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The oddest story you've ever heard
Reshma Modi has been asked not to report for the shooting of Mamta after a bout of inexplicably crazy behaviour on the sets
Sapana Patil Poojary
Television actress Reshma Modi, 42, the small screen's ubiquitous mother, was asked to stay away from the sets until further notice by producer Shobana Desai of Zee TV's Mamta after she went on a tantrum throwing spree.
Although Desai was unavailable for comment, the cast and crew of the serial throw light on the matter. Going by their reports, ever since she came on board, Reshma has been up to a lot of trouble for everyone on the sets.
A unit member reveals, "The other day Reshma slapped actress Preeti Puri, who is the protagonist of the show. She also emptied a bottle of water on hero Anand Suryavanshi's head after an argument.
Later, she yelled at the unit's hair-dresser and asked her to leave the room because she couldn't stand the green colour of the hair-dresser's clothes. Finally, she locked herself in her make-up room and refused to come out for her shots." All the actors of Mamta are tight-lipped about the incident, for they have told by their producer not to let the matter become public. However, an actor, on condition of anonymity, says, "Reshma Modi is obviously suffering from some psychological problem. She is suffering from depression and is under medication. She had missed having her medicines that day, probably that's why she went berserk. Soon after she arrived on the sets, she went around yelling at everyone, for no reason. She kept admonishing people for wearing particular colours. However, we understand that she doesn't mean to hurt anyone. The situation seems to be beyond her control, because she was actually laughing after indulging in her antics."
Another actor, who too requested anonymity, says, "Reshma was supposed to cheat-shoot the slap scene between Preeti Puri and herself. Instead, she hit Preeti so hard that Preeti's ears swelled up and the swelling didn't go down even by the end of the day. Reshma is behaving really weirdly nowadays. She talks too much, and talks nonsense. For instance, that day, she left the shoot suddenly and returned only after a lot of persuasion. Afterwards, she locked herself in her make-up room and refused to come out. She has been throwing tantrums regularly. She also goes around saying that someone is conspiring against her. At some point, she kept shouting about some umbrella being stolen."
"Reshma also yells 'cut' during the shoot, when it should be the director's call," the actor continues. "The other day she poured water on Anand's head. He didn't know how to react. He just smiled and chose to keep quiet, on account of her seniority."
RESHMA SAYS:
Yes, there was some drama on the sets of Mamta the other day. I was very angry because my umbrella was stolen. I had bought this umbrella 20 years ago in London and it is very dear to me. My breakfast packet was stolen too. I suspect that the hair-dresser has stolen it, although I am not accusing anyone. I suspect the hair- dresser because I hadn't left the room at all. She said she needed to take out a wig from my bag. I told her that I didn't have one, I only had a hair extension, which she could take. Instead of taking it from my bag she began saying that she doesn't touch other people's bags. And also said that there has never been any theft on the sets of Mamta.
At that time I wondered why she was talking about theft. So I called the production manager and told him that the hair-dresser was taking the issue personally. I believe she is upset with me because I replaced Nishigandha Wadh. Also, I have noted that instead of just doing her job, she stitches my blouses. I told her that she need not do that as there are people for the same. I guess she has taken that personally too.
People are jealous of me and are conspiring against me. I know I may have to leave the serial. But Shobhana (Desai, the producer) doesn't come on the sets, so I didn't get a chance to complain to her. However, she did call me to say that I should not report for shooting until further notice. She told me that there is some politics on her sets. I don't know the datails. But I trust Shobhana. We have known each other for years. I had given her my bungalow for shooting and I didn't charge a penny for that. When she split with Vipul, (film maker Vipul A Shah, now married to Shefali Shah) she had my shoulders to cry on… We bond well. So I don't want to discuss all this.
I am surprised that people are saying I throw tantrums. In fact I don't know how to throw tantrums. I have been working in this industry for a long time. I have acted in nine Balaji serials. Had I been throwing tantrums, how would I get so much work from Ekta Kapoor? At this stage, I don't need Shobhana Desai or her money. But, to be honest, I do need Ekta Kapoor. I always do my work and go home. I only concentrate on my work and avoid interviews because invariably Raveena Tandon (Ravi Tandon is her mother's brother) and Vishal Singh's names get dragged into my interviews.
I think somebody wants me out of the serial. It could be the director, the hair-dresser, or the production controller. But I am not bothered. May be the director Apurva is against me. He appears drunk on the sets. On second thoughts, I think he is a sweet guy. Having worked in Balaji, I am used to handling pressure, but he may not be accustomed to it.
But I am sure that I am being victimised. For two consecutive nights, I was dubbing at Shobhana Desai's office. Tell me, when dubbing is usually done on the sets, why was I called to the office? Somebody is jealous of me, so I see myself as successful. I am fed up of people thinking that I am depressed.
And why are you asking me if I poured water on Anand Suryavanshi's head? Who is Anand Suryavanshi? Is he a soap that gets dissolved in water? I don't know the real names of actors. I know everyone only by their character names. I know someone called Akshay.
• "Who is Anand Suryavanshi? Is he a soap that gets dissolved in water?"
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