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Harsh reality

Harsh Chhaya aka Dushyant of Thodi Si Zameen... is dead serious about his film script on teenagers coming to terms with life

Ranjib Mazumder

Actor Harsh Chaya is really busy these days. Besides acting in Thodi Si Zameen, Thoda Sa Aasmaan as Smriti Irani's brother-in-law, the actor is taking time out to write a film script.

Says Harsh, "I have always been interested in writing, but it is only since the last two-and-a-half years that I have started writing this film script. It is a youth-centric concept that revolves round a few teenagers who grow up with a notion that it is very easy to achieve everything in life. And how they are disillusioned when they eventually realise that life is not a bed of roses. My characters fall in the age-bracket of 13-14 years and through them, I want to bring out the basic human emotions."

The actor is so emotionally attached to his script, that he is also thinking of directing the film himself. "I am not in a hurry to persuade the filmmakers to make a film on my script. When I was not working, writing became a good alternative for me. If possible, I would like to direct it myself," he adds.

On the professional front, the actor is getting a lot of good offers at present. "I have got good responses for my role in Thodi Si Zameen, Thoda Sa Aasmaan. Besides, I am considering many serial scripts, but it will be too early to talk as of now," he says.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=19&am p;sectname=Television&sess=795635494

London calling

Smriti Irani will feature in a British documentary film

Kunal M Shah

Sanjeev Bhaskar, an OBE award winner who is most popularly known for the show The Kumars at No 42,(he is also known as Meera Syal's husband) is currently in India shooting a documentary film for the BBC. The yet untitled documentary, which will be shown over four episodes of one hour each, showcases India as a progressive country and the changes that the country has seen in the last 60 years. The show will also interview people who have a significant hand in making India a progressive country.

Sanjeev Bhaskar informs, "I plan to complete the documentary by January 2007 in which I will be looking at different aspects which the world will connect with. The documentary will have humour as it is my strongest point as an artist. Hindi cinema and the media industry from India will also be an important aspect of the documentary which will be aired on BBC sometime next year. For this, I have just spent an entire day with Smriti Irani who is one of the most important aspects of the Indian television industry. The number of people who watch her on television everyday is probably far more than the number of people who live in a big country."

When contacted Smriti Irani said, "I have always looked up to Sanjeev and I am in awe of his work. I am privileged to be a part of his documentary. The best part about the documentary is that it encapsulates India as a progressive country on an international platform like the BBC. I take a lot of pride in representing our country through this film. Sanjeev came on my sets and I even made him play a cameo in my serial Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Aasmaan and I am glad that he agreed. I am extremely happy to be a part of few Indians who are the part of this documentary."

House arrest for Tulsi

Smriti Irani has been advised to stay at home to recover from dengue

Kunal M Shah

After a long time, Smriti Irani is taking a break from her 18-hour-work schedule to be at home. Following her dengue and typhoid attack, the actress is on the road to recovery and is currently recuperating at home having being discharged from the hospital recently.

The weakness is evident as she labours to speak, but the actress is already making plans of getting back to work shortly.

Smriti, who was unwell before Diwali, realised the extent of her indisposition only on a political tour of Ahmedabad. She was immediately admitted to a local hospital before being transferred to Lilavati hospital in Mumbai by her husband Zubin Irani.

However, Smriti is under house arrest following strict orders from her doctors who have instructed her to stay home. Smriti says, "I was discharged a couple of days ago. Right now, I am at home and on medication. I am not used to lying down and resting. I have been working for 18 to 19 hours for years now and I guess my body couldn't take it any more. At first I thought it was just a viral fever and ignored it. But, in Ahmedabad I developed a high temperature and started to shiver. Later, doctors in Lilavati told me that if I had arrived 24 hours later things would have got out of hand. I never realised the seriousness of my condition and even shouted at them to take me out of the hospital as I had to work. The doctors asked me to take one month bed rest. I have never been to the hospital except when I became a mother."

So, how is she spending her time in this recovery period? "The doctors understood immediately that I am a workaholic and will never sit still at home. So they requested me to stay home for 10-15 days. But the actor-producer in me is itching to go back to work. Let's see… I have meetings at home since I am on the verge of making a new announcement. This was the wrong time to fall ill. But illness never hits you with a prior warning."

And with this condition, Smriti has suddenly become more conscience about her health. "I now know that I was not taking good care of myself. I need to do that now. I was extremely careless about my health and I saw the tension and concern Zubin and my family members faced. I give full credit to Zubin and the doctors in Lilavati that I am back on my feet so soon."

How badly was her work schedule affected? "Thankfully, I had a bank of Thodi Si Zameen… and Santaram and Bhairavi, and the rest my creative heads took proper care of. Balaji was kind enough to understand and worked things out in my absence. People close to me are so used to seeing me being hyper active that they really had to make an effort to keep me at home. But I am just dying to get back to work."

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=10&am p;articleid=1112200622102595311122006221011468

Repeat telecast

Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasman may not be doing great in the ratings stakes, but it's worth a watch, at least for the different path it treads. The protagonist is still in touch with her humble chawl roots, in spite of being married to Mr Moneybags, and it's charming to see her switch her lingo to streetspeak when she interacts with her old buddies. Sadly, any show with a different theme is still not welcomed with the same enthusiasm as a regular 'family drama'.

http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/headlines_frame.ht m?itvid=/special/boxpopuli/y2k6/dec/boxpopuli30.htm

Highlights of 2006 continued..

Continuing our coverage of the highlights of this year, we will present you with more on that in this column. Let us look at what happened in the lives of actors (Female) in the year 2006. Smriti Irani Apart from playing the most popular character on the television screen, Tulsi Virani, the big bahu of the television soaps, Smriti Irani's much hyped and much awaited co-production with Balaji-- Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasman made it to the air waves this year. Donning multiple hats, Smriti saw her popularity soar to newer levels. Rajshree Thakur She is one actor who got noticed and received rave reviews for her performance in Zee's Saat Phere. Rajshree's also won the best fresh new face award at the Sixth Indian telly Awards. Prachi Desai The seventeen year old actor has who plays Bani in Kasamh Se has gained enormous popularity and is seen on the same lines as the characters of Tulsi and Paravati. The actor was the other recipient of the fresh new face award at the Indian Telly awards 2006. Aamna Shareef Aamna Sharif took home the best actor (female) award for her role as Kashish in Kahiin To Hoga along with being adjudged as the Style Icon of the year for the second time in a row at the Indian Telly Awards. Some of the televisions most popular shows this year were: Bigg Boss The hindi version of the original Big Brother. The show gained a lot of popularity owing to controversies that were generated in the Bigg Bosse's house. The show is seen as a challenge for the Chief Creative Director of Sony, Sandiip Sikcand who broke off with Balaji to join the channel. Nach Baliye 2 It was another show that kept the audience involved. The show saw star contestants perform to win the coveted title. Finally it was a tough competition between Hussain-Tina and Yash-Gauri Jodi's with Hussain-Tina duo clinching the trophy. Saat Phere-Saloni Ka Safar Zee witnessed an increase in its popularity with shows like Saat Phere and Kasamh Se. Rajshree Thakur's character Saloni, which is central to the plot has been one of the finest creations of the telly narrative. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs It was one of the most watched shows of the year. With the final episode witnessing the presence of King Khan himself. Delhi's wonder boy Diwarkar's performance touched one and all and he was seen as the winner but had to make way for Sachita who won in the end.

http://www.tellychakkar.com/y2k6/dec/30dec/feature_final.php

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