Tulsi dares Ekta

Tulsi dares Ekta

This one is worthy of a saas-bahu saga: Smriti Irani ties up with Birlas to make soaps for TV channels, first project for Sony which Ekta has boycotted

Kunal M Shah

If Ekta Kapoor has any reasons to be superstitious about her stars, it is perhaps not entirely unfounded. The soap queen who recently lost her creative producer Sandiip Sikcand to a channel is now facing the biggest challenge in her career and it comes from none other than the woman she helped make a star: Smriti Irani.

Smriti, whose Tulsi Virani in Kyonki..., powered the Balaji juggernaut, has set up her own production house and has tied up with Kumarmangalam Birla's Applause Entertainment which had earlier produced Black, to make "family-oriented social sagas" for television channels.

But, as with any good story, there's a further twist. On Tuesday, Smriti and Applause sealed a deal for their first soap with Sony Television, the creative director of which is Sandiip Sikcand. Till not long ago he was one of Ekta's closest associates and the number two man at Balaji. Industry buzz has it that Ekta did not take too kindly to his departure and took a call that Balaji, the largest producer of soaps in the country, will not supply any programming to Sony.

For any entertainment channel, that could have been the death knell, such is Ekta's clout. But Sikcand got lucky. "I have known Smriti for a long time and she just picked the phone and called me wishing me on my new position and came over and narrated this concept note. I immediately locked it then and there itself," he says, adding: "I can only say that it is great to have her on board."

Industry watchers say Smriti's long-stint at Balaji where she closely watched Ekta in operation and Applause's deep pockets will make for a formidable combination and one that has the potential to challenge Balaji.

"To start with, our first show will be on Sony but we are also in talks with various channels both Indian and international," says Smriti. "We are also looking at non-fiction programming as well. Basically all I can say right now is that sky is the limit. Our emphasis will remain on giving a good and quality product to every channel that has taken us on board," she adds.

Terming this tie-up with Applause as one of her "biggest professional achievements," Smriti says that Applause approached her because they liked her script-first approach, the one thing that she shares with Ekta. As to whether there will be any further twists in this saga, watch this space.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=1& ;articleid=10420060279453104200602510640

hey thanks 4 sharing its high time 4 smriti or ekta let see. 😉

Thanks for sharing this article. Ekta Kapoors KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK are not working out for her anymore. First she lost Sandeep Sikand who recently joined Sony and now lots of people who she provided Bread and Butter are joining either other production houses or other channels.
For example: Smriti got all kinds of help from Ekta in her struggling days. When she started working with Ekta she got married, had kids and tried political career. Now she started one serial and she is saying she has tasted the blood and now she will make more serials in India and Internationally. I am a biggest fan of Smriti as an actress. I am not jealous of her success or money. I couldn't care less what she makes and how she makes but competing with your own employer is little bit too much.
No offence Tulsi fans. I really apologize if I hurt anybody's feelings. I have a feeling, Ekta will take Smriti's steps seriously and try to do something with KYUNKI or THODI ZAMEEN THOSA AASMAAN since Smriti is working as an employee in one serial and acting as a co-producer and a lead in the other one.

Originally posted by: NKSUDHIR

Thanks for sharing this article. Ekta Kapoors KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK are not working out for her anymore. First she lost Sandeep Sikand who recently joined Sony and now lots of people who she provided Bread and Butter are joining either other production houses or other channels.
For example: Smriti got all kinds of help from Ekta in her struggling days. When she started working with Ekta she got married, had kids and tried political career. Now she started one serial and she is saying she has tasted the blood and now she will make more serials in India and Internationally. I am a biggest fan of Smriti as an actress. I am not jealous of her success or money. I couldn't care less what she makes and how she makes but competing with your own employer is little bit too much.
No offence Tulsi fans. I really apologize if I hurt anybody's feelings. I have a feeling, Ekta will take Smriti's steps seriously and try to do something with KYUNKI or THODI ZAMEEN THOSA AASMAAN since Smriti is working as an employee in one serial and acting as a co-producer and a lead in the other one.

I totally agree with u, u r absolutely correct. 😊 Smriti's attitude is a letdown coz whatever she is now, she owes a great deal, actually almost everything to Ekta so this is quite shocking. I mean, everyone should have a chance to move on but not at the expense of the person to whom you owe so much coz there is something called gratitude. Lets see if she really goes ahead and takes this step, it will be really sad if Ekta and Smriti fall out over this.

i am also completely shcoked why smriti did this to Ekta..but at the same time in professional work envt we have allways seen that competitors take adv of any situation and turn it into there advantage!!

thankx a ton shrutii diii!!!!


Saraa