Posted:
This is my first and probably last post on the Qubool Hai forum, and please believe me when I say that everything I am about to express is without any malice, or any motive other than a sincere respect for what you guys are probably going through right now. I wanted to say--I'm really sorry.
I am an IPKKND fan. On I-F, I wrote on Khushi and Arnav, was a very long-standing and, if I do say so myself, a very well known forum member when that show was running. I had never seen anything of Karan Singh Grover's, and when the introduction of QH spelled the doom and end of IPKKND, I was as angry as anyone else by the fact that Gul was throwing my show under the bus, to focus on QH. I dont know if that is true, if she did that--but that is what it felt like, back then.
The truth is, 4-Lions is not big enough of a production house to run con-current shows, both showing very lavish lifestyles, with very different story-lines. They have a budget, an they have a finite number of CVs and production crew. They would HAVE to focus on one, not both. And we IPK fans knew, as soon as Gul started doing bullshit story lines on IPK, that the focus was on the new baby, with KSG and some unknown girl with lovely eyes called Surbhi.
I did not want to see QH--I refused to watch it. I thought--why suffer Gul's clear issues through one more serial cycle? She'll have a good story that she will---via lack of interest after the first, 8 months--then bring down. With Barun, we had an actor who was a director's actor-- he did whatever he was told to do, and even being very humble (TOO humble) and accepting whatever came his way. In the end, he actually sat down for a demeaning, cruel, totally Gul-centric interview with that woman herself, in order to clear her name and throw mud on his own. His "movie career" was a wonderful excuse, and it worked for Gul, but did not work for us fans. I was unhappy by how the hero of my show had been treated, and I did not know Karan Singh Grover, nor did I want to see him perform. That's the truth, again.
I did not take part in forum bashing, and did not like the way a lot of IPK fans got into the whole ASR vs AAK fight. It was pointless for me--our show was breathing its last few gasps, and the indifference and the ridiculous ending, that pretended the show's very roots were not being ripped into shreds--that entire thing hurt too much to really give a damn about some new show-baby of Gul's. So why fight with fans? What would the point be? I wished you GUYS well, hoping Gul would not do the exact same thing she did to us--to a new group of fans.
And then, I accidentally watched one episode. Then two. Then KSG's sheer acting chops, and Shurbhi's incredible take on modern Muslim girl BLEW me away. I found myself watching their scenes on Youtube (I wasn't interested in any story-line--just the chemistry, and their interactions) and I realized, the show had ACTING, even if it did not have anything else to hold my interest.
And then, guess what? I started to see the signs that reminded me, no matter how fantastic KSG was, how great SJ was--they were still working for Gul. The stories about KSG, a respected actor being drunk. Being an issue on the sets. The little leaks, the media speculations. Noone had come out saying anything like this for the first 8-10 months---if KSG was such a problem, initially, his own actors and colleagues would have made it very clear. They would have said it when they met him, and he was new to them. He was a professional, in this industry for over 10 years--and now, all of a sudden, he's a drunk maniac threatening a show? I saw Gul's hand in the news leaks, the steady erosion of the story-line, and I backed the HELL off of watching the show.
Two months later, you have Karma Boy, with his copying of KSG, and a still shell-shocked SJ onscreen. And unlike Barun, KSG had the balls to say--NO. I'm not going to roll over, and let someone who has lost her grip on the show, due to her own lack of follow-through, use me as a reason to get out of her commitments. I won't let someone blacken my name, and mock my efforts. He fought back, and she backed off. How I wish Barun had! Honestly I think KSG stayed on as long as he did because he has an unusually strong commitment, and a feedback loop, with you guys--his fans. Barun did not have that with us, he was too shy, too overwhelmed with the reaction to ASR to fully connect with the legions of fans he had. KSG, being more experienced with stardom, and much more confident as a person, did the show for you, knowing that he owed it to you, his fans. He stayed much longer than he needed to, until his very character was being attacked. I cannot tell you how rare that bond between fan and actor, the one that is respected by the ACTOR himself is, BTW.
I am writing this to say--sorry. I am sorry for what you are going through, each and every one of you. I am sorry the story line of a muslim-centric, yet passionate, loving and sensual relationship between the lead pair was grotesquely handled, and now is about to be ended. I am sorry you waited to see your lead pair's shaadi for years, to end up having to see some other guy in Karan's place marrying the girl. I am sorry the show might end now, because I know what that felt like--limping along, worrying about it day after day, praying the story would at least be given a fitting ending--and NOT getting even that. I am sorry, most of all, that you, and I, were both fans of a show made by Gul Ahmed. And finally--I am sorry for the pain you will feel.
As someone who has been where you are right now, a year and half ago, I want to give one final advice--stay in touch with each other. Get each other's real email addresses. Skype with friends you have made. People who have commented on each other's posts for over a year now, who have laughed, supported each other, cried, and commiserated with each other every single day for years are now friends, indeed. FINISH your fan-fictions while the inspiration is still there. Don't let emotions create last minute fights. And NEVER commit to another one of Gul's show, again.
We IPKKians didn't----- though KSG and SJ made it damn hard to resist (and a lot of us followed their love story by seeing their scenes on You-tube--true confession!). But be there for each other, because even your families will not know why you are suddenly depressed, upset, and feeling bereft, as if you have actually lost someone. You have. We, the older fans, the ones watching your pain now, we know what its like. And to each and every one of you, we say--sorry. We hope you feel better, and we understand. Sorry.
Thank you for reading.
I am an IPKKND fan. On I-F, I wrote on Khushi and Arnav, was a very long-standing and, if I do say so myself, a very well known forum member when that show was running. I had never seen anything of Karan Singh Grover's, and when the introduction of QH spelled the doom and end of IPKKND, I was as angry as anyone else by the fact that Gul was throwing my show under the bus, to focus on QH. I dont know if that is true, if she did that--but that is what it felt like, back then.
The truth is, 4-Lions is not big enough of a production house to run con-current shows, both showing very lavish lifestyles, with very different story-lines. They have a budget, an they have a finite number of CVs and production crew. They would HAVE to focus on one, not both. And we IPK fans knew, as soon as Gul started doing bullshit story lines on IPK, that the focus was on the new baby, with KSG and some unknown girl with lovely eyes called Surbhi.
I did not want to see QH--I refused to watch it. I thought--why suffer Gul's clear issues through one more serial cycle? She'll have a good story that she will---via lack of interest after the first, 8 months--then bring down. With Barun, we had an actor who was a director's actor-- he did whatever he was told to do, and even being very humble (TOO humble) and accepting whatever came his way. In the end, he actually sat down for a demeaning, cruel, totally Gul-centric interview with that woman herself, in order to clear her name and throw mud on his own. His "movie career" was a wonderful excuse, and it worked for Gul, but did not work for us fans. I was unhappy by how the hero of my show had been treated, and I did not know Karan Singh Grover, nor did I want to see him perform. That's the truth, again.
I did not take part in forum bashing, and did not like the way a lot of IPK fans got into the whole ASR vs AAK fight. It was pointless for me--our show was breathing its last few gasps, and the indifference and the ridiculous ending, that pretended the show's very roots were not being ripped into shreds--that entire thing hurt too much to really give a damn about some new show-baby of Gul's. So why fight with fans? What would the point be? I wished you GUYS well, hoping Gul would not do the exact same thing she did to us--to a new group of fans.
And then, I accidentally watched one episode. Then two. Then KSG's sheer acting chops, and Shurbhi's incredible take on modern Muslim girl BLEW me away. I found myself watching their scenes on Youtube (I wasn't interested in any story-line--just the chemistry, and their interactions) and I realized, the show had ACTING, even if it did not have anything else to hold my interest.
And then, guess what? I started to see the signs that reminded me, no matter how fantastic KSG was, how great SJ was--they were still working for Gul. The stories about KSG, a respected actor being drunk. Being an issue on the sets. The little leaks, the media speculations. Noone had come out saying anything like this for the first 8-10 months---if KSG was such a problem, initially, his own actors and colleagues would have made it very clear. They would have said it when they met him, and he was new to them. He was a professional, in this industry for over 10 years--and now, all of a sudden, he's a drunk maniac threatening a show? I saw Gul's hand in the news leaks, the steady erosion of the story-line, and I backed the HELL off of watching the show.
Two months later, you have Karma Boy, with his copying of KSG, and a still shell-shocked SJ onscreen. And unlike Barun, KSG had the balls to say--NO. I'm not going to roll over, and let someone who has lost her grip on the show, due to her own lack of follow-through, use me as a reason to get out of her commitments. I won't let someone blacken my name, and mock my efforts. He fought back, and she backed off. How I wish Barun had! Honestly I think KSG stayed on as long as he did because he has an unusually strong commitment, and a feedback loop, with you guys--his fans. Barun did not have that with us, he was too shy, too overwhelmed with the reaction to ASR to fully connect with the legions of fans he had. KSG, being more experienced with stardom, and much more confident as a person, did the show for you, knowing that he owed it to you, his fans. He stayed much longer than he needed to, until his very character was being attacked. I cannot tell you how rare that bond between fan and actor, the one that is respected by the ACTOR himself is, BTW.
I am writing this to say--sorry. I am sorry for what you are going through, each and every one of you. I am sorry the story line of a muslim-centric, yet passionate, loving and sensual relationship between the lead pair was grotesquely handled, and now is about to be ended. I am sorry you waited to see your lead pair's shaadi for years, to end up having to see some other guy in Karan's place marrying the girl. I am sorry the show might end now, because I know what that felt like--limping along, worrying about it day after day, praying the story would at least be given a fitting ending--and NOT getting even that. I am sorry, most of all, that you, and I, were both fans of a show made by Gul Ahmed. And finally--I am sorry for the pain you will feel.
As someone who has been where you are right now, a year and half ago, I want to give one final advice--stay in touch with each other. Get each other's real email addresses. Skype with friends you have made. People who have commented on each other's posts for over a year now, who have laughed, supported each other, cried, and commiserated with each other every single day for years are now friends, indeed. FINISH your fan-fictions while the inspiration is still there. Don't let emotions create last minute fights. And NEVER commit to another one of Gul's show, again.
We IPKKians didn't----- though KSG and SJ made it damn hard to resist (and a lot of us followed their love story by seeing their scenes on You-tube--true confession!). But be there for each other, because even your families will not know why you are suddenly depressed, upset, and feeling bereft, as if you have actually lost someone. You have. We, the older fans, the ones watching your pain now, we know what its like. And to each and every one of you, we say--sorry. We hope you feel better, and we understand. Sorry.
Thank you for reading.
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Anupamaa
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
