Kusum to See New Mahi?Is Marriage a joke?

Shaikh Ayaz

On her way out:Poonam Narula

CHARACTER reshuffling is a regular ritual at Balaji telefilms. Actors walkmin and out of shows - the latest casualty being Poonam Narula. the actress, who plays Mahi in 'Kkusum', has been diplomatically asked to depart from the show by the highest authority at Balaji - Shobha Kapoor. Jaya Bhattacharya, aka Payal from 'Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'. has been approached to step in. Strangely, Bhattarcharya isn't interested in playing Mahi. Narula herself wasn't aware that she's being replaced, until Bhattacharya called in to inquire why she's quitting.

the story is that Narula isn't able to hand out the dates required by the production house, and as a result will get the axe. Narula admits that she was asked to leave if she didn't get her schedule right. "But Ektaa (Kapoor) is like family to me. In fact, I owe a lot to her. They told me they're having a problem with my dates, as they didn't match Anuj's (Saxena). The idea of shooting with dummies didn't interest Anuj and I couldn't spare more time since I have a child. But ektaa assured me we'd work something out. So I'm not leaving yet."

Bhattacharya says that she has turned down the offer, "Because I already have three shows on air, with one more coming up, i don't think I have time. Also, I wouldn't like to replace somebody - at lease not someone who's a friend. She's already doing a brilliant job."

Poonam Narula will soon stage a comeback in "Shararat" (Star Plus). "I quit the serial last august and will be back in all probably this August. So Life's coming full circle," she chuckles.

Aamna Sharif, Cezanne Khan, Anuj Saxena, Varun Badola, Sumeet Sachdev

Is marriage a joke?

The soap factory has made it one, despite all the blah blah about family values. Check out these more than much-married people

Reena Thapar Kapoor

From Balaji to Sony to Zee, our serial makers boast about propagating good old Indian ethics, family values and social norms through their soaps. But soon, the need for masala and drama overtakes the good intentions of promoting sanskaar and adarsh to the lay man.
Why else do they show their protagonists getting married again and again, and yet again? Why not send them for marriage counselling instead? Check out how some of the current favourites on television have been jumping in and out of marriages - and making light of a serious social institution.
This one can certainly be called 'all in the family.': Aamna Sharif
Kahin to Hoga's Kashish (Aamna Shariff): This pretty lass first broke off her engagement with Sujal Garewal ( who she had been seeing) because of differences and got married to his cousin Piyush Raheja. After the latter's death, she married Sujal and now, after Sujal's death, she is all set to tie the knot yet again with his step-brother Swayam who fancies her.
This is what we call 'true love: Cezanne Khan
Kasautii's Anurag Basu: For starters, he impregnated his first love Prerna and dumped her to get married to Komolika. Later he dumped her and married Prerna. Then the two divorced each other over various misunderstandings and he got hitched to wife number three, Apo*na.However, Currently it is Prerna and Anurag who are living together as a 'couple'.
Ummm...oh…never mind!: Anuj Saxena
Kkusum's Abhay Kapoor (Anuj Saxena): His first wife Kkusum and he had a daughter. Then Abhay got involved with Isha. But the story moved on and he married Tashu. He had a son from her. Then came Mahi, the third (or is it fourth) wife. He had a daughter from her as well. And in between all this, he kept remarrying and divorcing his first wife Kkusum( at least five times).
Abhi is seriously taking the 'age no bar' syndrome very seriously: Varun Badola
Astitva's Abhimanyu Saxena (Varun Badola): The main protagonist of the show Abhi gets married to Dr. Simran first. He then marries his assistant Kiran, who eventually dumps him. The third bride is his colleague Neha who he marries because of first wife Simran's insistence. Then Neha dies. And now, Abhi and Simran have remarried.
A true momma's boy, what?: Sumeet Sachdev
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi's Gautam Virani (Sumeet Sachdev): He loved Teesha but married Ganga because his mother wanted him to. On learning the truth about Ganga, momma got the darling divorced from his wife and married to sweetheart Teesha. Then Teesha died in a car accident. So now, the boy's got third time lucky with his brother's girlfriend Damini.