Sacked-Twinkle Beauty Parlour

Actors of 'Twinkle Beauty Parlour' cry foul as they are given the pink slip without any prior intimation... Narayani Shastri is the only one who is spared from the mass downsizing.


It took off with a lot of fanfare as huge hoardings around town announced its launch. However, barely a month and a half down the line, there is trouble on the sets of SAB Channel's 'Twinkle Beauty Parlour'.

In what the actors of the show claim to be a 'thoroughly unprofessional move' the channel has allegedly ousted most of the actors from the serial. Needless to say, they are fretting and fuming about the whole issue.

Rajev Paul who was part of the show from day one says, "Except Narayani (Shastri) everyone else is out of the show. What's worse is that we weren't even informed of it!" Paul further alleges that the realisation dawned upon him as he was reading the script. "We got to know about it by accident. Smita (Bansal) and I were doing a scene where I had to say 'I am getting a job in the UK'. On further investigating, I learnt that practically whole cast has been been shown the door. We were shocked! I do understand that television is an unpredictable medium and that a character's track can change its course. But nothing should happen without informing the actor. We expect a certain level of professionalism."

A confused Paul wonders why such a drastic step was taken. He insists, "The show was doing well for its slot and channel. Besides, the serial is barely six weeks old. It's too early to decide its fate. They should give the show some more time to establish itself. We were all enjoying acting in the serial. I have no grievances against (producer) Shrishti (Arya). She has fought (with the channel) for us. But she too has her limitations. It shouldn't have ended so abruptly."

And it isn't just Paul who is caught unawares. Co-star Smita Bansal says, "I immediately called up the creative team when I got to know about it and asked them if this was the end of it. And I was told 'yes'."

Although she hasn't pursued the matter, she certainly is looking for some answers. "I was in a state of shock. I had to rush to Goa that day so I couldn't follow it up. But once I get back, I will certainly ask them the reason behind this unprofessional and unethical behaviour."

Another actress on the show Simple Kaul also got to know about her ouster indirectly. She says, "I am in Malaysia and I got to know about it from a friend. I haven't been able to speak with the production team. But I will check once I return."

An actor on condition of anonymity stresses on the need for a special clause in the contract. "Many of us have refused other projects because we were committed to 'Twinkle Beauty Parlour'. It is shocking how the channel has treated us and surprising considering that it spent Rs. 5 crore on publicity."

Narayani Shastri, the sole survivor on the show isn't amused either. She says, "They are planning to change the setup of the show entirely. They will show my character employing new staff and also focus her love life. But when I got to know this I was quite confused. Besides this is not what I had agreed to do. With things going in this direction, I will have to consider my next step. I will meet the producers and the channel before taking a call. It is quite evident that this development is a last-minute decision, why else would they shoot the title song with characters that are to disappear after a few weeks."

Vikas Bahl, the channel's business head says, "No one has been asked to leave the serial. This show is about the parlour. Characters will keep walking in and out. We are planning a revamp and new actors will come in. A change will happen on July 10. However, all this is not a sudden development. This was always the case. I reserve my opinion as to why the actors got to know of this only recently." Despite repeated attempts, producer Shrishti Arya could not be contacted.