Neena Gupta opens up...

A few years ago, Neena Gupta was the perfect example of ‘a single, independent woman’ in Bollywood.


Today, she feels marriage and children are essential in every woman’s life. Married to a Delhi-based chartered accountant, she strongly feels that one has to follow the ‘rules’ of the society. “Life is very tough for women. When you are a certain age, you are left alone at home with no one to share your life with. It’s all very hunky dory to say that you will fight on your own, but at the end of the day, you do need a companion.

There is a time in life when all your friends are married with kids. If you want to go out for coffee you have to beg your friends to go out with you. It was a mistake not to marry at the right age. When you get older, even men aren’t interested in you.”

Neena who’s now Manno bhabhi (Saat Phere) on screen, feels being part of showbiz does not ensure that one gets to meet interesting people every day. She feels it’s “like any other profession. If you want to find someone, you have to go out and meet people.” A firm believer of destiny, Neena says, “Marriage happened very late for me. It took place at a time, when my definition of companionship had really narrowed down. If your marriage doesn’t work, that doesn’t mean, you give up. It’s not easy to be on your own. Once you decide to marry, you have to work at it to keep it rocking.”

Neena confesses that she wants to do some interesting cinema like Shabana Azmi or Kirron Kher, but there are no such offers yet. She also admits that if she doesn’t have enough good projects, it’s also because she doesn’t know how to market herself at all. “Sometimes, I think I was not meant for this profession. I am a home body.” Neena’s happy with the way her career is shaping on television. She admits television does show “some regressive stuff”, but she feels the audience is to blame for the content. “Why do they continue to see such stuff?”she probes.

Although her husband lives in Delhi, Neena prefers to live in Mumbai with her father and daughter Masaba. So is she prepared for a long distance relationship? “I don’t know. My daughter is a priority, so until she is settled, I have to give her time. Vivek is a good human being and most importantly a family man, so he understands me completely.” Neena is busy doing a daily show, but wants to start a boutique, write a book and “produce a movie, if the forces of nature help me,” she laughs.

Neena would love to do movies like A Wednesday, “but who is thinking of me when they are scripting,” she jokes. We do ask her if she continues to be friends with Vivian Richards, Masaba’s father. She says, “Some questions are better left unanswered.”

Second innings, via small screen

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Switch on the TV and watch any reality show these days and the one thing that is common is the presence of actresses on most of the shows.

And we are not talking about the various stars who promote their films on TV. We are talking about the well-known heroines, who are now doubling up as the judges on such shows. Whether it is Sushmita Sen, Karisma Kapur, Urmila Matondkar, Mahima Chaudhary, Sonali Bendre, Raveena Tandon or Kajol, all these heroines have at some point in their career ruled the silver screen. So, what is it that draws them to the small screen? Does short hiatus for marriage or motherhood mean bidding adieu to the silver screen? Or is their small screen stint a bid to further their careers on big screen? Read on...

Limelight matters
When it comes to sizzling the screen, actresses know just how to up the glam quotient of a show by their sheer presence. Says director Anurag Basu, “Actresses are used to the limelight and a TV show gives them a chance to be in the spotlight. Moreover, if an actress has to further her filmi career, she has to find ways to be in circulation. So, if this means doing a part that's important, not necessarily the lead, an intelligent actress will take it up. Shilpa Shetty did it in my film Life... In a Metro. It’s the first step towards accepting change with grace and dignity.”

Need for good roles
While most heroines, who have taken a break because of matrimony or motherhood, are ready to bide their time waiting for that meaty role, the reality is that such roles are few and far between. Producer Ramesh Taurani says, “We have such a vast talent pool when it comes to our married actresses. But sadly, not all of them get good, author-backed roles. After all, didn’t the audience accept Kajol in Fanaa and Hemaji in Baghban. The bottom line is that the role has to suit an actor's age and looks. Then the silver screen is all theirs.”

Agrees Jhankaar Beats director Sujoy Ghosh, who had cast Juhi Chawla in his film. “For the record, I haven’t seen any of these shows where these heroines are judges, so I cannot say whether their presence in such shows gets them roles. However, what I can say with surety is that all these heroines have done great work as actresses. If this move helps them get back on the silver screen to wow the audience with their histrionics the second time round, why not? Juhi has been doing this so successfully.”

A personal choice
Finally, a comeback is an actor’s personal choice, says Rati Agnihotri who had called it quits when she was at the peak of her career. She explains, “Even if there were such TV shows in my time, I don’t think I would have taken them up. Because back then, I had decided that work will have to wait and family will take up most of my time. But yes, television is a good way to work at your own pace.”

Endorsing this fact is Mahima Chaudhary, who says, “It’s not so much the lack of work that brings actresses to the small screen. In fact, today we have so many events, shows, endorsements, which keep us busy all the time. And for me personally, the schedule is such that I can give time to my child and be a working mom too. And yes, if while doing all these things, I do get a good script, then why not, I may just do a film!”

I am fed-up with Television : Abhijeet Sawant

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The first Indian Idol, Abhijeet Sawant is now proving his versatility in Nach Baliye as a dancer. The singer, actor cum dancer talks to WEBNSN.COM about his future when it comes to television...

"Nach Baliye 4" Participants Photos

One of the best jodi's of Nach Baliye 4, Abhijeet Sawant and wife Shilpa are having a gala time due to the ongoing strike. We talk to the singer, dancer cum actor on what is going on with no nach, Bollywood and television!!

“We are just bored sitting at home. We do practice, but not as seriously because we have no idea when the strike will get over”, says Abhijeet.

Television Top 10 Programs @ Click Here

So are there any plans for a vacation? “Well we thought the strike will get over in a week, so did not go out of the station. But now, if things don't resolve, may be on Saturday I'll go to my native place in Konkan”, says the Idol.

So what kept him busy all these days? “I was busy with my playback singing and stage performances. Initially it had become difficult to balance out, as I was doing too many things at a time. Now due to the strike I feel relieved as there is no hush- hush between the shoots, my stage shows and singing”, quips Abhijeet.

TOP TEN Golden moments in the Bigg Boss House

After Nach, you must be flooded with offers on television, so are there any chances of seeing you more on TV? “I don't want to do much on television. After Indian Idol, I took another best show which gave a boost to my personality. Even Nach Baliye has maharati's and is very popular. Now I want to move ahead and progress in life”, says he.

We have heard you are getting offers for fiction shows too. “Yes I got few offers, but I refused it. The day I start to do more of television, then people will tend to think that Abhijeet doesn't have any other work to do. Doing fiction on television will be my last option. But in future, if I get some good offers like these, then I don't mind”, quips the singer.

Nach Baliye - Star One & Star Plus

Well, Abhijeet you may never know what's in store for you next!! For now, we wish you and Shilpa luck for your nach…More

Surili Gautam of Meet Mila De Rabba looks similar to Kareena Kapoor

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Surili Gautam of Meet Mila De Rabba fame looks similar to Bollywood's Bebo, Kareena Kapoor. Read to know more about their similarities..

We are talking about the new face on Sony, Surili Gautam of Meet Mila De Rabba. Ever since she entered the television industry, there has been talks that she has quite a lot of similarities with Kareena Kapoor in terms of look. Well, besides the name, another similarity is in their on screen name.

Remember Kareena in Jab We Met, her character name was Geet. In Meet Mila De Rabba, Surili’s on screen name is also Geet. Their on screen background is almost alike, of the jat Punjabi’s.

Though now Kareena has lost all those chubby cheeks, if you recollect her features when she made her first appearance in Bollywood with Abhishek Bachchan in Refugee, she looked almost similar to what Surili appears!!

Well the only thing to wait and watch will be to see if Surili is able to attain the success in small screen as Kareena has on silver screen!!

What K-serials really convey

The dipping fortunes of Balaji serials from Ekta Kapoor's stable have been in the limelight with curtains coming down on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' recently. K-serials have been considered somewhat retrograde, portraying women in an unrealistic light.

The hidden meaning these serials convey will be analysed using semiotics (science of signs) at a conference being organised by Ahmedabad-based Antarnad Foundation's Institute of Psychotherapy on November 29 and 30.

"The seminar seeks to link the two disciplines of literature and psychoanalysis, which are both about narratives. While the former puts experiences in words, the latter tries to do so," says Y Venugopal, head of the institute.

Says Seema Khanwalkar, expert in semiotics and CEPT faculty, in her paper on Balaji serials: "The serials are of women, for women, by a woman. Women are each other's friends or foes, while men are onlookers in the unfolding drama. The serials promote joint family concept, middle-class values, Hindu traditions, nationalism and the Mother India' concept."

The women, whether Tulsi, Parvati, Ganga or Prerna, spend their entire life battling family politics, trying to balance traditional obligations with modern aspirations. The characters are either saccharine-sweet or bitter-than-gourd. The guilt-free bitching in the serials has a cathartic effect on viewers, explains Khanwalkar.

Interestingly, the paper brings out that Ekta Kapoor herself was a food and television addict as a child and the serials project her own need for security.

Six dreams of one of the greatest Gujarati writers, Govardhanram Tripathi, will also be explained by a faculty member of Psychoanalytic Therapy and Research Centre, Mumbai. Tripathi, who belonged to Nadiad, penned the classic Sarasvatichandra' which was also made into a Hindi film.

Analysis will be based on Tripathi's Scrap Book'. The writer embarked on his magnum opus Sarasvatichandra' to reform and regenerate Indian society. Having initially planned a series of essays, he thought a narrative reflecting reality of those times would attract readers. "Gujaratis as a people must be made, and not simply left, to read," he said.

Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray' and Jhumpa Lahiri's Namesake' will also be under the scanner at the conference. In the former classic, the protagonist's portrait ages and gets ugly as his character deteriorates. In Namesake', made into a critically acclaimed film, the character Gogol, is more than a confused Indian boy who has grown up in US.



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They lost in Bigg Boss, but gained big popularity

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Hyderabad girl Payal Rohatgi is a computer engineer by training, however the Bollywood bug bit her after she took part in a beauty pageant what ensued was small roles in B-grade films like Ye Kya Ho Raha Hai, Tauba Tauba and Laila basically a starlet whose career wasn't heading anywhere in particular.

Sambhavna Seth another starlet who is more popular for her raunchy item numbers.

Rakhi Vijan once a fairly successful TV actress known for her character Sweety in the popular series Hum Paanch, however is currently going through a low patch as far as her career is concerned.

Monika Bedi started off as a wannabe actress who signed on a couple of A-grade films reportedly thanks to her underworld connections. However the same connections with gangster Abu Salem proved to be her downfall. After spending time in jail, Ms Bedi was ready for a second innings in showbiz.

Rahul Mahajan first made headlines for all the wrong reasons right after his father Pramod Mahajan's murder. What followed was a quick wedding with girlfriend Shweta.

However after a divorce under allegations of domestic abuse just a little under a year later, junior Mahajan clambered on to the Bigg Boss bandwagon to change his negative image.

Though none of them survived in Bigg Boss house to make it to the finals, they have hit jackpot of a different sort.

“I have a lot of film offers now. Earlier I used to get one film offer in one year but now Bigg Boss acted like a catalyst in my life. I have dil kabbadi which is ready for release I play Irfan khans wife,” says Payal Rohatgi.

“I have got immense popularity. I’m good at dancing so I am going to go ahead with dance reality show offers,” says Sambhavna Seth.

“I have 4 films confirmed offers out of which 3 are comedy,” says Rakhi Vijan

Rahul Mahajan: “I will continue with my entertainment business or become a jeans and white shirt politician,” says Rahul Mahajan.

Three months ago most of these names were nothing less wannabes in showbiz but one reality show later lives have changed. This stint on the small screen seemed to have made a bigg difference and that Big with a double G.

And Winners:

Hyderabad girl Payal Rohatgi is a computer engineer by training, however the Bollywood bug bit her after she took part in a beauty pageant what ensued was small roles in B-grade films like Ye Kya Ho Raha Hai, Tauba Tauba and Laila basically a starlet whose career wasn't heading anywhere in particular.

Sambhavna Seth another starlet who is more popular for her raunchy item numbers.

Rakhi Vijan once a fairly successful TV actress known for her character Sweety in the popular series Hum Paanch, however is currently going through a low patch as far as her career is concerned.

Monika Bedi started off as a wannabe actress who signed on a couple of A-grade films reportedly thanks to her underworld connections. However the same connections with gangster Abu Salem proved to be her downfall. After spending time in jail, Ms Bedi was ready for a second innings in showbiz.

Rahul Mahajan first made headlines for all the wrong reasons right after his father Pramod Mahajan's murder. What followed was a quick wedding with girlfriend Shweta.

However after a divorce under allegations of domestic abuse just a little under a year later, junior Mahajan clambered on to the Bigg Boss bandwagon to change his negative image.

Though none of them survived in Bigg Boss house to make it to the finals, they have hit jackpot of a different sort.

“I have a lot of film offers now. Earlier I used to get one film offer in one year but now Bigg Boss acted like a catalyst in my life. I have dil kabbadi which is ready for release I play Irfan khans wife,” says Payal Rohatgi.

“I have got immense popularity. I’m good at dancing so I am going to go ahead with dance reality show offers,” says Sambhavna Seth.

“I have 4 films confirmed offers out of which 3 are comedy,” says Rakhi Vijan

Rahul Mahajan

“I will continue with my entertainment business or become a jeans and white shirt politician,” says Rahul Mahajan.

Three months ago most of these names were nothing less wannabes in showbiz but one reality show later lives have changed. This stint on the small screen seemed to have made a bigg difference and that Big with a double G

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TRP of ICL Championship Full World TV Info

As per the latest ratings released by TAM & aMap, India's television audience measurement agencies, the Indian Cricket League (ICL) has registered impressive television viewership of 2.13 (as per TAM) and 1.80 (as per aMap) for its recently concluded showcase event, ICL 20s Indian Championship. With an impressive rating in the Indian market, ICL has achieved stupendous viewership patronage in the overseas market as well. Pakistan registered 3.6 for the first semi-finals, 2.3 for second semi-finals, 5.7 for Final 1 and 5.1 for Final 2 (Source: Medialogic). In United Kingdom, the ICL matches registered a rating of 1.4 among the Asian population (Source: BARB).

Interpreting the overall success of the bigger, better & more vibrant ICL Season-2, Himanshu Mody, Business Head, ICL said, "The ratings validate our belief in creating a popular and commercially viable sports product with the ICL. As a pioneering product still in its growth stage, ICL has today earned viewership patronage comparable to any other cricket product televised in India at the same period of time. This exemplifies the emergence of ICL as an important sporting event in the annual calendar of the Indian sports scenario."

ICL 20s Indian Championship first finals also registered a phenomenal Peak Ratings with Kolkata registering a peak TVR of 9.45, Mumbai 8.28, Gujarat (.1 to 1MN) 9.08, PHCHP (.1 to 1MN) 6.04, Rajasthan (1MN +) 6.65, Hyderabad 4.73 respectively (Source: TAM, TG: CS M15+).

The month long high octane tournament, preceded by a voluminous Rs. 500 million marketing campaign (Cricket Hai Meri Life) and lapped up by packed 50,000 capacity stadium saw the ratings ascend steeply in popularity and television viewership as the tournament progressed.

"These ratings translate well for ICL's popularity across the globe. Pakistan rating of the ICL matches have been as high as 5.7. On the other hand, in United Kingdom ICL matches registered an impressive rating of 1.4 amongst the Asian population, considering the fact that an average channel in Multichannel HH (Multichannel HH = All TV home – only Terrestrial (analog) HHs) gets rating in the range of .03 to .04. ICL ratings are better than most of the other Sports Channel performance in the same time band among All-Individuals in UK"; added Mr. Mody.

ICL is leaving no stone unturned as it fine tunes its preparations for its forthcoming premium tournament ICL 20s World Series, that will feature four teams from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and ICL-World, made up of a galaxy of international stars from across the global cricket fraternity. The ICL 20s World Series starts from November 23, 2008 and will be held at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad.

Neha Marda (Gehna) not friendly on Balika Vadhu sets

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Biggest Awards Show of Bigg Boss 2

Neha Marda who is playing the role of Gehna in the popular serial Balika Vadhu is quite excited at the fan following that she has been receiving for her performance in the serial. The sprightly lass has signed on the new show Jo Ishq Ki Marzi Woh Rab Ki Marzi slated to go on air on Sahara One and is enjoying this phase of her career now.


Not many are aware of the fact that Neha had actually started faced the camera for the first time as a little kid with her stint as a participant in the popular dance show Boogie Woogie. Then followed yet another dance show called Kaboom.

Top 5 Male and Female actors of Television in the year 2008

Besides the dance shows Boogie Woogie and Kaboom, Neha has also acted in quite a few serials till date including Ek Thi Rajkumari which as on the now defunct channel Zee Next. "Though it was Ek Thi Rajkumari which had me playing the title role for the first time, I also enjoyed working in the serials like Saath Rahega Always and Ghar Ek Sapna too."


Astrologers pick Bigg Boss winner

Neha is playing a very challenging character in the new show Jo Ishq Ki Marzi Woh Rab Ki Marzi too. "I play Sunaina, who is only 19. She is a live wire, full of energy, outspoken, witty and highly adventurous. Music and dance runs in her blood and she is very passionate about it. Life however takes a sudden twist and the two love birds are separated for ten years. The show is all about how Sunaina, with her faith in Sumer's love and their relationship since their birth is ready to face all adversities, in their only desire, to be one forever".

“Balika Vadhu” SLAPPED “Kyunki”

Though she has acted in a few serials earlier and is not a new comer, people presume that she has actually made her debut as an actress with the serial Balika Vadhu, because it has become quite popular. Neha confesses that though acting in Jo Ishq Ki Marzi Woh Rab Ki Marzi was like a picnic, it is quite tough getting into the skin of her character in Balika Vadhu as the innocent young girl Gehna who is married off to an elderly widower.


Neha confesses that it is not a cake walk as far as preparing for the character of Gehna is. "The first brief that I was given was that I had to watch the CDs of Shekhar Kapoor's controversial film Bandit Queen , because the film also deals with the issue of sexual harassment in an adult manner. "

It is interesting to note that Neha, as a part and parcel of her preparation for the character was also asked by the director to maintain a safe distance and not to become very friendly on the sets with the actor who is playing the elder brother Vasant who forcibly gets Gehna as his second wife. "Since I had to get into the mood of the character, I prefer to even keep a distance from Surekha Sikriji who is playing my mother in law in the serial. I just make it a point to walk up to her when the shoot starts and just say a Hi Ma'm."

Mehak, Meghna IN & Sambhavna Seth OUT from Dancing Queen

Neha admits that it was after her episodes in Boogie Woogie were telecast that Sahara One offered her the role in Saath Rahega Always. Besides Saath Rahega Always, Ghar Ek Sapna and Ek Thi Rajkumari, Neha has also acted in a documentary directed by Harsh Chhaya. "I played an 18 year old drug addict girl who gets molested mentally. It was after Rajesh Chaddha of BAG Films saw the documentary and asked me to do an audition, that I was selected for Ek Thi Rajkumari."

Neha says that, as an actress, she yearns to bag a role which will allow her to display her prowess in dancing, since she is proficient in dancing . "I feel that dancing is actually related to acting in many ways. I have learnt Bharat Natyam for nine years, Kathak for seven years, jazz in four years and Salsa in three years. For three consecutive years, when I was 17, 18 and 19, I was lucky enough to win the hat trick in the Boogie Woogie dancing competition on Sony."

TOP TEN Golden moments in the Bigg Boss House

Though as of now, Neha is quite busy round the clock working in two daily serials at the same time, she asserts that she is keen on acting in films too. In face, recently though she had bagged a very plum role in a South Indian film, she had no alternative but to forego the role because she could not get off from shooting for both her serials.

Being choosy keeps me unemployed: Harsh Chhaya

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Though his performance in old TV shows like 'Swabhimaan', 'Hasratein' and 'Justjoo' left a lasting impression on viewers' minds, versatile actor Harsh Chhaya says he is off the small screen now mostly due to a lack of "meaningful scripts" and his choosy nature.

"At this point, I'm not doing anything on TV. I've not been off TV at all, but it's just that sometimes the projects that run on channels are probably not watched so much. I'm waiting for something new to come up. Also being choosy keeps me unemployed for a considerably long period at times," Harsh told us in an e-mail interview.

Harsh's last small screen appearance was on Sahara One's 'Ghar Ek Sapna'. His stint on the show ended in August.

The actor, who was recently seen as a gay fashion designer in Madhur Bhandarkar's controversial film 'Fashion', says in terms of profit, the television industry is in its golden time. He, however, doubts the availability of good work in the industry.

"Meaningful scripts today? That's a joke! So many channels - STAR Plus, STAR One, Sony, Sab, Zee, 9X, NDTV Imagine, Colors, Sahara... so on and so forth. There are hours and hours of programming and what's there to talk about today? Only one - 'Balika Vadhu'. Soon, a flood of child marriage programmes will follow.

"As I said being choosy today mostly means you sit at home. Eventually one tries to pick up the best from the most mediocre available. Got to fan the kitchen fires after all..." he said.

Harsh, who has kept away from the small screen for almost four months now, was appreciated for his role as Vinay Khosla, a gay fashion designer in 'Fashion'.

His performance came as a pleasant surprise to viewers, who have otherwise seen him mostly in serious roles. The actor dressed up in flashy clothes and accessories to suit the role.

"A good amount of work went into it. We tried different get-ups, a little effeminate, lisp, no lisp, wig, no wig, loud flashy clothes, not so loud flashy clothes, glasses, no glasses. Then recording it, checking it and doing it repeatedly till it felt just right, till it was as if a part of me," he said.

The actor considered the role more as a challenge than as a risk.

"Personally, for me, it was a challenge worth taking as an actor. As an actor, if the portfolio does not show variety over a period of time, then I wonder what I am doing here," he said.

In his acting career spanning almost 15 years, Harsh has been seen in films like 'Mithya', 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag' and even worked in Bhandarkar's 'Corporate' apart from other films and TV serials.

He feels that in the "last two and a half years", he has "showcased a pretty good variety" with roles in the above films as well as in 'Fashion'.

"There is nothing much to complain about, but things can always be better than what they are. I am sure someone out there is watching and things might get better," he said.

As for his future projects on the big screen, Harsh will be seen in Sunny Deol's 'The Man', Khussro Films' 'Blue Oranges', and in an international project temporarily titled 'Blood Money Trail'.

Rahul's eviction drama for politics?

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Rahul Mahajan walked out of the Bigg Boss house in style having bequeathed the lion's share to the other three contenders. He was the picture perfect image of a king who had renounced his kingdom and the majestic throne. At once the saint, the martyr and the hero, he was undoubtedly the winner, way before the show had actually declared the star. Rahul Mahajan was evicted from the house on grounds of disobedience. In spite of having broken one of the cardinal laws of the house, while trying to escape, he was the least perturbed. Even when the rest of the inmates apologized, he held fast to his decision.

Reality is very elusive, especially in a reality show! Bigg Boss 2 is anything but reality. Rahul Mahajan eviction drama speaks volumes about the unspoken and unseen truth lurking in the background. Even if Junior Mahajan, oft hailed a sure bet for the 'Bade Dilwale' title did not win, he has definitely taken taken home the 'Baazigar' title. He may have lost the golden chance, but not the gleaming future awaiting him. He not only won the audience with his chivalry but also showed the three iron hearts melt in tears for him. As the vanquished King he forsook the prize money for the sake of his inmates, with whom he hardly ever shared any true relationship. The benevolent politician was ready to forsake the money for the three needy contestants. The reasons were high and lofty. He was contented with what he had and was the Messiah ready to shoulder the onus of guilt all by himself.

A man who has been known for his diplomatic handling of relationships within the Bigg Boss house, one day flares up in rebellion, unwilling to budge an inch. The spur of the moment may be a wild guess, but a sure bet is to pronounce it as a pre-planned drama. Seemingly stage managed, the exit was only to propel his entry into politics. To enter politics he did the groundwork by securing a clean chit and burying away his past. If that was not enough he was the lovelorn hero desperately trying to woo his lady love Monica. With endless appeals which in any Bollywood film would have seen the hero walk away with his lady by then, saw our Rahul wait patiently but determined as always.

If you think anything could happen only in our Bollywood movies then you are thoroughly mistaken, small screen has ousted them. Not much days have elapsed since Rahul left the Bigg Boss house. Outdoing all his political predecessors, he has made a very brazing statement - Monica is just his friend and that his new found love is politics. A U-turn and no one was prepared for it, not even Monica in the wildest of her dreams, who had finally made up her mind to foresee her future in Rahul. The politician in him has come to the limelight. His language and innocent guise in the house would be his forte with blessings from his father. All moves carefully planned and loopholes hardly any to be spotted, he has struck the bull's eye.

There remains another angle to the whole story. Endemol productions to maintain their TRPs in the wake of the winner pronounced way before the show has come to the final lap had to prove its might. That the audiences and the inmates themselves proclaimed Rahul the undisputed winner was a threat in the lurking and to top it all his political nexus could have been hardly ignored.

Rahul may have lost the game mid way, but definitely not his father's legacy, 'politics'. With the right moves and in control of the loops he has made the plunge into the game of politics, real to the core, but dramatic to the nerve. He has learnt the rules already - 'Today's declarations are tomorrow's contradictions', with his dilly-dallying marriage proclamations. The field is ready and the groundwork done, he has to keep himself away from shifting sands.

Yogesh Sahdev joined Sony's Meet Mila De Rabba

Yogesh Sahdev who was last seen playing the role of Sharad in the serial Ghar Ek Sapna on Sahara One will now be seen in an upcoming show on Sony. He is playing the male lead in Meet Mila De Rabba.

Had it not been for the ongoing TV strike the show would have launched on November 3. So far only four episodes of the show have been shot.

A source informed, “Yogesh will be playing the role of Kulwant Singh Saini in Meet Mila De Rabba who is a Captain in the Indian army. His character will enter the show after a few episodes with a twist in the tale. Geet (Surilie Gautam), the protagonist is getting married to a boy who dies in a Punjabi ceremony of firing bullets during the wedding ceremony. The girl is blamed for her fate but Gyaniji (Raza Murad), who is a family friend, promises her father that he will marry Geet to his son. Yogesh plays his son.”

Yogesh Sahdev refused to comment.

TV soap bubble bursts again, no fresh shooting

The crisis in the television industry is back after some associations of technicians failed to report for work though producers said they would resume shooting for their on-going serials after a 12-day shutdown.

After a fresh agreement was signed between the workers' apex body, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and the core committee of the television programme producers Wednesday over their wages, it was announced that the workers would resume shooting from Thursday.

But soon after the agreement was signed, some associations of technicians complained to FWICE that they were unhappy with the new wages fixed for them.

Sound recordists, dressmen and hairdressers, in particular, are not happy with the new wages fixed for them and they want a further hike.

Sound recordists, whose wage was hiked to Rs.40,000 per month, are now demanding a salary of Rs.55,000. Similarly, make-up artists with their two assistants were offered a consolidated salary of Rs.80,000 per month. But they are demanding that it should be hiked to Rs.130,000.

Hairdressers are also demanding a further hike of Rs.49,000 in their salary newly fixed at Rs.51,000 a month. Likewise, dressmen, who are in charge of the costumes created by costume designers for artistes and keep the inventories, are not happy with Rs.36,000 monthly salary fixed for them. They are demanding that it should be hiked to Rs.100,000.

Producers are categorical that they would do nothing of the sort and have threatened to hire professionals from outside the unions if the technicians do not report for shooting by Saturday.

"We have given every section of the television workers a fair hike in their respective wages and have told them that the hike will stay for a year, besides assuring them timely payment of the same. We cannot afford to give them any more concessions," Mukesh Bhatt, chairman of the producers' core committee, told IANS on Friday.

Ratan Jain, president of the Association of Motion Pictures and Television Programme Producers (AMPTPP) bluntly said that producers would not give workers a rupee more than what was agreed to.

"If they are hoping to get more money by blackmailing us, let me say, they are living in a dream world. It seems they have not yet woken up to the economic reality of the world today. They should consider themselves lucky that, when even big companies are retrenching people to combat today's economic situation, we are not only retaining them but have also given them reasonable salary-hike," he said.

The new development over the wage issue has put the FWICE in a fix.

"If some sections of the professionals in the television industry are not happy with their new wages, what can the federation do? By drawing up a fresh agreement, we did our best to bring back normalcy in the industry, keeping the interests of both producers and television workers in mind. We are helpless if we could not satisfy all," said FWICE
president Dharmesh Tiwari.

The organisation's general secretary, Dinesh Chaturvedi was more forthright when he said in view of the present scenario, the new agreement that was signed on Nov 19 was as good as cancelled.

But is the continuing protest justified?

"Why, producers had also earlier refused to honour the agreement they had signed with us in 2006. The associations which are not happy with the new wages fixed for their members are meeting today among themselves. Only after we hear from them can we say where this new development will lead to," Chaturvedi said.

Which means that viewers, who have been waiting eagerly for the new episodes of their favourite serials to come on the TV screen, may have to wait longer as there is still uncertainty whether normalcy would return to the industry soon.

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Shilpa Shetty chats with Rahul Mahajan on 'Bigg Boss' Pictures

Shilpa Shetty chats with Rahul Mahajan on 'Bigg Boss' Pictures,Shilpa Shetty 'Bigg Boss' photo gallery,Rahul Mahajan on 'Bigg Boss' stills,Shilpa Shetty and Rahul Mahajan on 'Bigg Boss' pics

Bollywood is my future: Rahul Mahajan

Rahul Mahajan has been bitten by the acting bug. After leaving the 'Bigg Boss' house, the most popular inmate of the reality show says he will now make his career by acting in Bollywoood films.

Rahul, the son of late Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pramod Mahajan, says he is flooded with acting offers.

Excerpts:

Q: Now you're out of 'Bigg Boss' what do you want to do with your life?

A: Working in Bollywood is what I see myself doing. That would be a professional decision. A lot of people ask if I'd be joining politics. But politics koi dhanda nahin hai (politics is not a business). If I've to do it for the country's sake, I'd do it. But I've to make a living. And that would be through the entertainment industry. But no matter what I do, I'd remain the same Rahul in blue jeans and white shirts. I want people to love and respect me.

Q: Which turns you on more, politics or acting?

A: A lot of acting offers are coming my way. Do you know my mom and dad were stage actors? And they met for the first time on stage. That's how they fell in love. I asked my dad why he wasn't in the movies. He was going to do a movie once. I teased him, 'Why are you promoting yourself, when you should be promoting me in movies?' I think both politics and acting are in my blood.

Q: Since you didn't need money, why did you go into 'Bigg Boss'?

A: First of all, everyone needs money to survive. But I had bigger issues on hand. I needed to go in there to show people the real Rahul Mahajan. I wanted people to stop judging me without knowing who I was. This is what people were doing before I went in the house.

Q: Your facial packs, fast talking flirtations.... made 'Bigg Boss' a soap opera?

A: I was just being myself. I wasn't pretending to be someone else. People saw the naughty Rahul on the show and then they saw the mature Rahul who leaves the show just five days before it was meant to end. Both the child and the mature Rahul are me. If I was just an irresponsible child, I wouldn't have been able to cope with all the troubles in my life in the last few years. When it comes to trying times, I rise to the occasion. That's what I proved on 'Bigg Boss'. I was able to take decisions on behalf of the whole team. And when I had to quit I did so.

Q: Why did you quit 'Bigg Boss'?

A: You know last week we broke out of the house because there was no food in the house. And I didn't know how to cook. So I wasn't the kitchen in-charge. The four of us in the house were psychologically demoralised. I can't explain the group psychology to you. You've to be there to know what we went through. We were like animals migrating from home when hungry. We left to have food. After 90 days, we were under a lot of pressure. And after we did, one of us had to take the rap on behalf of all four housemates. So I quit.

Q: So do you regret leaving the house without permission?

A: No I don't regret it at all. It was the decision of the moment. Maybe another time I'd deal with the situation more maturely.

Q: Who's the real love of your life Payal Rohatgi or Monica Bedi?

A: Neither. They're both friends.

Q: We saw you you openly flirting with both?

A: If one stays in the same house with others there's bound to be some fun. I've known Payal for many years. I made a friend out of Monica in the 'Bigg Boss' house. And I'm not a fair-weather friend. I'll continue to be friends with them through thick and thin.

Q: Have you succeeded in showing the real Rahul Mahajan to the world?

A: I think I have. Like I said, I was being myself. Whether it was playing Krishna or leaving the house for food, I was being my honest genuine self. Hate me or love me. But you can't ignore me.

Q: Does the world look different to you now?

A: The world is the same. I probably look different to the world