A. L. Chougule
Posted online: Friday, March 02, 2007 at 0000 hours IST
After KBC with Shah Rukh Khan, STAR Plus has introduced the first new serial of 2007 in the form of an intense and youthful love story with newcomer in Balaji productions, Kayamath. Screen visits the set at Sankaraman Studio at Aarey Colony, a perfect venue and occasion to contemplate about the basic emotion called love in 2007 "I have seen lovers promising each other that they will love each other forever and forever," so said the self-proclaimed guru of love who advocated uninhibited sublime carnal pleasure for peace and tranquility, adding, "And not knowing anything about the next moment! If they are little alert, they will say: 'It feels in this moment, it is a truth of this moment...' That is why lovers always prove to be deceivers to each other. In the end they think they have been cheated. They have both promised things which they cannot deliver." Over centuries, love has been experienced, perceived and described in as many ways as the individuals involved. There's no perfect definition of love. Love as an emotion is subjective and its success and failure is totally dependent on the circumstances. It can be beautiful, it can get nasty or it can lose its intensity. For, love is not independent of the environment we live in. It is this co-relation between love and our surrounding that makes or breaks a love story. Lovers have died in love or sacrificed their love because of unavoidable circumstances. Many love stories have had their origin in friendship. More so in today's times, thanks to Internet, cell phones, coffee shops, and pizza hangouts. Gardens and greetings cards are pass. SMSes and steaming coffee have given a different expression and flavour to love. The love story of Kayamath is no different. For it is today's story. A story of Praachi and Neev, who are childhood friends. Praachi is a simple and innocent girl who has dreams in her eyes and believes that her fairy tale romance will come true. But Neev who is too brash does not believe in love and discounts the emotion. However, after traversing a path of ups and downs and the test of times they eventually discover their love for each other and from being friends become soul mates. According to Star India's senior creative director Shailja Kejriwal, Kayamath is a modern love story in the days of malls and coffee shops where friends meet and spend hours in each other's company. "Today the line between friendship and love is blurring. For the older generation two people of opposite sex enjoying each other's company and comfort level is a sign of love whereas for today's generation it could be just plain friendship. However, even if one discounts the emotion of love there is an undercurrent of physical attraction. It is this confusion between love and friendship where one person thinks it is love and the other treats it as just plain friendship that Kayamath deals with," explains Shailja.
Shailja says STAR Plus is launching a love story after a long time, admitting that though Kahiin To Hoga started as an intense love story, after a year it turned into a family drama. "Love story always comes with a finite length. You can't go beyond a point. But when it starts delivering eyeballs there is no way to take it further other than making it into a family story with added characters." That might even happen to Kayamath as well if it starts delivering numbers. But that's for the future and Jay Bhanushali who plays Neev has no clue about what course the story will take eventually. But the popular model-turned-actor is quite excited about his debut show. "Neev is an interesting character. He is today's young guy, go-getter, flirtatious and doesn't believe in love. Prachi is his best friend but he doesn't think he is in love with her. But a situation comes which makes him realize his true feelings for Prachi," exults Jay who is enjoying working with co-actress Panchi Bora. "We share an excellent on-screen chemistry."
Acting was never on Jay's mind. "I was having a good time doing commercials. But working in a daily is a different ball game. Here it is non-stop work from morning to night. But I am working hard to make a name and my family proud of me," he adds. Panchi however is not new to working in a daily soap. A Balaji discovery she had done a youth show called Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi. "They were doing a nationwide audition and I got selected along with 12 girls," recalls Panchi who finally clinched the deal and went on to do the youth show which also helped her get notice in the ad world. While she went back to studies and a few commercials Ekta who had promised her another good role called Panchi to play Prachi. Though she is studying for her second year graduation she is all prepared to work hard on her role.
"This is my second show and I am taking it very seriously as I am mentally prepared to do my best," smiles Panchi who finds her role quite interesting. "Prachi is a shy, sensitive, reserved and not too ambitious girl. She is like a typical Indian girl who sees the world from her father's point of view," she adds. Prachi's mother Aarti, played by Prachi Shah, is not too different from her daughter. Aarti may not be too dependent on her husband but she will not do anything without his consent, quite unlike the strong mother she is playing in Kesar. "Aarti is a sweet, simple and innocent wife, bahu and mother and shares an excellent understanding with her husband," says Prachi who is feeling the pressure of doing two dailies. "But I have no complaints because both the roles are good and Balaji is adjusting my dates quite well." Kayamath is Suraj Thapar's first show with Balaji. "There were some offers before but I couldn't do them except a cameo in Kesar," he says. Talking about his role, the actor says Pranay(Neev's father) is a good friend of Inder(Prachi's father, Mohnish Behl) as well as his business partner. "Pranay is a practical man whereas Inder is emotional and creative," he adds. Mohnish Behl, on the other hand, is just playing a cameo. "I will be there for just about 25 episodes," says Mohnish who has returned to Balaji after quitting Kahani... eight months ago. "Ekta and Shobhaji convinced me to do the role and I accepted their offer as a good will gesture on my part," he says.In Shailja's opinion the 11 pm slot suits the show well. "Kahiin To Hoga did very well. In the Hindi heartland, 11 pm is bit late for elders to stay awake. But youngsters lap up a love story or thriller at late night," she says , adding that Kayamath will essentially remain an intense and passionate love story of Praachi and Neev but the twists and turns and other relationships will take the show beyond the love story later.
Hope it wasn't posted ealier....
http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=15045
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