While I appreciate the original poster's loyalty, respect and devotion to Avinash, I think some of the comments are off base, especially about Surbhi.
Surbhi does look tired but do you know why? It's because in the last three years, she has had only two substantive holidays from the show. One in August 2013 and the second when she went to Goa with KVB and TJ. She got one more weekend break during the Eid specials in 2015 but other than that, every day, weekend and most nights have been given to this show.
Her current appearance is not just a reflection of her hard work but the emotional upheaval she has undergone every time a co-star has left, especially the departures of KVB, Alka Kaushal and Shalini Kapoor.
In her myriad of roles, she has been buried alive twice, immured in a wall, 'drowned' (despite her fear of it!), a cliff stunt that wounded her, and a flying stunt that rendered her unconscious requiring hospitalisation (and for her efforts, she didn't even get the next day off). I am sure there are more instances, but those are the ones that I can remember just off the top of my head.
Surbhi's visits to SA, Jordan, New York and her recent US tour were all professional assignments and I do not consider them holidays, so essentially, this girl hasn't stopped working since early 2012, because she arrived in Mumbai on August 31, right after finishing the PR tour for a film and took up
QH immediately.
The descent of this show has had nothing do with her but rather to do with poor management of the star cast and the dismal writing.
QH1 and
QH2 began well because of their strong characterisations and stellar plots that were all but abandoned in favour of the villainesses. If the show is suffering now, it is entirely because the audience has no intention of investing in characters that will never receive their due, happiness or even closure.
The five pairings from the first two seasons (AsYa, AyRa, SaHil, SeHan and RahYa) and followed by further two in
QH3 and
QH4 with ShanNat and AzMa, respectively, none of them had satisfying conclusions but instead rather tragic and cruel fates that allowed the villainesses to triumph.
Whatever remains of the audience is solely down to Surbhi because she is the only common denominator in all the seasons and the drop in ratings for
QH4 has a great deal to do with the show being aired against
YHM and
SSK as the show was still pulling in ratings of 2.0-2.5 in the 9:30 pm slot. This is despite the fact that many of her own fans (myself included) boycott the show because of how awful the writing is and how badly she is treated by the PH, and therefore want the show to end or Surbhi to quit (whichever comes first), resulting in Surbhi finally being free at last.
As for her acting, Surbhi has given stellar performances over the years. Her turn as Zoya, Sanam and Seher were outstanding. They were three different characters played by the same woman (and on one occasion, at the same time) and you could tell them apart not because of the difference in costume/appearance but simply based on their body language, mannerisms and way of speaking, which is leaps and bounds better than many actresses who have donned secondary roles or even double roles in the same series. Surbhi does really well when narrative is strong and the characterisation is well thought-out.
Even Mahira in her early days was an excellent character but then they decided to give her a makeover and change the show's direction (again!), and she stopped being Mahira. The Current!Mahira is now to Old!Mahira what Jannat (at the tail end of
QH3) was to Sanam: a shadow of her former self, lacking in any real identity and the onus of this is entirely on the writers.
The incorporation of magic and otherworldly is courtesy of Gorky's (Gul's husband and co-producer of
QH) recent binge on
The Vampire Diaries, and it was clearly done out of desperation to keep the show going. Based on what I have read and have been told by those in the know, Aahil's death was a last minute change due to BTS drama (confirmed by the last F32 interview with SurVir) and the show was supposed to conclude with SaHil in October.
Given that ZEE did not have a show to replace the
QH in August (and with their new shows failing and their struggle to maintain their position in the GEC race) so they kept the show on air. Which meant that the PH had to find content to fill in for the duration, which is where the cockamamie supernatural
QH kicked in.
Rajbeer's recent interview has implications that the role was short-lived due to the show's expiration date (which he refers to as a cameo in context of the extension). He probably opted not renew his contract when the show got a two month extension till December, which Gul fought for (as it was the only show she had on air at the time) and, according to intelle, ZEE granted the extension on two provisions: 1) Surbhi stays on for that duration (as Surbhi was ready to leave in October as per her contract) and that the show reaches 2.0 audience and sustain it before December's end, which remains to be seen.
I would like to believe that Avinash will be able give the show the needed ratings boost but I think it is unlikely. This has nothing to do with Avinash and everything to do with what is being shown (as well as the time slot). This is true of every actor and every show. If you do not have substantial content in the form of solid characterisation and a narrative with direction, then it really won't matter how popular, good looking or talented your star cast is.
In the spring of 2015,
QH was relaunched with a relative newbie in the form of Varun Toorkey and the show maintained an average 2.5 rating. The time slot had a great deal to do with that plus it still maintained ties to
QH1, given that Jannat was the amnesiac version of Sanam, who was Zoya's daughter, so the audience was already invested in her story. There was also a modicum of direction in the narrative.
As the show currently stands, there is nothing to entice or hook the audience, I honestly do not believe Avinash will bring in the audience that so many are expecting him to and I feel that Avinash chose opt for the show not only because he liked the character but also is on the show because of his respect for ZEE (who gave him his big break with
Chhoti Bahu) and possibly re-numeration.
It's not that Avinash isn't capable or has a strong following but the success of
Chhoti Bahu (1 and 2) and
IPKKND2 were a joint effort of performance and content.
IPKKND2, in particular, gave him a truly layered character and focused on a very important aspect of society, domestic violence and abuse in marriage. When the content waned, so did the numbers for the show, thus proving content is king.
I don't for one second doubt that Avinash and Surbhi will have chemistry. Partly because there hasn't been an actor with whom she hasn't shared chemistry (though it did vary, depending on the actor and the role) but also because Avinash and Surbhi clearly get on well as evidenced by their first and second interview bytes. I think aside from Additi, they have Suyyash Rai as a common friend (Suyyash is Surbhi's manager's brother) but all of this is going to amount to nothing if the show doesn't improve in quality.
The writing is atrocious and kudos to the cast for trying to make it work but the writing is on the wall. It's a shame too because I think Avinash and Surbhi make a really interesting pairing. They would probably excel in friendly-revelry style chemistry where the relationship and partnership is rooted in friendship.
However, I digress.
My point is that Surbhi has contributed immensely to the show's success (which used to hit highs 4.6 and average at 3.5 and above) and I don't think it is fair for anyone to judge her appearance and/or performance on the basis of two weeks mired by atrocious writing, her professionally-obligated absence and exhaustion from being the pillar that is still holding the show. Especially, if you are comparing her to the latest entrant to the show, whose contributions cannot be accurately measured as yet.
When the show ends, it will be remembered for
QH1 and
QH2, and its revolving door of male leads (but not who they actually were). Most importantly, it will be for Surbhi. This was her debut show, it lasted 3 years and will end with at the very least 800+ episodes, which she did all the while maintaining a second professional obligation (narrating
PTKK, when others who are senior to her, professionally, were unable to cope with a similar schedule), she outlasted industry stalwarts, she played at least four different characters with aplomb, became one of the highest paid actresses in the industry (putting her on par with Karan's salary when started
QH and in the same league as Ankita and Asha, who are seasoned actresses), she is the anchor that allowed the
QH ship to withstand the changes in season, loyal to a fault (mostly to the detriment to her own health), welcomed the newcomers while maintaining grace as the others departed.
Judging her without context is not only ill-informed but it undermines all that she has achieved. Surbhi has more than earned our respect as well as that from her peers and it certainly should be extended to her by fans, not only hers but those of other actors/entertainers too.
Edited by mitwakaishq - 9 years ago
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