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Introducing… TV remakes of films
T
he IPL hadn’t even concluded when the GECs started introducing their respective line-ups of new shows to air post IPL. And among the first in line was NDTV Imagine’s much awaited serial - Seeta aur Geeta.
As the name suggests, the show is an adaptation of the old blockbuster by the same name starring Hema Malini, Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar. The daily, which had been in the pipeline for months (while Mouni Roy was replaced by Anjori Alagh to play the lead, Gaurav Dixit was taken on board Rahil Azam’s role), promises to relive old memories with Anjori Alagh in the lead and newbie Gaurav Dixit playing Dharmendra’s role. While returning to the TV screen after a long hiatus will be Cezzane Khan playing Sanjeev Kumar’s role.
The launch of the show saw ‘Dream Girl’ Hema Malini making an appearance to bless the cast and crew. Present on the occasion were also Sushmita Mukherjee (as mami), Rituraj (as mama) and producers Abhinav, Maqbool and Sunil of Bohra Brothers. Speaking on the occasion, Abhinav said, “We wanted to do something that’s not been done before and so we thought why not take a movie and remake it? Since TV is women-oriented, we zeroed in upon this movie while we re-packaged the idea. The only challenge was the presentation. Thus we selected big artists like Cezzane Khan, Sushmita Mukherjee, and Rituraj. As for Hemaji’s role, when we saw Anjori performing we could do nothing but select her for she is dynamic and vivacious.”
Dressed in a yellow sari and looking as gorgeous as ever, Hemaji admitted that it was a pleasure to be at the launch. “It’s one of the best movies I’ve done for it really boosted my career. In fact people abroad don’t know me as Hema Malini but as Seeta and Geeta. I hope Anjori reminds the audience of me! Frankly, I’m glad that people thought of making a show on a hit movie like this one, it has an evergreen subject. I know there are many comparisons if a movie is remade. For instance, when Ramuji remade Sholay, it didn’t work that well. But the advantage of TV is that there is no time limitation. Thus I won’t be upset if a movie is made into a show, but if a movie is remade, then I’ll have my doubts!”
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When Amitabh’s letter
made Prerna’s day...
W
ith most GECs launching new shows post IPL, how could DD be far behind? And thus, starting her debut venture on DD, producer Prerna Wadhawan (who has assisted Rakeysh Mehra in the past) of Swarp Films launched Aashik Biwi Ka, a romantic comedy, in Mumbai recently.
The occasion saw a big turnout from the celeb circuit… Sudesh Berry, Suneel Prasad, Sameer, Anup Jalota,
Bobby Bedi, Prem Sagar, Manjiri Phadnis,
Manisha Kelkar, Bappi Lahiri, Upasna Singh, Neelu Kohli, Nilima, Rohan Jaywant,
Anuj Sawhney, Lalit, Rajneesh Duggal,
Anurag Sinha,
Kishori Shahane, Sachin, Kunal Kohli and
Pravin Yadav among others.
Of the starcast there was Riddhima Tiwary,
Rajeev Varma, Amita Nangia and Bharti Singh.
Prerna, who looked liked a star herself, was quite the centre of attraction. So much so that most shutterbugs mistook her for the lead actress in the show!
Tushar Kapoor, dressed in casuals and a cap, went right to the stage on arriving and wished Prerna on the launch. He said, “It is heartening to be part of a launch in these times of recession. I am here to support Prerna in her venture and hope she has a successful career.”
On the other hand,
Boney Kapoor said, “Prerna is like my kid daughter. I know her for many years now and am here to support her in her venture.”
• Meanwhile, the biggest surprise of the evening was when Ajitabh Bachchan walked in with a letter from none other than Big B himself. He handed over the letter to Prerna, wherein Amitabh Bachchan had wished Prerna success in her venture and also apologised for not making it for the launch! Now with such support and blessings, what more can one ask for?
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An end and a
beginning
A
double celebration is twice as much fun. And thus, when the last day of shoot of Heroine-Zindagi Ke Panno Se on Sony Entertainment Television fell on Ashoke Pandit’s birthday, who was also the director and line producer of the show, the occasion sure called for celebration.
The entire cast and crew got together for a combined birthday and wrap-up party at Chandivili studio. The mood was relaxed and the general bonhomie was interrupted only when the cast and crew shared their experiences during the making of the show.
Present on the occasion were director Ravi Rai, writer Sanjay Chhel, Ashwini Choudhary, actors Ravee Gupta with husband Manoj Bidwai, Tina Parekh with husband Bikram, Jaya Bhattacharya, Arya Babbar, Aashka Goradia, Lubna Salim, Chetan Pandit, Sadiya Siddique with brother Farhan Khan, among others.
On our part, we only wish Ashoke Pandit a GR8! year ahead…
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Ashiesh gives up smoking on surprise b’day bash!
L
ittle did Ashiesh Roy know that this year his birthday would turn out to be the most special ever. But the actor was left speechless when the cast and crew of his daily soap - Burey Bhi Hum Bhale Bhi Hum on Star Plus, got together and threw him a surprise birthday bash on the sets on May 18. “This is the first time anyone has ever thrown a surprise party for me! I loved it!” gushes the actor.
The cast and crew, which had been shooting round-the-clock for over a week, took the opportunity to let their hair down in style. And so, while Ashiesh and his co-stars were busy shooting, the production team bought a huge chocolate cake and organized the party. After shooting was over for the day, everyone disappeared from the sets. “No one even wished me during the entire day. I was crestfallen. Little did I know that behind my back, the mad gang had planned the party all along!” recalls Ashiesh.
Everyone broke into songs and dance and generally did a lot of masti and dhamaal. “This was the best birthday ever! I got to work all day and party all evening with my best friends and colleagues. And above all, I finally gave up smoking on my birthday!” says an emotional Ashiesh.
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Happily ever after…
A single glance and we knew what ‘marital bliss’ is, for the love between actor Chaitanya Choudhary and his new bride, Vaishal Rajpal, would have been hard for anybody to miss. The occasion was the duo’s marriage reception in Mumbai, with the wedding having taken place on May 7 in Delhi, which is the couple’s hometown. Vaishali, who used to be a manager in American Express in Gurgaon, knew Chaitanya as a family friend for over four years, but cupid struck just an year back Talking about him, she says, “I like Chaitanya’s mannerisms and his sincerity. I don’t feel as if I’m a star wife. I’m a human being first and respect and admire him a lot. For me marriage is a long-term commitment and sacred companionship. Through your magazine, I want to tell him that, ‘I love you a lot and you are one of the bestest thing that’s ever happened to me!” While Chaitanya adds, “I like everything about Vaishali, she’s a beautiful girl and a beautiful human being as well. Besides this, she’s strong and stable. Marriage for me is a long term partnership. Through your magazine I’d want to say, ‘Thanks for coming into my life Vaishali, I love you a lot!’”
For their honeymoon, the couple chose to go to beautiful Switzerland. “Since Vaishali was keen on going to Switzerland, we chose to go there out of all the options. We traveled on our own and didn’t even hire a car to roam around.” Vaishali adds, “We went to Switzerland and Dubai for 9-10 days. Switzerland is like a paradise, it’s immensely beautiful!”
Meanwhile, the couple played perfect hosts as they attended to all their guests personally.
• All the guests were dressed in their wedding best. And it was nice to see Mohan Bhandari walk in very early, not only amongst stars, but also before the couple!
• Next in line was Rucha Gujrathi who didn’t use the celeb status to her advantage and sincerely stood in the long queue to meet the newly-weds. The petite actress wished the couple saying, “My best wishes to the two of them. I think they are a perfect couple.”
• Later came in Poonam Joshi and Ashita Dhawan, in a snow-white dress. While Ashita left quite early, following her were Anand and Ira Suryavanshi with their kid.
• Amit Tandon looked dapper in a red shirt, accompanied by his beautiful wife Ruby, who’s an M.D. Now we know the reason behind his ‘fit and fine’ look!
• Monaaz Mevawala accompanied by her partner mostly kept to herself.
• We were surprised to see Sanjit Bedi turn up with Jennifer Winget!
• Gaurav Chopra and Mouni Roy made for a good-looking pair, with Gaurav looking his usual best in a blazer and a pony tail, and Mouni looking her Indian best in a white sari with a stone encrusted border.
• Delnaaz and Rajeev Paul were among the last few entrants who came along with Tanaaz and Bakhtyaar Irani.
• While Gaurav-Mouni and Amit-Ruby hung around with each other for most part of the night, Gaurav seemed jaded of the never-ending conversation between the two women. While leaving, he told us, “Kitna gossip karti hain yaar yeh log… Aapko aadhi gossip toh inhi se mil sakti hai!”
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