Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Going from Star One to Doordarshan

November 29, 2006 16:14 IST
Can't get enough of television? Grab your weekly gossip from the industry right here.
 
Amit Khanna, better known until recently as Vir in Yeh Dil Chahe More (on Star One) is now working in a Doordarshan serial, Mere Humdum Mere Ghost. "It's a comedy serial, something I always wanted to do," says Khanna. But why a DD serial suddenly? "Firstly, this serial is a good one produced by Siddharth Kak. And if you look at all the serials currently on air in satellite channels, you will see almost all are women-centric. There is very little scope there. I am also waiting for the right project on primetime." Khanna was also supposed to act in a feature film produced by veteran actor Biswajit, but this got cancelled at the last minute. Currently the actor is also pursuing an MBA. Keeping options open, eh?
 
With rumours floating around about Riston Ki Dor going off the air in early 2007, everyone was wondering what the stunning Sampada Vaze would do. It seems she has more than both her hands full. Apart from a D'damas ad, two music videos with Band of Boys and Orko, Sampada is also actively helping an NGO fight AIDS. Earlier she was associated with the NGO Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and now it is Heroes, an NGO fighting AIDS. The Band of Boys music video is actually an AIDS awareness campaign. Says Sampada, ""Aids has become quite an issue in India now, and its time we take a stand and make people aware of this deadly illness eating the country. I hope to make a difference in any small way I can."
 
A still from KumkumKumkum
seems to be in the news these days. If it was the gossip of Hussain bidding adieu last week, this week the latest is the news of Balaji hunk Sanjit Bedi making an appearance. Bedi, known for his roles in Kasautii and Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka has just started shooting for Kumkum. He is playing the role of Mohit Kapadia -- an NRI industrialist who will get engaged to Niti (played by Megha Gupta) in the show. Says Bedi, "It is a very stylish character who is lonely and looking for his life partner. He wants to build his own business empire. I am very happy to be back with (producers) BAG Films. This is my second serial with them after Koi Jaane Na."
 
In the serial, later Niti realises that she is in love with Sharman (Gaurav Khanna) and so Mohit will get Niti and Sharman together. All's well that ends well? Never take soaps for granted...
 
Gaurav Chopra, Saumya TandonWonder why no producer came up with this earlier. Aisa Desh Hai Mera recently became the first serial to be shot at the Taj Mahal. In the serial, Rusty (Saumya Tandon) and Samay (Gaurav Chopra), celebrated their honeymoon by visiting the monument of love and making predictable vows of undying love. Says Saumya, asked about her experience, "This is not the first time I went to the Taj Mahal, but what really hurt me this time was the way they were spoiling the monument. You can't believe how poor the maintenance is. The shooting experience was fantastic; I discovered a new Taj Mahal this time."
 
Catch this episode on November 28 and 29, at 9:30 pm on Sony Entertainment Television. 
Srabanti Chakrabarti