahin Toh Hoga at the peak of his popularity, people were shocked. Today actors opting out of successful shows is a routine occurence. Screen finds out what prompts the move... bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. But this age-old saying does not hold true for today's television actors.Take the case of Iqbal Khan. A failed film actor, it was Ekta Kapoor who gave a new lease to his career on television. After doing three Balaji shows - Kaisa Yeh Pyaar Hai, Kavyanjali and Karam Apna Apna - the overworked and popular actor quit playing the main lead in the fourth show Karam seven months ago for his marriage and honeymoon. He is yet return to television... Ever since dailies have taken over prime time, the turnout of actors has been very high. Several actors have quit shows at the peak of their popularity. These include Rajeev Khandelwal, Kiran Karmar4kar, Smriti Irani, Shweta Kwatra, Manish Goyal, Tina Parekh, Mohnish Behl, Manoj Bohra, Cezanne Khan and Anuj Saxena, to name just a few. Five years ago, most actors would not have even thought of walking out of a successful show even if they were not too satisfied with their role. Today, quitting a popular show or taking a break from TV is becoming a fad rather than an isolated case. What makes actors leave shows without an alternative in hand? "There are various reasons, both personal and professional," says producer Sunjoy Wadhwa of Saath Phere. "As daily soaps undergo various changes, actors feel dissatisfied with the way their characters shape up. Some times they have a tempting offer elsewhere and therefore do not mind jumping the sets." STAR India's ex-senior creative director Shailja Kejriwal who has joined NDTV's new entertainment channel to be launched later this year says by and large breaks and replacements have become a routine affair because of an actor's inability to cope up with the pressure of working in dailies. "Sometimes it's creative dissatisfaction that leads to their exit. After all, it's not easy to work in dailies for a very long time with the same level of involvement," she feels. Kaahin Toh Hoga was Rajeev Khandelwal's debut show. What surprised most people was that Rajeev who became hugely popular as Sujal quit the serial just a year after it started and remained almost out of limelight over the next two years. "I have always wanted to do quality work. Kaahin Toh Hoga was a love story and I opted out because after one year the love story was over and it became a regular saas-bahu drama," reasons Rajeev who's just quit another show Left Right Left which he had been doing for a year. "It may not have been a very popular show but it's a widely talked-about series. However, I felt that the story was not moving ahead and my character was stagnant which is why I quit," he confesses. As Om of Kahaanii Ghar Ghar Kii, Kiran Karmarkar was hugely popular. But after five years he left and stayed away from TV for a year. "I needed a break to get away from the monotony of doing one role. More than a break I needed a change," says Kiran. Once he quit Kahaani... the sluice gates opened and he was offered several roles. "I was offered leads in practically every serial, both on-air and new - Yeh Meri Life Hai, Jassi..., CID and Kohinoor. Ekta had also offered me two shows. But I was not ready for any serial," he reveals. "I wanted to stay away from television and was also looking for some new challenging roles." While he is currently doing the weekly Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan he had opted out of Saathi Re mid-way because he didn't find anything interesting in the character. |
Manish Goyal, post-Nach Baliye, walked out of Bhabhi that had made him popular as Tilak. He didn't want to play a grandfather after the generation leap. He also quit Betiyaan after a few weeks' work. Says Manish, "I do one project at a time and give it my 100 per cent. But I didn't get what I was promised in Betiyaan. At this stage of my career I am looking for something challenging. I was offered Durgesh Nandini but I refused because I was being denied my space and freedom to do something else for 90 days which was not acceptable to me."
Other actors who have walked out of popular soaps due to generation leap include Manoj Bohra (Kasauti Zindagi Kay) and Arjun Punj (Woh Rehne Wali Mehlon Ki).
Manoj played Prerna's son Prem in Kasauti... for almost one year. The second 20-year generation jump would have required Manoj to play a 50-plus character and he decided to bid adieu. "The generation leap was an unfortunate development because I really loved the character. I felt sad because I was quite attached to the character and gave so much to the show which helped bring in new audience," he says regretfully. Like Manoj, Cezanne who played Prem's father and Prerna's ex-lover also quit Kasauti... for the same reason.
Monotony got Shweta Kwatra, Pallavi of Kahaani ,to opt out when the character was extremely popular, "I needed a change and chose not to do a daily for almost two years, hoping that the scene would change. But it didn't. Last year I wanted to do a daily but I signed for Nach Baliye which kept me busy for six months," admits Shweta who's entered Kumkum six months ago. Tina Parekh recently quit Kahani... after a three-year stint as Parvati's daughter Shruti. "The character had a beautiful journey and whatever I am today it's because of Kahaani... But I had to move in life. Shruti was an extremely important and popular character but I am done with the role," she explains. Denying that she was bored playing the character or that it was getting monotonous, Tina says it was her desire to experiment with new roles that prompted her to quit.
Among all the exits and walkouts, Smriti Irani's departure from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi two months ago made the biggest headlines. Whether she quit the show after seven years because of a showdown with Ekta or lack of time owing to her own shows Thodisi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasman and Virrudh is anybody's guess.
Shweta, Tina, Rajeev, Kiran and Manish risk opting out of popular shows but imagine a newcomer like Poonam Joshi quitting Balaji's Kaahin Toh Hoga? "After two-and-a-half years I wanted a change. There was no challenge left in the role and though I took a risk I didn't remain jobless even for a month. I did Tumhari Disha and now I am doing Woh Rehne Wali Mehlon Ki," says Poonam. Gurdeep Kohli, on the other hand, took a break from Sindoor because of marriage and didn't return to the show because of professional and personal differences with producer Kinnari Mehta.
It's not just actors who opt out of shows, channels and producers also send them on a long holiday or simply show them the door. After the first generation leap Achint Kaur who replaced Shweta as Pallavi in Kahaani... was out of the show but her character is now back in the story. Achint is also out of Kyunki... Mita Vasisht who plays Trishna in Kahaani... has been sent to jail and is currently out of the show. Mita has no clue when Trishna will be brought back. Kavita Kapoor who played Meera in Yess Boss for nearly five years has recently been replaced by Sonia Kapoor. Nigaar Khan who played Barnali in Kasamh Se.. was sent to jail and a year later she is still serving the prison term. In fact, over the past few years several characters have come in and gone out of dailies. Says Achint, "Entries and exits are fairly common occurrences. There is nothing unusual about it."
One reason why breaks have become a routine is that replacements don't make any difference to dailies' popularities. "The audience has matured. They connect more with the story and characters than actors," feels Shailja. Another reason is the opportunities and money. Today actors are hardly an insecure lot. "It is a huge industry and there is enough work around," says Gurdeep.
Sunjoy feels that the money factor is definitely one of the major reasons behind actors quitting shows mid-way. "Five years ago actors would have thought five times before leaving a show. Today because of their increased financial comfort they can afford to walk out,"he says. Agrees Rajiv Paul who quit Karam along with wife Delnaz, "Three years ago I would not have done it. But today I am in a position to pick and choose because money is not a problem with me anymore."
http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=16962Edited by Saara COMB - 17 years ago