Shantanu is a junior artist!
Before you get shocked and wonder why we are calling the lead actor of STAR One's Rang Badalti Odhani, charming and cool dude Shantanu (Karan Tacker) as a junior artist, well we are not to be blamed. Its his co-actors Natasha (Rucha Gujarathi) and Khanak (Yashashree Masurkar) who have re-christened him as junior artist.
It all started after Shaan out of respect started addressing Natasha as senior given her experience and time spent in the industry. In return, Natasha started calling him a junior artist. Knowing Shaan for his cool attitude and humility, he always takes it lightly.
Says Khanak, ''We never leave a chance to pull Shaan's leg. Natasha and I gang up against him all the time. He started calling Natasha senior for her experience. In turn Natasha now calls him junior artist and we always join her like a chorus. But Shaan is always cool with all these things. He too is a fun loving guy and doesn't take anything seriously. Our off-screen camaraderie is clearly reflected on-screen. We are extremely comfortable with each other.''
Echoing Khanak's sentiments, Natasha reveals, ''Yes, he started calling me senior artist and in return I called him junior artist. We still address each other as senior and junior artists. We are like Tom and Jerry on the sets. Odhani has been like a family with no ego hassles and no confusion. It's great working with Beyond Dreams and Swapna ji, our director. We always look forward to the shoot of the show as we love being together. All of us are from same age-group so we share common interests. I like talking to Yashashree and she always comes to me for help. I love helping her and also give her some tips to acting.''
Well the man in the hot seat, Shaan says, ''Well, Natasha is older than me both by age and experience (laughs) so I call her senior and we automatically become her junior. We have complete fun on the sets of the show. I don't think you can sustain your ego for long here as I love to mess around with people. I pursue them till they become comfortable with me.''
True actors aren't they? Going by their on-screen animosity no one can believe that they are thick as thieves off-screen. Catch the trio of Khanak, Shaan and Natasha on Rang Badalti Odhani, Monday to Friday at 10 pm on STAR One.
Neha Maheshwri/Hill Road Media
Thursday, September 16, 2010