Paraya Dhan: A big mistake-Manish

Manish Goel

Ever since Manish Goel quit the Star One show, Paraya Dhan, there has been a lot of speculation about why he walked out.

According to Star's creative head, Shailja Kejriwal, "After the immense popularity Manish and his wife Poonam Narula achieved on Nach Baliye, I saw that he had no serials in hand and got him into Paraya Dhan.

After 30 episodes, Manish decided to walk out this week because he had to wait for a couple of hours for his shot. He failed to understand that there were 18 other actors on the set. His time was being paid for, so he should have been more professional."

Deliberate delays

Manish, on the other hand, blames the serial's producer Sanjay Wadhwa for his ouster. "I'm not mad to leave my only serial without a back-up plan. From day one, Mr Wadhwa wanted me out. He thought I charged too much money.

Since we're paid according to the number of days, my work was deliberately minimised. I was repeatedly forced into a corner through deliberate glitches and delays."

Manish chose to do this serial for a specific reason. "At this juncture, I only want to do roles that will help me grow as an actor. I selected Paraya Dhan because my look and character of a romantic goon appealed to me. Also, this was my first show since Nach Baliye 11 months ago. Though the soap was about six sisters, I was excited when the producer assured me of a meaty role.

To my dismay, I found myself shooting for barely an hour everyday. You won't believe this, but out of 30 days, I shot for only four days! I called up the producer and asked him how I could support my wife and child if I work for only four days."

Big mistake

Matters eventually came to a head last week when Manish had to wait the entire day in drag. I was on the sets at 1 pm, with 40 bob-pins in my hair, a brassiere, blouse, chunni, the works. I finally gave my first shot at 8.45 pm. Until then, I wasn't even allowed to drop my pallu or got to the loo!

There was no room for me to sit since the set was really crowded. I was pushed from one corner to another. What really pissed me off was the producer's attitude. He told me I was being paid, so I should jolly well wait as long as I am asked to. If this isn't highhandedness, what is?"

Manish is very happy to be out of the project now. "I was really stressed. I was treated like trash. When the producer signed me, he didn't make one announcement about my presence in Paraya Dhan.

But when I was out, he called up every friend he had in the media. He never wanted me in the serial because he didn't want to pay me my price. Problems were created to make sure I left. I finally obliged. Paraya Dhan was the biggest mistake of my life."

http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2006/december/148293.htm