This one from mid-day:-
Narayani Shastri, who plays mother Rhimjhim and daughter Megha in Piya Ka Ghar (Zee), will soon hang up her boots playing Megha. The decision to have Shastri play a double role was taken in the wake of the constant arguments between the producer (Sheel Kumar) and the actress.
Kumar felt he could not get the desired amount of work from Shastri, while Shastri felt she was giving enough to her Megha character.
Says Shastri, "Kumar wanted 26 block dates from me. I was giving him 15, which I cannot extend. I was also doing shifts in the non-block dates as well. I think I'm doing it pretty well. But I can't remain tied to just one thing in the world. I have a life, don't I?"
"I told him that I can easily do it, but how much could I argue? I got sick of the arguments. Eventually, I gave in. The show is very close to my heart and I don't want to fight," she says.
Workload has increased
From the day the serial took a generation leap, Kumar was not happy with Shastri's obstinacy that she should be given the daughter's role too else she would walk out.
"I went along as long as it was working. Now that the serial airs five days a week, the workload has increased. Since Narayani plays both Rimjhim and Megha, I want her presence in virtually every frame. I cannot shoot in the number of block dates she is allotting to my show presently," says Kumar.
Megha should look younger: Kumar
Kumar also feels that Narayani is not able to impart a youngish look to Megha's character. "The new Megha will have a younger look. I would prefer it that way," he says.
Narayani shoots back, "Megha is supposed to be 22 years old and I'm sure I look the part. Not so long ago, Megha was demented and behaved like an eight-year old. I played that very effectively. If Kumar wants me look to look like a five-year old, sorry, I cannot. I have gone beyond that stage where I need to prove myself."
May return to Kkusum
Shastri has already informed the bosses at Zee about the matter and says they have offered her a new show. The actress says that now she can concentrate on signing other projects.
"Shilpa Saklani (present Kkusum) told me that my track is returning big time. So I may go back to Kkusum if I find the track interesting. Plus, I have an offer for a new show titled Mumbai Times where I play a journalist, to be aired on either Sony or Star One. But I haven't chalked out my future course of action as yet," says Shastri.
While sources say that the search for the new Megha began 20 days ago, it has yielded no fruits so far.
Kumar claims otherwise, "I have not yet started looking for Megha. We have still to work out the details of the new Megha's entry. Of late, I have been very busy with my production Yakeen (Arjun Rampal, Priyanka Chopra) which releases on July 1," he says, adding, "The decision has not created any animosity between Narayani and myself."
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