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S et 1, Jaipan Studio, Goregaon: It's pouring outside and the approach road to the studio is under kneehigh water. Inside, an as sortment of characters are moving around in ordered control. Episode director Swapna Joshi is egging on junior artistes for one last rehearsal before canning the day's first successful take. I'm at the shoot of Star One's current primetime daily, India Calling, which is wrapping up the sangeet ceremony before the wedding of female lead Chandni, played by Mansi Parekh. Chandni is finally tying the knot with her hip boss and boyfriend Aditya, after a series of twists and turns that have brought the show to the farmhouse of Aditya's dadaji, played by Anang Desai. Desai, a very popular dadaji on television today, has a smile and a wink for every new entrant on the sets — when he's not reading his lines. Parekh, the center of attraction at today's shoot, is dressed in a red bridal costume, and loads of gold. She strikes some coy poses for the camera, a total contrast to her firebrand character onscreen. "Acting on TV has helped a lot in curbing my restlessness; now I've learned to value pa tience," she says, adding, "Today we complete 150 episodes of India Calling. It's been a great run, I think." Nigar Khan, the show's vamp quotient, saunters in in traditional finery, while Parekh borrows space in the men's make-up room, where we continue the interview. Khan, in contrast to her usual corporate look, looks elegant in her ethnic avatar. "It's just a costume change, there's been no change of heart in her character's animosity towards Chandni," says Parekh. "She's just playing along with the celebratory mood since she's now realised that inspite of all her machinations Chandni's wedding with her devar is now inevitable," she adds. Beyond that Parekh wouldn't reveal anything else: Would the show now totally abandon the call center backdrop? Will Chandni continue with her job or become a perennially-decked domestic hausfrau? "Wait and watch," is all she's saying for now.
One only hopes that beneath all the hype and grandeur of another soap shaadi, (fast emerging as a mandatory essential and a TRP gimmick with most serials these days), India Calling doesn't let go of its 'different' peg, end up as another saas-bahu saga.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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