Hamari Shobhana Desai and her Devraniyaan
July 30th, 2008
VENKATESH spends a day at the shoot of Shobhana Desai's latest Hindi serial Hamari Devrani and chats with the producer as well as the star cast.
Success is not something which is alien to Shobhana Desai, who has been consistently producing one after another show for various channels right from 1995. She had made the serial Shagun for Star Plus last. Hamari Devrani is Shobhana's latest venture as a producer. Hamari Devrani has a string of successful as well as new talented actresses from the Gujarati stage as well as screen. Like Bhumi Shukla, Kalyani Thakar, Urvashi Upadhyaya, Manisha Purohit, Neelam Panchal and last but not the least Krishna Gokani
What is Hamari Devrani all about? I ask Shobhana Desai, who is a reticent producer who does not like to talk much and wants her action to speak louder than her words. Her answer is crisp, like her serials. "Our show is an emotional saga of the protagonist Bhakti played by new comer Krishna Gokani, who is a very simple small town girl. Bhakti's faith and devotion in life is her biggest strength. It is her grand mother Kashiben who brings her up."
Shobhana joined hands with partner and good friend Vipul Singh, known these days as the producer of Singh Is King and launched Shobhana Desai Productions Private Limited to capitalize on the rowing demand for local quality programming for the mushrooming satellite channels. Their production company shot to fame overnight with the phenomenal success of the country's only bilingual daily in Hindi and Gujarati called Sapnana Vavetar (Gujarati) and Ek MAhal Ho Sapno Ka (Hindi), which incidentally was the first ever daily soap on any satellite channel.
Not many are aware of the fact that Krishna Gokani had actually played the role of the young Prerna in Kasauti Zindagi Kay. Krishna quips, "I am very lucky that Shobhanaben considered me suitable for Hamari Devrani in the role of the protagonist. Besides acting, I have earlier assisted Homi Wadia for numerous ads as well as short stories on Doordarshan. Since I was active with theaters groups even when I was in college, I was lucky to have been able to make my debut with the popular play Chale Chabelo Gujarathi, which automatically grounded me and groomed me as an actress"
Kalyani Thakar, who was seen in the second lead next to Smriti Irani Malhotra in the play Maniben.com, is playing the second eldest bahu Parul in Hamari Devrani. Kalyani is no novice to acting and has to her credit quite a few popular serials like Kab Kyoon Kahan,Thodi Zameen Thoda Aasmaan etc among others. Kalyani who has also tried her hand at modeling for almost twelve years, has also acted in several Gujarati serials like Saudala Sasuna, which had already completed 1000 episodes and Sami Sanjana Shamna which is now on air on Zee Gujarati.
Neelam Panchal who plays the role of Rajeshwari, a Rajput bahu is quite svelte, confident and if I may add so, sexy and smart. A product of H.L. College Ahmedabad , Neelam who had tried her hand at a career as a chartered accountant had to give up her studies thanks to her passion towards acting. Ek Daal Na Pankhi (Doordarshan), Paati Patni Ane Wawa Jodu, Geet Gunjan, Yuva Sangram, Parniya Atle Oati Gaya (ETV Gujarati) and Saraswati Chandra (Zee Gujarati).This brand ambassador for National Handloom, who is also a household face having modelled for Zydus Cadla, Asapola Sarees and Pooja Diamond has to her credit films like Pyar Hamein Kis Mod Pe Le Aaya (Hindi) and Pogaru (Telugu), as a leading lady.
Urvashi Upadhyay plays the role of Manjula, the eldest bahu in the Nanavati family. Though shy and loveable in real life, Urvashi who is a trained classical Bharat Natyam dancer says that it is a big challenge for her to get into the skin of a vamp in Hamari Devrani. "It was when I was participating in the Chitralekha drama competition where Shobhnaji was present as a judge and I was adjudged the best actress in the competition that I bagged the role of Manjula", quips Urvashi.
Bhumi Shukla who is essaying the role of Alpa, the third eldest bahu in the Nanavati family has been working as an actress since the last eight years ever since she started off as a child artiste with the Gujarati play Huto Huti Satyam. To her credit, Bhumi has Gujarati films as an actress, like Dikro Kahu Ke Dev, Mota Ghar Ne Vaho, Maiyak Maa Mandu Nathi Lagtu and Ramat Ramade Rupyo. Bhumi is currently working in the Hindi film White Land with Gracy Singh. When asked to share any interesting anecdote on the sets of the film, Bhunmi frankly recollects the day when Gracy, who is short, had a look at her and requested her to shoot with her only after removing her high heels, only to be told by her that she was wearing just a pair of plain chappals for the shot." -(SAMPURN)
Anupamaa
