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Making people cry is very easy. Making people laugh is very difficult. Not for Rakhi Tandon, alias Sweety of Hum Paanch. ''Comedy comes easily to me,'' smiles Tandon who is in the news again with the return of Hum Paanch on Zee. Last, she was seen as Angel in a brief role for Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin. Now, she's full of laughter and gags. Nitin Joshi in a brief chat with the pretty actress. Excited with the return of Hum Paanch?
Oh yes! Absolutely. It's like coming back to one's family after such a long time.

Talking Point Rakhi Tandon

'I believe in chilling out. I believe in enjoying life. I live a nice, clean life. I only allow positive clean thoughts. I have a secure environment. Also, I am quite pampered by my husband'

Nitin Joshi

Do you find it as enjoyable as it was before?
Yes. It's amazing. It's wonderful being on this set once more. It really feels like a home away from home. Are you sticking to the old successful formula or is there something new in the format that we can look forward to?
Viewers connected so very well with Hum Paanch, earlier, so there is no need to change much except a bit in the look of the characters who have grown older. Do you really believe it will work again? The previous time, it went on for seven years.
Well, I hope it works. Fingers crossed. All of us are working very hard. You must miss Priya Tendulkar?
Yes, of course. It still hurts that she's no more. But Sudhaji is fantastic. She's doing a brilliant job. In real life, are you a lot like Sweety?
I am a lot like her. Full of life, full of masti. Completely crazy... taking off on people. The only difference is that I am not dumb like her. While Rakhi is happily married in real life, Sweety is still hunting for guys, right?
Yes, and that's because no one is ready to be married to her. After Hum Paanch, why didn't do any other show with Ekta Kapoor?
I was busy with other shows. And then I was also producing shows myself along with my husband Rajeev. Now, I might take up another show with her. What's happening on the production front?
I am busy acting again, just now and I like to do one thing at a time. In between I was so busy with my productions, I wasn't doing much as an actor. That's me. Rajeev is looking at scripts and there will be something soom from R.T. Entertainment. Lastly, what's the secret — you just don't seem to get any older!
Oh thanks! I believe in chilling out. I believe in enjoying life. Maybe it's also because I live a nice, clean life. I only allow positive clean thoughts. I have a secure environment. Also, I am quite pampered by my husband. </>

First Break



I only got 'cute-girl' roles...



Pushtiie aka Choti of Hum Paanch on how her being plump got her assignments



Sapana Patil



I was doing a Gujarati play when a friend suggested that I audition for TV serials. Initially I was reluctant as I was really plump (more than I am now). However, that became a plus point and fetched me roles of a 'cute girl'. Those were not the kind of roles I had in mind but upon my friend's insistence, I auditioned for Balaji Telefilms (almost out of fear of displeasing him).

I got lucky in the auditions and landed up with a role in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii. I played the role of a 'cute but bitchy' college girl. This was almost three years ago. At that time, my brother (TV actor Vrajesh Hirjee) was strictly against it. Being the protective brother and having worked in the industry for a long time, he knew the pitfalls in this line. So, he tried dissuading me from taking up acting in serials. But my mom was with me and was firm about letting me do what I wanted. She gave me the green signal which made me feel confident.

There has been no looking back since then. Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii was followed with a small role in Kya Haadsa Kya Haqeeqat, a big role in Kkusum and Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin. Now, I reign as the Choti of Hum Paanch.
SOURCE:-

https://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=19&am p;articleid=1211200523163684312112005231558750

"I think I was bad in Hum Paanch"


Life took a beautiful turn for the beautiful lady herself, Vidya Balan after she bagged the lead role in Parineeta (as Lolita).


From 'Radhika' to 'Lolita': Vidya Balan's upwardly mobile journey!
The girl needs no introduction, she's modest,well educated and has a natural acting talent but all this coupled with some 80 ads , three music videos and the popular Hum Paanch to her credit. Hum Paanch being her first small screen assignment taught her a lot about emoting.

In a candid interview she poures her heart out to Kavita Shyam.

How was it working with the Hum Paanch unit?
Well Hum Paanch was a different memory. It was a lot of fun and each one of us had a great chemistry with each other. I was quiet young while I was doing Hum Paanch, I must have been in college then. In fact I grew up with the Hum Paanch experience besides it was my first brush with acting. Thereafter my career went great guns and I have fond memories with the entire team.

Are you still in touch with the Hum Paanch co-stars?
Not too often. I am in touch with Shoma Anand once in a while and Bhairavi Raichuda and Vandana Pathak had called up to congratulate me after my first release (Parineeta)



Did you prepare much for your role in Hum Paanch where you played a deaf girl?
I did not prepare for my role in Hum Paanch as Radhika at all. But I personally think I was quiet bad in the serial. As I said I was pretty raw at that time so I blindly followed the director all the way in playing the character. Most importantly I'd say the script was simple and nice so it helped and the actors had a great ch

How was Ekta Kapoor to work with?
Hum Paanch was Ekta's first serial and thankfully it turned out to be very popular. That point of time Ekta was quiet young herself but still she knew how to run the business. All I can say is that she is extremely hard working and my association with her has been great. It is not easy to run a production house and churn out such interesting scripts.


The new avatar of the Mathur family, sans the original Radhika!
So do you have any offers from the small screen?
I started with television and it is a medium very close to my heart however now my hands are full with the few films that I am doing so I cant talk about television but ads can happen as they would only require a day or two but all this provided its interesting enough.

What do you have to say about the new Hum Paanch?
I am waiting to watch the new Hum Paanch to see how different it is from the previous one and how the new director treats the serial, the look and the characters. I am sure Pamela Mukherjee who is playing the new Radhika will do justice to the character too . And having said all this I hope it does really well

thnx for that update!


😉 Saber222 😉

Hum Paanch team at war!



Reena Thapar Kapoor

Getting into the inner circle can be quite a pain: Pushti

One sister act you simply cannot miss: Hum Paanch team

Theirs is the oldest family on television. Everyone knows the fabulous rapport shared off-screen by the Hum Paanch team. The 'sisters' bonded when the show first went on air and despite a five-year gap, the trio of Rakhi Tandon, Bhairavi Raichura and Vandana Pathak continued their friendship.

Naturally, they rejoiced when the second season of Hum Paanch bought them together on screen again. Everything was going hunky dory until Phusti (Choti of Hum Paanch) stepped into the original Choti, Priyanka Mehra's shoes. Unfortunately, Phusti was a complete stranger among them, who failed to connect with the trio. "Initially I couldn't understand their sense of humour," says Phusti. "I know that it takes a little time for an outsider to get to know a group of friends and bond with them. However, there were times when I did feel left out as I couldn't understand their style of communication."

Phusti claims that now communication is improving between the on-screen sisters. "This is the fourth schedule and there is a lot of improvement," she says. "We've started understanding each other better. Rakhi, Vandana and Bhairavi have known each for a long time. Obviously it took them some time for them to open up to someone who has only known them for four months."

Industry insiders, however, insist that a cold war is going on between Phusti and the three girls. Apparently it started when Rakhi's hand nudged Pushti, during a scene. An angry Pushti recated by shouting at Rakhi. She calmed down when Rakhi too shouted back that she hadn't touched her purposely, that it was just an accident. "I don't wish to talk about things that happens between actors on the sets," says Rakhi Tandon. However the actress admits that it'll take some time for them to include Pushti in their gang.

Rakhi's on-screen sister and best pal Bhairavi Raichura is more forthcoming about the issue. "Phusti is a nice girl. If she feels left out with us, I don't blame her," she says. "As a gang, we do not like anyone intruding in our privacy. We have our secrets and problems that we do not wish to share with an outsider."

The third prankster Vandana Phathak too feels the same. "Pushti is sweet but hasn't become our friend as yet," she says. "It'll take some time for her to win our trust. If she wants us to be friendly to her she has to learn to lay off and not force herself into our group."

Memorable moment



Crash, boom, bang!


Rakhi Tandon met her director husband by almost running into his car


Sapana Patil


Rajeev (Tandon) had hurt himself terribly after he met with a brutal accident. He was coming out of a doctor's clinic at Bandra when he saw a car coming at great speed from the opposite direction. I used to be a rash driver at that time, and upset to see him (Rajeev) blocking my way, I yelled out, "Who is this?" His driver came out explaining that he was the director of a TV show.

The next day, when I reported to my shoot for a serial called Mr Mintoo, I saw this man there. He was to going to direct me. Subsequent interaction with him led to our falling in love. I have been married to him for almost nine years now.

When my husband would watch Hum Paanch with his friend, he would often joke that he wanted to marry a girl like Sweetie. And he feels that I am his cutest possession.

When I first banged my car into his, he had sworn that he would get me. At that time I thought he meant he would get back at me. Now I realise his true intention.

source-

https://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=19&am p;articleid=15200622505462515200622508515

I've never dreamt of becoming a film actress

Friday, January 06, 2006 12:26:9 IST
Bhairavi Raichura is content doing meaty television roles than mediocre ones in films, she tells..



How does it feel to be back as Kajal Bhai?
(Laughs) Obviously it feels great. More than anything else, the 'Hum Paanch' team was like family. It's like getting back to one's family. We've always shared a great chemistry and it shows on screen. It's the show that's made me. So it feels even more special.

Hasn't anything changed in all these years?
Surprising but no! When I was to begin shooting for it, I wondered if it would be the same. Of course, we were in touch off and on. But the first day of the shoot made us feel like those five years had never existed. It felt exactly the same.

How do you feel about your new look?
The character is the same but now I wear more hep clothes. Earlier, I wore mainly jeans and shirts, now wear jackets and cargos too. This was decided by the production house. It's basically to show that we've just returned from the US.

What is the reaction to the comeback of the show?
People are quite excited that it's come back. They don't find it very different from what it was nor do they find any change in me besides my look.

Don't you feel that there has to be a difference considering five years have passed?
I don't think the basic nature changes. Kajal Bhai always thought of herself as a man. She doesn't like anyone addressing her as a woman. It's such a strong character. I don't know how often one sees characters like that.

Do you relate to her?
(Laughs) I'm not Kajal at all in real life. I'm the complete opposite. I'm naughty
but I'm nowhere like her. I'm comfortable in jeans and shirts as well as in Indian attire. I dress according to the occasion. Five years back when 'Hum Paanch' came on air, people hadn't seen me in anything besides jeans and shirts on screen. Now they're used to seeing me in feminine clothes in my other serials.

Which character do you enjoy playing more, Urmila in 'Astitva' or Kajal Bhai?
Both! I think it's a blessing for an actor to play such diverse characters. I have to work hard for both.

What attracted you to Kaajal Bhai?
It's a completely different character. I found it extremely challenging as I was a very shy girl. Besides, it wasn't like I was being offered hundreds of characters that I could choose from. So I took up Kaajal Bhai. I was very scared initially as I'd never come across a character like that in real life.

How did you manage?
I behaved exactly the way I was told to. My directors helped me a lot. They showed me the different nuances and I just imitated them (laughs).

How did you get into acting?
I started with attending a theatre workshop as a kid. My mum had me enrolled in it as she thought I would open up a bit. I did a play and later another one after my tenth standard. Homi Wadia asked me if I would do a part in 'Mano Na Mano'. Ekta Kapoor spotted me and offered me Kajal Bhai in 'Hum Paanch'. Everything started from there.

Would you do theatre today?
I don't think I have the energy to finish my TV shoots and rush for rehearsals and shows. I would rather stick to television for now.

How about films?
I've been saying no to films. I don't want to do films. I'm happy with television. It's better to do meaty roles on television rather than not-so-important roles in films. Today television is really big. I've never even dreamt of becoming a film actress.

source-

https://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=xtras&am p;am p;am p;subsection=showbuzz&xfile=January2006_tvtrack_standard 243&child=tvtrack

Sony and I had a difference of opinion: Ekta

The ever-forthright Ekta Kapoor has no qualms about admitting she had a minor scuffle with Sony Entertainment - or its head honcho Tarun Katial to be precise.

"I was rather annoyed with Tarun. They had left out my soap 'Kkusum' from the invitation card of their party celebrating their successful soaps. Though Tarun said it was an oversight, I thought it was a deliberate attempt to push our 'Kkusum' hastily out of sight," Ekta told IANS in an interview.

"Come on! Just because the soap was winding up it didn't mean it shouldn't have got a decent send-off."

The minor fracas is now forgotten. And the workaholic TV tycoon is now working on her new show - a TV gossip magazine called "Kandy Floss" for Sony.

Giving the details of the format for the first time, Ekta says: "We've never really had a gossip-and-information show about TV on TV before. Also Balaji Telefilms hasn't really done much non-fiction...though we did do the Sunita Menon show on Zoom, which was very successful. But, yes, 'Kandy Floss' is a first for us. And we're excited."

Besides a regular female anchor, "Kandy Floss" will have an animation creature called Kandy who'll take viewers through the party-gossip-info circuit on television.

"It would be my tribute to Madame M, the fictional gossip writer whom I grew up reading in the magazine Cine Blitz."

The anchor is not confirmed, but isn't Archana Puran Singh talking about anchoring the show?

"We're in negotiations. But some nitty-gritty needs to be worked out," says Ekta.

Besides "Kandy Floss" on Sony, Ekta has two new fiction programmes coming up - "Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka" on STAR One and "Kasam Se" on Zee.

"We've already started casting for Nimmo. Though it will have a new face in the central role, the supporting cast will comprise some very well-known veterans from stage and movies never seen in my serials," promises Ekta.

Ekta is also thrilled with the remarkable recovery of ratings for STAR's "Kavyanjali".

"From being written off - almost - to now being our fourth most popular soap on STAR after 'Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi', 'Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki' and 'Kasauti Zindagi Kay', we're very proud of 'Kavyanjali' and the support that STAR offered. STAR's COO Samir Nair assured me he wouldn't close down the show, come what may. That gave me the courage to go on."

As for the revival of "Hum Paanch" on Zee, Ekta says it's still not certain how successful it would be.

"The first few weekends were overshadowed by other events on rival channels. But I had no choice. The channel told me either I bring 'Hum Paanch' back, or they'd do it themselves. How could I let someone else take over my show?

"I've revived two of my shows, 'Mano Ya No Mano' and 'Koi Haadsa Koi Haqeeqat', successfully. Why not 'Hum Paanch'?"

Source: http://www.mahiram.com/gossip/showthread.php?p=212704

Kaajal bhai ban gayi Parvati
By: Vickey Lalwani
January 19, 2006
------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------


Bhairavi Raichuria

Bhairavi Raichuria, better known as Kaajal bhai of Ekta Kapoor's Hum Paanch, has replaced Pooja Madan, the protagonist Parvati in Doordarshan's daily Ahsaas starring Sudha Chandran, Rahul Roy, Mukesh Khanna, Prachee Shah and Ravi Gossain.

Paisa bolta hai

Pooja, who had replaced Vani Tripathi was part of the show for over a year now She felt she needed a pay hike. Producer Abhishek Dudhaia refused to comply, so Pooja decided not to continue.

When contacted, Abhishek admitted, "I did not want to increase Pooja's fees. If I increase her fee, all other actors will also demand a hike. I don't have so many funds in Ahsaas. I wish all these actors understand."

According to sources, Ravi Gossain also demanded a raise, and may quit the show if he doesn't have his way.

A simple guy

"I pay on daily basis-seniors and juniors both. I am a very simple, and transparent man. I don't latkao anybody's money. Coming back to Pooja, I had clearly told her right from start that I will not be able to increase her fee, and her present fee will be constant throughout."

Bhairavi's gain

Explaining Bhairavi's selection, Abhishek said that she fits the role. "Bhairavi will also work at the budget I have offered her. She is very keen to work with me, and that eased out my tension; I didn't have to search high and low for the replacement."

Vani Tripathi had also left Ahsaas because Abhishek refused to increase her fee, which she too demanded somewhere at the time of being in the serial for one year.

"I had showed the typical plastic surgery trick when Tripathi changed to Madan, but now I am not even doing that. I will simply put up an announcement reading that Madan's character will now be played by Raichuria," the director signs off grumpily.

Pooja Madan was unavailable for comment.

source-

midday.com