Posted:
hey guys someone has typed out this interview on yahoo groups.....thanks to michelle😃
Balaji Creative Head SAndip Sikcand talks abt actors leaving serials
As we talk of Creative Heads, I came across an Interview of Balaji
Man Sandip Sikcand in a latest magazine. Since I am not able to
find the link on the web to download the interview, I am typing
out excerpts of the interview where he talks about actors quitting
serials (read Rajeev Khandelwal), Ekta and Ekta's special
treatment of Kavyanjali).
Sandip Sikand is the creative Head of serials like KGGK, Kstreet
Pali Hill and DD Metro's Kayamaat. Sandip Sikcand is an
indispensable man in Balaji House and also happens to be producer
Ekta Kapoor's right arm man. Tell him about it and he replies
modestly, " I don't know if I'm her right or left arm man ! To tell
you the truth, I didn't know that I have it in me to do the kind of
work I'm doing for Balaji. I give credit to Ekta for literally
pushing me into it. I thank her for showing great confidence in me."
The Balaji family seems to be at the receiving end forever now.
Actors, technicians, directors'. Everybody who has worked with
Balaji at some point and quit later on, have left with a bitter
taste. Directors like Anil V. Kumar and Kaushik Ghatak, had issues
before walking out of the serial after a bad experience with the
production house. Shweta Kawatraa who played the role of Pallavi
in KGGK allegedly walked out of the serial after a bad experience
with the production house. Moving on, we talk about Rajeev
Khandelwal, who earned name, fame and pots of money till it suited
him. After a year being in and out of Kahiin To Hoga, the man has
finally bid adieu to the balaji family. How did Ekta take this
blow ?
Sandip says :
"Why are we just talking about Rajeev Khandelwal ? There are many
other actors who've left the serial midway. In logon ki aadat hai,
jo pedh unko phal aur chhaon deta hai, usi ko kaatne ki koshish
karte hai. It was very unethical on Rajeev's part to leave the
unit in the lurch. Not that it makes any difference to Ekta. The
lady is way beyond these things. For us, finding a replacement is
never a problem. The problem is handling actors and putting up with
their starry tantrums."
And how does he deal with that ?
"Most actors I work with can't stand the sight of me, but its their
bad luck that they can't do anything about it," he laughs. "Actors
are insecure people. They crave for attention all the time. They
want to have things their way. Their time, their price, their
demands... I feel that the media should ban actors who concentrate
more on creating controversies and less on their work. They just
don't deserve the kind of publicity they get. Our production team
finds it infuriating to put up with all that. That's the reason
I'm the most unpopular creative head around. There are actors
who've walked up to me to say that they are least interested in
talking to me. I turn around and tell them that it's a mutual
feeling but they have to come for meetings and narrations if they
have to work peacefully in Balaji. Seriously when it comes to work,
I just don't compromise. I sleep for only 2 or 3 hours and everyone
is aware thast Ekta herself is a workaholic. If we can take our
work seriously, then I don't see why others can't do it."
On Ekta :
"Ekta has always been like a friend. I don't want to sound like her
chamcha, but working with her has been a great experience. Yes we
have our issues. We fight, quarrel and eventually make up. I've
known her from close quarters and I can tell you that she is a very
sensitive person."
On Kkavyanjali :
Of late, the K-queen seems to be highly sensitive about her latest
serial Kkavayanjali. After churning out innumerable hit serials,
how is the Balaji head reacting to the flak the serial is getting
from all corners ? After a little coaxing Sandip reveals that
Kkavyanjali is a serial that gets special treatment from Ekta and
the entire Balaji team. It is their top priority because it is
Ekta's favourite serial. She is very touchy about it. There are
other serials as well, but Kkavyanjali is a product of her mind.
It's her baby completely. Right from characters to characterizing,
Ekta takes care of everything."
So how does she react to the criticism ? " Kkavyanjali isn't doing
badly," he informs matter-of-factly. "We keep a check on the TRPs
every week. And from what we've gauged, it's only picked up . Ekta
is one person who has always taken criticism in her stride. It
takes a lot of courage to not react at all. But she feels bad when
Kkavyanjali is ripped apart by a certain section of the press."
If being Ekta isn't tough, then being a creative head and handling
numerous shows is equally tough, if not tougher. But Sikcand isn't
perturbed. Taking each day as it comes, he is ready to take on
challenges in life. Our prime time, that is.
Balaji Creative Head SAndip Sikcand talks abt actors leaving serials
As we talk of Creative Heads, I came across an Interview of Balaji
Man Sandip Sikcand in a latest magazine. Since I am not able to
find the link on the web to download the interview, I am typing
out excerpts of the interview where he talks about actors quitting
serials (read Rajeev Khandelwal), Ekta and Ekta's special
treatment of Kavyanjali).
Sandip Sikand is the creative Head of serials like KGGK, Kstreet
Pali Hill and DD Metro's Kayamaat. Sandip Sikcand is an
indispensable man in Balaji House and also happens to be producer
Ekta Kapoor's right arm man. Tell him about it and he replies
modestly, " I don't know if I'm her right or left arm man ! To tell
you the truth, I didn't know that I have it in me to do the kind of
work I'm doing for Balaji. I give credit to Ekta for literally
pushing me into it. I thank her for showing great confidence in me."
The Balaji family seems to be at the receiving end forever now.
Actors, technicians, directors'. Everybody who has worked with
Balaji at some point and quit later on, have left with a bitter
taste. Directors like Anil V. Kumar and Kaushik Ghatak, had issues
before walking out of the serial after a bad experience with the
production house. Shweta Kawatraa who played the role of Pallavi
in KGGK allegedly walked out of the serial after a bad experience
with the production house. Moving on, we talk about Rajeev
Khandelwal, who earned name, fame and pots of money till it suited
him. After a year being in and out of Kahiin To Hoga, the man has
finally bid adieu to the balaji family. How did Ekta take this
blow ?
Sandip says :
"Why are we just talking about Rajeev Khandelwal ? There are many
other actors who've left the serial midway. In logon ki aadat hai,
jo pedh unko phal aur chhaon deta hai, usi ko kaatne ki koshish
karte hai. It was very unethical on Rajeev's part to leave the
unit in the lurch. Not that it makes any difference to Ekta. The
lady is way beyond these things. For us, finding a replacement is
never a problem. The problem is handling actors and putting up with
their starry tantrums."
And how does he deal with that ?
"Most actors I work with can't stand the sight of me, but its their
bad luck that they can't do anything about it," he laughs. "Actors
are insecure people. They crave for attention all the time. They
want to have things their way. Their time, their price, their
demands... I feel that the media should ban actors who concentrate
more on creating controversies and less on their work. They just
don't deserve the kind of publicity they get. Our production team
finds it infuriating to put up with all that. That's the reason
I'm the most unpopular creative head around. There are actors
who've walked up to me to say that they are least interested in
talking to me. I turn around and tell them that it's a mutual
feeling but they have to come for meetings and narrations if they
have to work peacefully in Balaji. Seriously when it comes to work,
I just don't compromise. I sleep for only 2 or 3 hours and everyone
is aware thast Ekta herself is a workaholic. If we can take our
work seriously, then I don't see why others can't do it."
On Ekta :
"Ekta has always been like a friend. I don't want to sound like her
chamcha, but working with her has been a great experience. Yes we
have our issues. We fight, quarrel and eventually make up. I've
known her from close quarters and I can tell you that she is a very
sensitive person."
On Kkavyanjali :
Of late, the K-queen seems to be highly sensitive about her latest
serial Kkavayanjali. After churning out innumerable hit serials,
how is the Balaji head reacting to the flak the serial is getting
from all corners ? After a little coaxing Sandip reveals that
Kkavyanjali is a serial that gets special treatment from Ekta and
the entire Balaji team. It is their top priority because it is
Ekta's favourite serial. She is very touchy about it. There are
other serials as well, but Kkavyanjali is a product of her mind.
It's her baby completely. Right from characters to characterizing,
Ekta takes care of everything."
So how does she react to the criticism ? " Kkavyanjali isn't doing
badly," he informs matter-of-factly. "We keep a check on the TRPs
every week. And from what we've gauged, it's only picked up . Ekta
is one person who has always taken criticism in her stride. It
takes a lot of courage to not react at all. But she feels bad when
Kkavyanjali is ripped apart by a certain section of the press."
If being Ekta isn't tough, then being a creative head and handling
numerous shows is equally tough, if not tougher. But Sikcand isn't
perturbed. Taking each day as it comes, he is ready to take on
challenges in life. Our prime time, that is.
Hindi TV Shows
Ishaani
Tum Se Tum Tak
