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Wednesday, January 18, 2006
TELEVISION

FACE OFF
Identity Crisis




Ekta Kapoor conjured up a trick again. Just when viewer interest in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii was slackening, she had Parvati meet with a near fatal accident... and survive, but with another face, courtesy plastic surgery. Meet the new Parvati Agrawal played by Jaya Seal. Om Agarwal and the family registered shock and disbelief. Likewise the viewers. Protests were many, what happened to Saakshi Tanwar, has Ekta Kapoor fallen out with the actor, has she walked out, questions were rampant. A few episodes later Sakshi was spotted in Australia as Swati Dixit. So Saakshi as Swati will continue to be part of Kahaani..., while her sandals are being filled in by Jaya Seal


SAAKHSHI TANWAR
The actor who played Parvati for the last three years and gave the character a face, talks about the role and its impact and why she chose to move on MIDBANNER
Parvati is very idealistic. Do you identify with her?
(Laughs) I didn't identify with Parvati's character at all. It was just Ekta's conviction and persistence. I refused the role thrice. I felt that women like Parvati don't exist. She (Ekta) agreed, that they don't exist, "but, we want to present a woman who has all the qualities and people love her for what she is and who knows this character might evoke some response." I also didn't identify with the age group of this character. It was my first project in Mumbai and it shows me as a mother. I used to have lots of arguments about the dialogues and sanskriti, adarsh and sanskar. But after the serial went on air the kind of response I got was unbelievable. Women especially told me that they saw themselves in Parvati or they wanted a bahu like Parvati. Or wanted their daughters to imbibe the characteristics that Parvati had in the show. There were women from different strata, different background who got back to me. Parvati symbolised acceptance and appreciation for these women. People would proudly introduce me to their bahus as: yeh hamare ghar ki Parvati.

What is your impression of Parvati.
Parvati Agarwal epitomizes the Indian woman who has all the ideals in place. It is very difficult to be where Parvati is, not everyone can achieve that stage in life where one is only concerned for others. In real life only a mother can come close to Parvati. A mother and child relationship can be the only relationship which is selfless. Parvati ki character mein bahut gherava hain. It's not a shallow character. She can forgive easily which is very difficult. Parvati's character will always be close to my heart because that's the character which gave me my position, my popularity.


How much of Parvati have you imbibed in yourself?
I would say as of today it's a 50-50 equation between Parvati and what I have learnt something from the character. But there are certain common factors like the joint family where the togetherness and fights occur. Why negate that (laughs)? The respect that you have for your elders means that you listen to them even when you know that they are wrong. But I would still say what I wanted to say (laughs) and that's where I am not like Parvati, because I have a different opinion. In my order of priority, I am at the top.

Prem Sagar once said that the Sagars chose you to anchor Gurukul, because your image as Parvati is so strong that there wasn't anybody more credible than you to anchor the show. Originally your character in Devi too was like Parvati. So do you think you were being typecast? Has Swati Dixit come as a relief to you?
It is. I am really enjoying every moment of it. I realised that somewhere, I was taking Parvati's character also for granted as a performer. I wasn't trying to experiment and also there wasn't much scope because the character is not very flexible, it is very idealistic. That's why now as a performer I am feeling very free and excited playing Swati. It's like doing a new role. I am getting the same butterflies in the stomach.

What kind of reactions have got as Swati?
What everyone said irrespective of whether they like me as Swati or not is that they are missing me as Parvati. It is not the same. I was in Australia when this track went on air.
When Kahaani... was telecast in India it was early morning over there. So, when I would wake up in the morning I would get these numerous sms, which used to refer to the previous night's episode. Everybody thought that I had a tiff with Ektaa, because earlier Nausheen (Kkusum) and Mauly (Kaahin Kissi Roz) were replaced. I wasn't available for clarification, neither was Ektaa. We used to share our sms and laugh over it. Ekta even told me that "going by my image people are going to think the worst."

Other than Devi and Kahaani... are you looking at something else?
Yes I am looking at more one-offs and stand alone stories because what happens when you do a series is that you get stuck with it for a long time. Initially when you get into it it's a just 52-episode commitment, but when the show does well they don't want to take it off after a year, that's how Devi got an extension. With one-offs the commitment in terms of dates is much less and every time you get to play a new character.


Jaya Seal
Having passed out from the NSD in 1997, Jaya Seal has her roots in films thanks to her film distributor father. This Assamese actor has done 15 feature films in seven languages, including a title role in Buddhadev Dasgupta's much acclaimed Uttara and Shesh Thikana another acclaimed film. Yet till she signed on as Parvati, there was very little known about her.

You have stepped into the sandals of Parvati, a character who is a household name. Was there any diffidence about tackling the role?
I saw it as very challenging, as an actress. If someone has portrayed a role for such long years, and I have to take over from there, I have to be more conscientious for that role. I can't play it any differently because she (Saakshi) has already established some parameters and I have to carry it on. I have tried to do that and I found it interesting. Also, I have come into a new unit. Saakshi and they share a bond. I have tried to work out the chemistry with them and I tried to play the character with as much conviction that I can give. I am trying, it's only been a month. There is a lot to be learnt and to discover. Acting in a serial is different from doing films, there are longer dialogues to deliver. But I feel that one gets to learn a lot more in doing serials. You have to give so much more output in such a short time. So I am trying my best.

What prompted you to shift from films to TV?
It just happened. Nothing was planned. I got a call from Balaji. I was doing films but nowadays the trend has shifted and it is leaning towards sex-based films which I am not comfortable with. If I wanted something really good I would have to wait. I had time so I saw this as a god-sent opportunity. I had heard a lot about Balaji, the serial and Parvati's character. I am more comfortable playing an Indian looking woman, who fights for her family.

Did you do any homework before you started shooting for the serial? In the serial the face changes, but the bottom line is that body language doesn't.
Not that much. I have a different kind of upbringing and different style of acting than Saakshi. I have tried my best to keep the consistency of gestures to some extent. People shouldn't question: who is this? I also spoke to Saakshi about how she would react and the nuances she used. I also spoke to Sandeep Sikand about that. But finally it's my soul I am putting there.


You are saying that you worked out nuances and reactions with Saakshi and watched tapes. So that it doesn't look too different?
I haven't tried to imitate Saakshi, but have tried to do it my way. I am basically a very spontaneous actor, not homework or method-oriented though I have studied it in NSD. I have to go with the flow of both, I can't change my acting style totally. So I go on the sets with some idea in mind and then leave it to my instinct. If the director is happy and convinced with my performance that is good for me.

Parvati has been a role model. How do you relate to that character as Jaya and as Parvati. Is there a merging point?
Not at all, we are both different. My upbringing is from a very simple middle class family, but my values are very strong. I love to be like that, I don't like to go out partying and to discos, my lifestyle is very simple. Parvati's attachment to the family, her simplicity and her fighting for her values are something I identify. If I was married I would have wanted to live with such values and feelings for the family. I am comfortable with the character. As an artiste it's the best feeling, when your role is an extension of yourself. Sometimes there may be a conflict. But overall I relate to this character.

Does it mean that you will not do any films, now with the hectic schedule?
I have an undestanding with the producers that should I get a good offer, I will inform them so that they can create a bank of my episodes when I am away for 15-20 days. Anyway it's a 15 day shoot. I can do films but then the films that are being made are not really worth considering.

What about other serials?
I am not doing any other serials. I am content with Kahaani.... I feel funny and sad - I have done lots of films and am noticed only now as a TV actor. When I was doing selective serious work nobody knew me. The mileage you get from TV, you don't get from the kind of films I have done. Now people know me and when I go shopping people recognize me as the new Parvati. It feels good. As an artiste you need that confidence to know that people like you in what you are doing.
source-
http://www.screenindia.com/print.php?content_id=8127&secnam= television

Kahaani mein twist



Watch out for incredible developments in the show's storyline



Sapana Patil



Twists in Ekta Kapoor's tales act like opium for the masses, keeping them hooked forever, to every turn and travail. Be it deaths, marriages or the issue of one's parentage, she has mastered the art of keeping her audiences sitting on the edge of their chairs.

Recently, Kamal (Ali Asgar, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii) was shown speaking against Parvati (Sakshi Tanwar), to the shock of viewers. But was this twist merely a stunt or could his hatred be for real? Sandiip Sikcand, creative head, Balaji Telefilms, says, "There is someone else who is backing Kamal. One more family member is behind this move."It is speculated that Parvati's daughter Shruti (Tina Parakh) will have something to do with the development. Incidentally, Shruti has been missing from the soap for a long time now, the story saying that she has gone abroad.

Talking about Shruti's entry and her possible involvement, Sikcand adds, "She holds the key to this track. There is more than what meets the eye. All I can say now is that one need not believe what he sees. The truth could be something that is not evident. However, it's assured that in the coming episodes, there are lots of highly unexpected twists and turns." When Ali Asgar, who plays Kamal, was asked if Kamal's reaction was instigated, he says, "Kamal is frustrated about the fact that he has been taken for granted since childhood. He has never been considered man enough to take over responsibilities in the house. He reacts to this by turning against Parvati."

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=19&am p;sectname=Television&sess=1032599519

Mita Vashisht
Trishna turns bad



Goes for a negative image in Kahaani...



On Saturday we reported that Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii will have some incredible developments in the coming week. Adding to the report, we give you a peek at what you are going to see in tonight's episode.

After Kamal (Ali Asgar) turned bad it's his wife's turn to turn negative. Tonight you will see Trishna (Mita Vashisht) adopting wicked ways. Sandiip Sikcand, Creative head, Balaji Telefilms, throws light on the drama. "She is the one who is helping Kamal in making Parvati mad. She feels that Parvati (Sakshi Tanwar) and the family have never given Kamal his due and its time Kamal wakes up to realise the fact."

On Samir and Shruti's status, all Sikcand is willing to divulge is, "They are involved in a plan but not negatively. There is a mystery surrounding their absence. There is a lot of drama yet to unfold..."


http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=19&ar ticleid=122200623413012220062334762

Wicked ways: Trishna, Kamal at it together
By: Shaheen Parkar
January 23, 2006
------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------


Parvati (Sakshi Tanwar)
Parvati's (Sakshi Tanwar) on-going insanity drama in the Star Plus daily Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii takes yet another turn.

Last week, it was revealed that Parvati's brother-in-law and close confidant Kamal (Ali Asgar) had turned against her; leaving Parvati shattered. From tonight's episode it will be revealed that Kamal is not alone in his wicked plan of action.

His wife Trishna (Mita Vashist) is behind all the bizarre happenings in the Aggarwal household. "This will come as a big shock to Parvati who after Kamal's strange behaviour has been turning to Trishna for solace," says Sandiip Sikcand, Kahaani's creative head.

Kamal ka kamaal



Trishna (Mita Vashisht) and Kamal (Ali Asgar)
As reported 'Kamal turns negative' (hitList, January 16), the Balaji soap had him go against Parvati which came as a major blow to her. But now she realises that it is Trishna who is the main force trying to prove that Parvati has gone mad.

In Thursday's episode it was shown that Kamal was trying to burn Parvati's room to further strengthen the fact that she had lost her mental imbalance. Even though Trishna was with Parvati at that time, Trishna does a volte-face and states that it is Parvati who was trying to set her room ablaze in a fit of madness.

"Tonight's episode will have Parvti land up in the mental asylum," adds Sikcand. "This will also serve as a catalyst for the Suyaash (Mohnish Behl) and Parvati track. Suyaash swings to her rescue and is out to prove that she is not insane," adds Sikcand.

Shruti-Samir missing

There are also the missing characters of Parvati' daughter Shruti (Tina Parakh) and son-in-law Sameer (Aamir Ali) who disappeared on their way back from Austarlia.

"That will be another turn in the drama next month. They have not been in the show for almost a month; but theay will be back," informs Sikcand. Are they playing a key role in Parvati's insanity drama? Or is there more to Trishan's volte-face? "That will be revealed in the next few episodes," he adds.

And usual suspects Sasha (Chetan Hansraj) and Pallavi (Achint Kaur) are keeping themselves busy taking on Mayuri (Adita Wahi) who, too, swings to Parvati's rescue along with Suyaash.
source


http://ww1.mid-day.com/hitlist/2006/january/129196.htm

Bollywood on Rape



Whenever there's a sensational rape case in town, our film-makers grab the real-life script for themselves. Yesterday Vikram Bhatt announced a film based on the recent South African model rape case. But what do such films say about the issue itself? Film personalities here picked the most sensitively or crudely made film on rape



Meeta Vasisht
I feel Ghar was the most sensitive film on rape. It is about a newly married woman (played by Rekha) who is gang raped while she and her husband (Vinod Mehra) are on their way back home after a late night movie. It doesn't merely deal with the act of rape but explores the psyche of the woman who has been raped. Also the husband's perspective is brought in very well where he wonders if he could have prevented it.

As for the worst depiction of rape, I would give full marks to Jaago. It was gross, stupid and illogical. I can never understand the whole business of a child being locked up in school and no one being aware of it. And somehow I will never empathise with the fact that the mother of a child who hasn't returned from school can do little beyond looking worried and prancing about worriedly in the house. Hey, she could have actually stepped out of her house to look for her daughter. The whole build up to the rape, according to me, just didn't work. As for the rape scene itself… it was simply voyeuristic. As a matter of fact, it would make a pervert actually want to try it out. When one is making a film on a sensitive issue like this, one has to have his/her aesthetics in place. Here everything was way out of line.


Madhur Bhandarkar
I depicted rape in Chandni Bar without resorting to the usual gimmick of having clothes flying all over the room. That should count as sensitive, shouldn't it?


Tanuja Chandra
The most sensitive film on rape that I've seen has been The Accused. I found it sensitive because it took care to trash all the typical, judgmental male chauvinistic rubbish that's always associated with rape. They show a woman (Jodie Foster) who's drunk in a night-club, being raped and so inviting the all-too-typical comment: "She asked for it." This theory is then rubbished through the court case and you end up feeling justified vicariously. That's what a rape film should be about. There's no argument over the fact that rape is reprehensible and ugly, it just has to be said so in so many words, without titillating.

The worst film that I've seen on rape has been this Anil Kapoor-Juhi Chawla starrer, Benaam Badshah. This film advocated pure bilge. Anil Kapoor rapes Juhi Chawla and she, in her turn, decides to convince her rapist to marry her, and actually goes to live in his neighbourhood in order to woo him. The message is that devotion and marriage can overcome even a rapist, which is so damn sick! It's sick that a film should advocate that by marrying her rapist, a woman becomes honourable.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=10&ar ticleid=12420060938937124200609115

TV actors on work stress

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=19&am p;articleid=22200619489372220061623921

Chetan Hansraj (Sasha in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Chavan in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi):
There have been times when I've shot for three days at a stretch. Although I have gone without sleep for days, I have never collapsed. Now I've promised myself that I'll reduce my pace; you only end up killing yourself by working so hard. The television industry can help us by organising our shooting schedules. The erratic shooting schedules has made most actors unwell.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=17&se ctname=Sunday%20Read&sess=249195198
TV A SERIAL KILLER?



Rishi Majumder goes behind the arc lights and reports the daily grind that is the life of many TV actors



This serial was important to me, so I gave it my all. But I have learnt my lesson now." This is what TV actress Roshni Chopra has to say about passing out on the sets of Kasamh Se. But the dilemma about whether to burn out on one job or fade away doesn't end with one person, unfortunately. TV stars, writers and producers in the film and television industry admit to killer work schedules and play the blame game when it comes to the source of this problem.

"I've worked 24 hours a day and shot 10 days non-stop, and I still have 30 working days a month. And schedules will remain just as hectic," says TV actor Ronit Roy nonchalantly. Roy does not hold anyone responsible for his busy work schedule. "It's the way things are. If you want to work you have to comply," he adds.

Others are not as forgiving. "Just like doing your time in jail, you have to do your time here," opines Chetan Hansraj, one of the busiest actors on TV today. Hansraj is now taking it easy because he doesn't want to "kill" himself; and that is because he can afford to do so. "As a new actor I did eight to 10 scenes a day. I had to prove myself for the first three years. Only after that could I sit back and focus on quality rather than quantity," he rounds up.

But why does even a new actor have these schedules? "The script for each episode comes in late because of TRP demands from the audience. These effect changes like scenes being re-written and re-shot," explains TV actress Pooja Ghai. When Ghai started off, she was shooting for four months with about two hours of sleep everyday. When this led to her losing her consciousness on sets and being hospitalised, she remembers her crew members asking the doctors, "When are you going to discharge her? She has a lot to shoot?" before even checking on her. While such health break-downs among TV actors is common news, one actor called Jyoti Chanakya actually "overworked himself to the extent that his unhealthy lifestyle led to cancer", claims a TV actress who doesn't want to be quoted.

At the center of this vortex is the daily soap opera. Rekha Modi TV script writer for dailies claims, "A daily soap is like running a factory. Creativity roz karni hai (Translation: 'You have to use your creativity everyday', I suppose.). Due to the manic competitiveness in the industry, this will have to be according to the TRPs the channels receive. So the writer can't write their plots and characters in advance." Which means that the actors don't get their schedules till the last minute because one never knows how a scene is shaping up. "Often after going on floor you realise that the drama in the script isn't coming through, so you have to re-write, maybe bring in more characters," Modi adds.

Kinnari Mehta, producer of current soap Sinndoor, explains further, "We're in the middle of a boom. With serials on five days a week, we work 16 hours everyday. Even while talking to you now I'm working out the forecast for Wednesday and ahead, and my production house is one of the most organised. Imagine the mess the unorganised ones will be in." Mehta also points out that people are "glued" to daily shows, and that hence "there's nothing the TV industry can do but meet the trend".

But all actors aren't so fatalistic about this trend. Actor Sumeet Sachdev, for instance, says, "Even when I started out, I had the options to do many more shows, but I didn't take them on. I've never taken on more work than I can handle. It's not true that an actor has to do as many shows as he can fit into a day to prove himself. He could do that by doing one show and putting everything into it." But while Sachdev blames the actor's greed for money and fame for taking on so much work, Hansraj disagrees. "There is so much competition in the industry today that if a new actor gives up work, it'll go to someone else, and make his chances of survival shaky," he reasons.

Strangely enough the film industry, earlier known for erratic schedules, has eased its load. Says film producer Boney Kapoor, "This is because we're functioning as an industry. There's more dependability where commitment is concerned. Actors and producers nowadays insist on a complete script, before shooting, and stick to that. We're shooting films in a short span now, but that's because people are working on one film at a time. Every thing is much organised." Not having the burden of a daily deadline helps, perhaps?

All this brings us to another vital question - the quality on offer. Producers, writers and actors involved in the 'daily' phenomenon, defend it tenaciously, with Modi and Mehta claiming, "The output in one day is the same another would come up with in five days. It's up to the artists to meet the challenge."

Yesteryear's TV, film and theatre character actor A. K. Hangal however, has a different take. "Yahaan sab sirf paise banaanein ke chakkar mein hai. Kaam se kisi ko matlab hi nahin," he dismisses. He claims that earlier too, TV serials were prepared hurriedly to be sent to Delhi for Doordarshan, but at least they were meaningful. "Like Tamas", he cites. Directed by Govind Nihalani, it was an exploration of the communal riots in 1947 and analysed relevant social complexities.

While Hangal does blame the absence of such fare to the lack of "progressive, able and educated" directors, in the TV industry, he does not override the crazy TV deadlines as a factor as well. "I had played Vallabhbhai Patel in a serial called Mountbatten, The Last Viceroy, produced by a UK-based production house. They had prepared the script six months in advance and I had four days to go through it before I started shooting. Can you imagine that happening here?" he asks pointedly.

Actress Pallavi Joshi, once much seen on TV, actually claims to have retracted from the industry because of its daily grind. "The industry has gone crazy! Showing the same thing day in and day out exhausts both the actors and the viewers!" she exclaims. Joshi further elucidates that dailies exhaust all character and story options, leaving nothing for the viewer and at the same time exhausts the actor so much that he or she can't perform. "There's no definite character or line of thought. These might suit women who've come here to earn quick bucks before they get married and settle down, but not for someone like me who wants a career in acting," she argues. Joshi claims that she's praying and waiting for the weeklies to return. Maybe we all should!

* "Just like doing your time in jail, you have to do your time here" — Chetan Hansraj

Shruti injured at work



Actress Tina Parakh has to reorganise her schedule



Reena Thapar Kapoor



It is one thing to be working round-the-clock dillegently, but it quite another when the excess hours catch up with you resulting in ill-health. For Tina Parakh (better known as Shruti of Kahani Ghar Ghar Kii), work was proceeding as usual while she balanced her schedules of Kahani… and Kasauti Zindagi Kii simultaneously; until the point when she sprained her arm.

"I've just been living out of my suitcases," she says. Workaholic that she is, Parakh did not seem to mind the extra working hours till the excesses caught up with her while she was on a double shift for both her 'K' serials a couple of days ago.

On Friday night when she was shooting late, Parakh suddenly experienced a shooting pain in her right arm. "It only got worse after a few hours and I was in deep pain," she says.

The actress however chose not to wind up the shoot. "I'm not quite sure what precipitated this pain, but I was so involved with my scenes that I probably did not realise that I had sprained my arm," adds Parakh.

Parakh was taken to a specialist the following morning. "The doctor advised physiotherapy for a couple of days and I have been asked to take it easy. But knowing me that I am, taking a break is unlikely," she says. In spite of her sprained arm, Parakh is looking ravishing after knocking off those extra pounds she had put on last year. "I've lost a considerable amount of weight but there is a still some more to go before I start flaunting my curves," she laughs.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=19&ar ticleid=2152006125653121520061059375