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This year, the festival of lights will be special for Sampada Vaze, who currently plays the lead in Sony's Risshton Ki Dor. She, along with her US based brother, has decided to gift their folks a swanky car.

This model cum MBA gold medalist will drive down to her family home in Pune and surprise her parents with the special gift. She has already planned to wrap the car fancily and on reaching her pad, will ask her parents to look down. "I am sure they will be thrilled; we have been looking forward to do this for quite some time," says the excited Sampada, who debuted on the small screen with Star One's Pyar Ki Kashti Mein.

So what are her other plans for the festival? "It's get together time as all the Vaze relatives come down to Pune. There will be house cleaning, regular card playing sessions, massive shopping and gifting sprees. I normally wear western stuff but this time around I'm forced to buy one ethic outfit (a silk saree or a churidar kurta) for the puja. Earlier I would burn crackers, but after reading about how street children prepare them, I simply light diyas".

On Bhai Dooj she does not want any gift from her brother, as whenever he has made an effort of presenting her one, unfortunately they never fit her. So she has requested him not to waste money. "More than the gift it's the thought that counts," says Sampada who also has two music videos (Shaan's Aksar and Vaishali Samant's Kusumita) to her credit.

As she comes from a defense background, Sampada has lived in all the four corners of the country. Hence she says, "Diwali is the only true pan India festival. Though I miss the small town practice of personally visiting friends and relatives. Here in Mumbai we just send smses to each other. But then an impersonal greeting is better then no greeting at all!"

For those who have read between the lines, to make Sampada happy, greet her personally for Diwali wishes rather than just texting her!

(Compiled by Tushar Joshi and Sandipan Dalal)

Sony TV's naya dopahar dhamaka fell flat when Adhikari Brother's family drama Risshton Ki Dor failed to create ripples in the afternoon slot. A few days back the soap was reported to go off air, but the latest development is that it has got a four months extention despite its low TRP's.

Launched with much fanfare, the show boasted of a very strong starcast with the likes of Anuj Saxena in the lead along with small screen's vampish beauty Urvashi Dholakia. Gaurav Chanana who had disappeared from the scene was seen on this show, but lately left the show, as he was unsatisfied with his track. Gaurav was then replaced by Amit Sarin, fondly remembered as Sahil of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

Many believe that this story of a middleclass family started off on a good note, but somehow its haywire tracks in between left the audiences confused.

Gautam Adhikari, producer of the show says, "Well, yes this new development is true. We will now concentrate on newer tracks and will try making them as dramatic and interesting as possible." He adds, "I want to concentrate on all my artists."

Amit Sarin who dons Rahul's character is not very happy with the way his character and the show are shaping up. "Though, I am not very happy, I think it's fair enough. They had given me a narration about my role when I had joined in, but it was not bang on. I have no major complains, and I still have to take a decision," affirms Amit.

Urvashi on the other hand is happy with her character, she says, "I will not talk about the show but my character and I am very happy the way it is shaping up. It certainly is not dragging in any sense. It has just been six months and there are shows running for years together." She does admit that there have been a few mistakes and they will work together and rectify them.

Anuj Saxena, believes that the makers still stand a chance to revamp the show.He says, " Risshton started off as a story of a brother's struggle, along with his three sisters to keep the family composed after the mother's death. From the very beginning the serial had witnessed many track changes, which left the audience zapped. I think, if the producers are really convinced about the show, they can still revive it."

So, here's hoping that the sinking show gets a life !

Jack of all trades

Testing new frontiers, Anuj Saxena is all set to start shooting his new serial

Imagine: Waking up on winter morning, with your face peeking into the cold while the rest of you snuggled comfortably beneath a pile of blankets and looking out of the window at the breathtaking snow cast exterior!!!

Thanks to a beautiful, cosy winter, some fortunate beings get to live such an experience and some left envisioning about it thanks to the seasonal heterogeneity on our planet.

Let's find out who all from our television fraternity have enjoyed this time of the year and who haven't (if any!).

Sanjit Bedi


I hail from Delhi and my mother's still based there so I know the flavour of the season. Frankly speaking I miss winters to the extent that after Diwali I go into a depression. I miss wearing my jackets and sweaters, sitting in the sun eating fruits. It's funny but I have seen in Mumbai that thodi si thand padh gayi and they behave as if there's snowfall. Even in the ac, they complain of cold! And my wife is one of them I miss the piping hot parathas and hot beverages, which one can relish in actual winters.

Jennifer Winget


I love winters but where do we get to enjoy it in Mumbai? I remember spending nearly a month in Delhi during this season when there was ice rain! It was very memorable. Ironically I have never seen snow in my life and I have an intrinsic desire to visit a place full of snow! And this hope surges when I go through the pictures sent by my friends who belong to snowcapped countries. I have been abroad a couple of times but not during winter.

Tanaaz Lal

I love winters but only when I'm abroad. If we go through such winters in Mumbai I'll need to hoard lots of extra clothes and once the season ends, storage and maintenance becomes a big issue! I will have to keep a track of the winter trends and that would be too taxing! So it's good the way it is for this metropolitan.

Sampada Vaze


Oh how I love winters! I've spent four years studying in Kalimpong, near Darjleeing, the same place where Danny Denzgapa hails. Winters makes one feel peaceful especially when you experience cold air. When I came down to Mumbai I was surprised to see what people call this season 'winter'. There the temperature would keep hanging on five degrees or less! I have stocked good winter clothes, which I can't wear here. Two years back I had the most cherishable Xmas winter in the Swiss Alps.

Sachin Verma

I have been born and brought up in Delhi and needless to say I miss the Delhi winters. If in Mumbai we have the same extremity in weather I would get to wear a variety of clothes- from pullovers to jackets and one could also eat well. Mumbai would be as good as London if we have such winters here.

It seems that almost all the eligibles of the TV industry are gung ho about giving up their single status. Latest to join the bandwagon is Sampada Vaze of Rishton Ki Dor fame who got hitched to her long time boyfriend, Chris George on 26th January in her home town, Pune.

But what sets her marriage apart from others is the interesting fact that she will take the sacred vows not once but twice!!! Yes, the duo had a church wedding on Republic Day and will also have a Hindu shaadi on 28th January; the reception to be conducted in the day between in Mumbai.

Prashant Golecha caught up with Sampada on the eve of her D day as she takes out time from her hectic preparations just for an exclusive conversation.

First of all, congratulations! So your marriage is on Republic Day. Any particular reason?
No it's just that it's a long weekend so we decided on 26th January. Republic day is just a co-incidence. We are professionals and above all lot of our guests will be flowing from various cities to Pune.

How come your marriage was announced all of a sudden?
It wasn't in a jiffy. In December we decided to formalize our relationship. I very well knew that I will get married to Chris George. I haven't kept him under wraps. He knows all my close friends and vice versa. Contrary to everyone's assumption Chris isn't a firang but a half Mahrastrian, half Malyali. He is the owner of an IT company and is also into the wine import business. So he keeps traveling abroad for work.

Tell us about the preparations from your end.
I have done nothing. It's my cousin Parvati Vaze, a fashion designer, who's done my trousseau. And, of course my parents are doing up the entire arrangements in Pune. I am of no help! I owe it to my parents for managing everything. I want to gift them a holiday since they are doing everything and working so hard for the wedding of their daughter.

What about your honeymoon plans?
Initially for three four days we'll go to Shimla or Ooty just to be together as we intend to go on our actual honeymoon somewhere in March or April. I want to go to Europe, especially to Ireland. My favourite book, Scarlet is based in Ireland and I am dying to visit my dream destination.

Would you continue acting post wedding?
Of course. We both should keep growing as individuals. In fact within three days of my functions I will resume shooting for Rishton Ki Dor. So on 31st January you'll find me back to my sets!

Do you think that marriage will affect your career?
No, not at all. It would have been affected had I been a film actress. Our medium caters to the family audience, especially women. Though right now I want to concentrate on my acting career, but later in life I would definitely want to diversify.

Your partner's from a different profession. Does it help?
Yes, it helps in maintaining a balance. I would say, there would have been disadvantages if I would I have got married to an actor. The acting field is very uncertain. One of the either partners must have a stable job. On an average whether it's a male or female actor one can relish only five years as a lead star.

Are marriages made in heaven?
I don't think so. It's pure luck. First you need to find a suitable person and above that you constantly need to work on your relationship to live 'happily ever after'.