| | | | Burning bright: Barkha Madan aka Manjeet from Bhoot | Barkha Madan, best remembered as the ghost Manjeet from Ram Gopal Varma's Bhoot, has been missing from the acting firmament. She was last seen on TV in the Zee daily Saat Phere. "It is not that I have vanished into the blue like Manjeet," laughs Barkha. "There are two television projects happening, one of which is for SaharaOne and will air soon, besides films which are still in the talking stage." Of late, however, what has also kept Barkha busy is her candle-making hobby. Her candle collection, called Dastaan-e-Shama ("as filmi as it gets!") had its first showing during Diwali at Juhu. The actress plans for a second exhibition prior to Christmas next month. Collectibles Barkha has been making candles for the past three years. "It was just something I took up alongside acting. I started buying wax and the other stuff and began making candles at home. Initially, I only made it for my personal use. Then I started making it for friends and gifting it to others. As I had a fairly large collection in hand, I decided to hold my first exhibition last month. The response was heartening, not only from friends but from the acting world as well. This has given me the confidence to have another show." The actress strikes a note of caution. "It is not that I want to get into this full-time. It will remain a hobby; it is acting which is my main pursuit."
Before Bhoot, Barkha featured in forgettable films like Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi and Bullet. Why did Ramu did not cast her in any of his later films? "After Bhoot, I did talk to him. If he thinks there is something suitable for me, I am sure he will call me." On the small screen, Barkha has featured in serials like Nyay, Dhadkan and I Love You. "One of the new shows I am doing for television is a reality show and I am pretty excited about it," she adds. | 
