"Everything is happening in November back-to-back. So it will be a working Diwali for me," says the Balaji czarina. "I can't take a single day off especially as Nivi (her trusted lieutenant Nivedita Basu) is busy with her own marriage preparations."
Taash bhi nahin!
Ekta further adds, "You won't believe it but there are card parties happening at home every night. I don't even step into the room. My parents and others are there and I have no clue what's going on."
However, around Diwali weekend, she plans to fly to Tirupati for a day with telly actress Suvarna Jha (Trupti of Kyunki) and Suvarna's mother. "A while back, we had gone to Puri together and Suvarna's mother and I had taken a mannat that we would next go to Tirupati. So, this is one trip we just have to make. I will have to squeeze it in."
She points out that she will be unable to fly down to Kerala for Nivedita's marriage rituals on November 11. "I just can't leave work; but we will all be there in our finery at her reception in Mumbai later in the month."
Back on Sony
Balaji's new show Kuchh Is Tara starring Akashdeep Sehgal begins on Sony from November 19. She describes the show "as an antithesis of a soap with several layers." It is after a hiatus that Balaji is showcasing on Sony. Post Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai and the Sandiip Sikcand episode (who had then quit Balaji to join Sony), Ekta had steered clear from the channel.
"We just took a break from each for a while. It was a little separation and now we are back working together. It is like break ke baad; all's well on our front," laughs Ekta. "Once Kucch Is Tara rolls, I get busy with another show for them with SAB in November end."
Heavy load
Two Balaji soaps — Kasamh Se on Zee and Kasautii Zindagii Kay on Star Plus take a leap in the coming days. In Kasamh Se, there will be some major twists and a rift will be created between Bani (Prachi Desai) and Jai Walia (Ram Kapoor).
Ekta is also keenly looking forward to her two dramas — Kahe Naa Kahe and Kya Dill Mein Hai with newcomers on the soon-to-be-launched 9X channel.
"Kahe Naa Kahe airs from November 12. It is a new channel and so is the cast. So we have to work doubly hard for it."