TOI: Heros Meet A Soapy Death On Prime Time TV-*VD* *RISHBALA*

Mihir Virani's (essayed by Amar Upadhyay) death in Kyunkii... Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi set the ball rolling and televiewers were heartbroken at his untimely demise. Reel death of the male/female protagonist on a prime time TV show since then is a run-of-the-mill trick that showmakers/producers fall back on when the lead actor decides to quit the show! In recent times as many as 12 lead protagonists have been "killed" off for varying reasons" the script needs a dramatic twist, lead characters' starry tantrums, protagonists refusing to add grey to their hair etc, etc. Is lack of a strong storyline/content leading to the death of characters for the makers? Yash Patnaik says, "It's never easy for a writer to kill off a lead character. Weeks of brainstorming and research are invested in creating lead characters who rule hearts, so it's neither good for the show or the actor when he's written off the script. But at times the relationship between an actor and production house gets to a 'point of no return' and killing off the character makes more sense than replacing him with a new actor. It's never an easy task for any maker or writer to see the death of their hero/heroine." In the cases where the protagonist is "killed" due to leap or for creating a strong story line, the same actor is brought back to play a younger role. But in case of some complex issues between makers and actors, a new face plays the role " we have to thank plastic surgery here! And in certain cases, a completely new story line up is added. How difficult it is for the new actors pitching in the show mid-way?

Vivian Dsena, who returned to play a brand new character after his reel death says, "RK's death was scripted as part of the storyline and the makers wanted freshness to introduce an element of freshness, so a 20 year leap happened in Madhubala Ek Ishq Ek Junoon. I was brought back on popular demand and the requirement of the new script in a new role which has been much appreciated." The 'heroic' death doesn't hold much shock value any more for most viewers who know at the bottom of their hearts that dipping TRPs and bombarding social networking/microblogging sites might even get their star back on board in the show if they are lucky, or alternately the fresh new storyline might amp up the spice quotient in the soapy world!