This was posted by another member at the ADHM board, I am reposting, so the credit goes to that person.
Joined: 13 November 2005
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| Posted: 11 December 2006 at 6:13pm | IP Logged | |
Sandeep Sickand says he is still attached to Balaji Telefilms
Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Sandeep Sickand is enjoying his new role as the creative head of Sony Entertainment. But he remains emotionally attached to his former employer Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms.
When Sickand left Ekta's production house, it caused a sensation. 'And for what reason?' Sickand asked. 'Honestly it created quite a stir in my mind. Didn't think it'd have the same effect outside.'
At one time, he was determined not to quit Balaji.
'At one time I had been offered a job by Sony and I said no. I just couldn't think of a life outside Balaji. Ekta and Balaji were my family.
'There were always these elements trying to create problems at Balaji when I was there. One gentleman, whom I don't want to name, sent an SMS to Ekta that I had joined Sahara when I was on leave and still editing 'Kkasam Se'.
But Sickand isn't in the blame game.
'It was a painful but inevitable move. Not a day passes when I don't think about Balaji. I'm still in touch with some of my friends at Balaji.'
Mention Ekta, and Sickand's sorrow turns into discernible grief.
'I can't pretend that our rapport isn't ruptured. She didn't expect me to leave, neither did I; but things had come to such a pass that I'd have left Balaji even if I didn't have another job at Sony.'
The lacuna left behind by Sickand at Balaji bothers him.
'But I had no choice! The problem had intensified. Even the son of the house moves away from his parents. I had to do the same. My decisions were being questioned there. Let's not talk about it any more?'
Sickand, who started his career as a garment exporter, says that he is surprised that Sony created a job for him.
'I'm amazed Sony took me on. I've no corporate background. I'm just a creative person. I started my working life as a garment exporter. After that I did some theatre, and then joined Balaji. So, I don't have any corporate image.'
Sickand says that people want him to falter.
'Now, I'm being watched with hawk's eyes just because I'm not a suited-booted corporate guy. People are waiting for me to slip up. Why write my career obituary when I've just started.
'Will Sandeep Sikcand perform? Is he a smuggler and a poacher? Yes, I've been called both because I've smuggled and poached Smriti Irani and Amna Sharif away from Balaji. Nonsense!
'When you move away from an old house, you don't break its walls. I just want to tell everyone to shut up and mind their own business, and let me mind mine.'
About Balaji actors and technicians moving towards Sony after Sickand, the new head honcho explains: 'Maybe people are coming to me because I'm approachable and not intimidating. I like to have fun at work. But the minute anyone says he's coming to me at Balaji's expense, I say sorry. I'd never hurt my parent company.
'Even at Balaji I was the most transparent person around, always available to anyone who wanted to. I'll make mistakes, but new ones. I'm lucky to have fantastic bosses at Balaji and now Sony.'
Sickand's first effort post-Balaji was 'Kajjal'.
'I took over when the show was already planned. I hope I've done a competent job. So far, the feedback has been very positive. Yes, there're technical glitches. I've never claimed to be doing a path-breaking show in 'Kajjal'.
'In fact, I've adhered to the formula that we used at Balaji. Yes, the Mussourrie location and cast are refreshing. But I deliberately chose to tell the story in a way viewers are used to. Let's be honest. Sony needs to get the eyeballs back.'
Then Sickand had the reality TV show 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa' which had its finale last month where Mona Singh of 'Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin' won the crown.
Right now he is busy with another realty TV show 'Bigg Boss'.
''Bigg Boss' is a challenge. It's reality soap. After 'Bigg Boss', I've Anuj Saxena's production about a girl searching for love who gets widowed instead. There's also Smriti Irani's new show 'Viruddh' coming up in January.'
Apart from them, Sickand is working on Tony and Deya Singh's 'Jeeta Hain Jiske Liye'.
'Renuka Shahane will make a comeback with this. This show didn't need a girl, it needed a woman. You know, I always wanted to work with Renuka at Balaji. As creative head there I had called her up twice. I think all the things that I couldn't do at Balaji are being done now.'
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