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'We're making TV serials, not a Karan Johar film'
Yesterday Amarr Upadhyay hit out at Balaji Telefilms for underpaying him. Today Ekta Kapoor hits back at Amarr for quoting Rs 30,000 a day
Subhash K Jha
Amarr Upadhyay's declaration that he was offered the lead opposite Smriti Irani in the Ekta Kapoor-Smriti Irani co-production, Thodisi Zameen Thodasa Aasman has left Ekta Kapoor mildly amused.
"Amarr was offered the role. But he was always on our contingency agenda and never the first choice. It was always Jackie Shroff, followed by Kiran Karmarkar (who plays Om in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki). Then Om didn't seem to work out because he had signed another serial and couldn't give us all the dates we required per month. That's when we approached Amarr. But he quoted Rs 30,000 a day! We can't afford that kind of pay-packet for any of our actors. We're making television serials, not a Karan Johar film. This is the second time that we've had a monetary imbroglio with Amarr. Earlier we had offered Amarr a role in Krimson Skies, but then too he had asked for an enormous amount which sent us staggering – to another actor," says Ekta.
What went wrong with Jackie Shroff? "We were really keen on Jackie. And he's a sweetheart. However finally thought that the role of a mentally-challenged hero won't do justice to Jackie's image. But I'm definitely going to work with Jackie as soon as we get the right vehicle."
Does Ekta feel that film actors add to the value-appeal of her soaps? "Not really But they do bring a certain class and exclusivity. Look how much Amrita Singh added to Kavyanjali."
Speaking of Kayvanjali what does Ekta have to say about 'Kavya' Eijaz Khan's run-in with 'Nimmo', Sanjeeta?
Ekta brushes away the fight. "Actors often fight between themselves. It has nothing to do with the channel. Having said this I must say Eijaz was right when he wanted silence on the sets of Nimmo. I think actors shouldn't talk unnecessarily on the sets. I think Eijaaz is a very focused and hard-working actor. I wish some of my other actors who are getting too big for their boots, would learn to be humble."😃
👏Eijooo
Source: Mumbai mirror
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