Article - karan mentioned :)

TV gets under the skin

Piling on kilos, going bald, changing complexion ' TV actors are going all out to do justice to their characters

Chaya Unnikrishnan

After much speculation, TV actor Kushal Tandon had his hair cropped really short to go with his character Virat's look in Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai. It was his way of supporting his lady love Maanvi (Niaa Sharma), who is suffering from cancer and loses her hair after chemotherapy. A couple of months ago, Karan V Grover went completely bald, a la Ghajini, as part of his character undergoing a brain surgery in Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli. Then there was the light-skinned and pretty Mahi Vij, who not only turned plain Jane for her role as Nakusha in Laagi Tujhsi Lagan, she also painted herself dark. And, believe it or not, Ram Kapoor has apparently been restrained from losing his weight in Bade Acche Lagte Hain to 'maintain' the rotund look! Of course, who can forget Mona Singh, who made her TV debut as the bespectacled, buck-toothed Jassi in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin and remained in character, on and offscreen for nearly an year!
Just goes to show that TV stars are going all out when it comes to sculpting their bodies and getting into the skin of their characters. Says Kushal, "When I was told that chopping my hair will help support people who are suffering from cancer, I readily agreed. One has to support their loved ones and that's what Virat is doing for Maanvi."
On the other hand, it was Karan, who himself came up with the idea of sporting a bald pate when his character was shown to have a memory loss to add novelty to the show.
For Mahi, it was a big thing to darken her face, but she took the chance. "It made people eager to see the face behind the colour," smiles Mahi, who sported the look for a long time.
Even kids are willing to go the extra mile. Child actor Bhavya Gandhi in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah, was initially reluctant to go bald and insisted on wearing a wig for his role but later relented when the producer explained the importance. Says Bhavya, "I did not want to shave off my head, even my mother was against it, but Asit uncle (producer Asit Modi) explained the concept. Since it was about children suffering from cancer, who lose their hair and are made fun of in school, he told me if I made it into a style statement, other kids will also think it is cool."
Kavita Barjatya, who produces Yahan.. says these changes help the serial in getting eyeballs. However, Sukesh Motwani, fiction head, Zee is of the view that ratings are a moot point. "It is about the commitment an actor has to the role he/she is playing," he reasons.

http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?id=21347&boxid=26563758&ed_date=2012-07-04&ed_code=820004&ed_page=1