Of rock stars...vamps --article

In fact uncertainty has dogged Kasturi right from day one. Ten days before the show was to go on air, there was uncertainty about who was going to play the female lead. Balaji discovers talent through auditions but despite a nation-wide hunt for a suitable face to play a middle class Delhi girl, Balaji's talent hunters were running helter-skelter to find that one good face with a beautiful smile and who signifies simplicity. Finally they zero in on Pune girl Praneeta Sahu who marched past 500 girls for the plum role. What Ekta liked about Praneeta was her smile. But she was horrified to see her acting. Praneeta was replaced by Niddhi Uttam who did the curtain raiser episode of the show. But Ekta found her too young for the role and replaced her with Shubhangi Atre who was playing Palchin in Kasauti Zindagi Kay. With such uncertainty and last minute replacements it was a sheer wonder that the show came on air on time. But then if measureless uncertainty is the key to the drama of human life, it is also the spice of television drama.

Uncertainty is what rules on the sets of Kasturi as well. We are told that Shubhangi who is down with fever is on her way to the sets. Karan Patel who plays the male lead of rock-star Robbie Sabharwal has arrived but is getting ready. We wait for almost one hour before we get to meet the rock-star. Karan Patel is a Balaji boy. Besides being an actor he is a dancer as well. As a member of Shiamak Davar's dance troupe for three years he has several dance performances to his credit. But that was before he got a break in acting with Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii three years ago. Since then he has been doing only Balaji dailies. Apparently his ability to dance and his three-year long association with Balaji helped him get the main lead in Kasturi.

"Ekta said she wanted me to play the lead. After playing character roles in Kahaani..., Kesar and Kavyanjali this was the first big opportunity that came my way and I said yes. A particular look was designed for the character and I appeared for the look test. Ekta was happy and I got the first major role of my career," beams the young actor who did theatre workshops and backstage work with Nadira Babbar before he got a break on television. "I was always keen on acting. That's why while I was doing my graduation I joined Shiamak's dance troupe and later worked with Nadiraji."

Talking about his role in Kasturi, he says, "Robbie is a big rock star. He is flamboyant, arrogant and self-made man with loads of attitude and aura around him. He is not a snob and loves his fans. But he is too rich and a classy guy with lot of style, attitude and accessories on his body. Adulation is a way of life with him. I think that's how rock stars are," he says. Ask him how the rich, classy and stylish rock star fell for a middle class girl from Chandni Chowk and he says, "Her simplicity and confidence." After falling in love with Kasturi, Robbie has mellowed down. "He has learnt to respect people and relationships. It's an excellent role and it's definitely a huge responsibility on my shoulders to play the character convincingly. But I am giving it my 100 per cent," says Karan who feels youngsters will easily relate to the story and his character. "Young people don't watch television much, particularly the family soaps. But Kasturi will get good share of youth audience," he adds.

Whether youngsters are hooked on to the show is not known but Kasturi is definitely getting eyeballs. In seven weeks it has marched past Zee's channel driver show Saath Phere on the rating charts. Apparently inspired by The Fountainhead, the serial explores the contrast between two classes of people through a love story involving a super rich and brat rock-star and a simple middle-class girl who works to supplement her family's income. "It's the contrast that creates the drama," says Shubhangi who had auditioned for Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi while she was in Pune. Kyunki... didn't happen to her. Instead she was asked to play Palchin in Kasauti... Her innings in Kasauti... lasted for only one and half months, thanks to Kasturi. Being an absolute newcomer it was not easy for her to act varied emotions. "I really had a tough time during Kasauti... But Shweta(Tiwari) helped me a lot," she recalls.

Though Kasturi is not easy either. "Initially it was very tough playing the main protagonist. During the first eight days I did not even go home and also fainted twice on the sets. But now I have got into the groove though it's not all that easy yet," she reveals. But Shubhangi is happy that the role came her way in the most unexpected way and has changed her life completely. "My world has changed drastically within three months. It's a different life that I had not even imaged to live," she smiles. It's a life that allows her only five to six hours of sleep. "Sleep has become a luxury for me," she quips. She also has very less time for her husband and one and half year's old baby. "But somehow I am managing it all," she adds.

Though her world has changed Shubhangi says she is still middle-class girl and believes in family values. "I will always keep my values intact," she beams. While she is sure of keeping her middle class values intact she is not sure of the future of her love story with Robbie. "Currently the love track is being played out but I am not sure what's in store for Kasturi. She has realized the stark contrast between her and Robbie and may be she will have second thoughts about her future with him. But you never know what will happen because changes take place every day," she elaborates. Indeed. For, without measureless and perpetual uncertainty television drama would be dead. It would be dead if there were no villains and vamps. And often in family dramas villains and vamps always come from within the family.

Kasturi and Robbie's love story is definitely headed for turbulent times, thanks to Robbie's mother Devika, Kasturi's chachi Alka and sister-in-law Pooja. Devika is doing her best to retrieve her son from Kasturi's love. Alka can't see Kasturi happy and Pooja hates her. Says Priya Arya who plays Alka, "Her main grouse is that the family business is controlled by Kasturi's father. Having come from a rich family she wants to control the family and have a say in everything. She can't bear to see Kasturi in love with a rich guy. I like my character because in daily soaps it's only the main lead and the main negative character that get maximum success. This is my first major negative role in a serial and I am really looking at doing my best."

Pooja's grouse against Kasturi is that she lost her job because of Kasturi. Married to Kasturi's brother she has an affair with Robbie's sister's husband Nikhil. "Pooja is an ambitious girl. Though she belongs to a middle-class family she dreams big and wants to be in the company of rich people. Her job as Robbie's secretary was her ticket to mingle with the rich and famous. Since she lost the job because of Kasturi her affair with Nikhil is her link to the high society and she will do anything to make Kasturi unhappy," says Amita Chandekar who plays Pooja. With such vamps within the family to create high drama and conflict Kasturi certainly doesn't need enemies.