Out in a jiffy

Close on the heels of the reality show Star Ya Rockstar,Zee is all set to launch a new fiction soap, Afsar Bitiya,which will create awareness about education. Set in Bihar around a lower middle-class family,the serial revolves around a man and his four daughters. Despite financial constraints,the father insists on educating his daughters and one of them goes on become an officer and changes the fortunes of her family. “The story had been in my mind for a long time and when Zee evinced an interest in making a progressive serial,I pitched this idea and they liked it,” says Rakesh Paswan,the writer and producer of the serial. Kinshuk Mahajan,who was last seen in Chand Chhupa Badal Mein,is playing the male lead while a new girl Mitali essays the daughter who becomes an officer. Says Kinshuk,“It’s a fantastic role,different from what I have done before. The show is focussing on the importance of education and it will be really inspiring for viewers as everyone will identify with the realistic story set in a Bihar village.” Others in the cast include Virendra Saxena and Shahbaz Khan.

Amarr enters Bigg Boss

After rejecting seasons one and four of Bigg Boss,Amarr Upadhyaya has finally take up season five and entered the house this week. He will be the second male to be in the house apart from Shakti Kapoor. Talking about his absence from screen for so many years,the actor says,“For about 15 years of my acting career,I did some 3000 episodes of TV. After that,I got bored with the saas-bahu content,which still is the flavour of the season unfortunately. So I thought of moving away from it.” However,he is hopeful that serials like Bade Acche Laggte Hai will change the scenario. He further adds that between his sabbatical from the TV show,he had been approached by Star Plus for two male- oriented TV shows,but couldn’t take them up as he had accepted Bigg Boss. As for strategising in the house,Amarr says that with so many girls there is no point in planning survival strategies “as you never know with what these girls will surprise you.” He,however,promises a lot of masala and calls himself the baap of Dolly Bindra.

Krushna slaps VIP

The duo who appears together in Comedy Circus,may look friendly on the show,but all is not well between Krushna Abhishek and VIP who are currently in Jaipur shooting for Rohit Shetty’s Bol Bachchan. According to reports,Krishna slapped VIP on the sets of the film for a scene. Only the pair was so upbeat about making it seem real that an excited Krishna landed one really hard smack on VIP’s face. A flustered VIP didn’t know what happened. What’s worse,the shot was okayed only after seven retakes! “No matter how well-prepared you are,a tight slap on the cheek leaves you stunned for a few seconds. You can imagine my state after seven such slaps,” says VIP,who is waiting for a chance to get back at his partner.

Saurabh Tewary quits Imagine TV

Saurabh Tewari,Head Of Programming – Fiction,Imagine TV,has put in his papers and is gearing up to step into the business of films and TV production. Tewari,along with Abhinav Shukla,is all set to launch Nautanki Films Pvt. Ltd,which is backed by B.A.G Films & Media Limited. Tewari,who had joined Imagine TV a year ago,was the brain behind unconventional shows like Gunahon Ka Devta,Chandragupt Maurya and Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo among others. Says Tewari,“Nautanki Films Pvt. Ltd. is a long-awaited and great opportunity and the company has serious plans to create innovative yet mass content. Being a storyteller,I have always thought of venturing into something where my expertise can come in handy and with the new company in place,Abhinav and I will put forward our best effort to live up to expectations.” Meanwhile,Vivek Behl who was with Star earlier is said to be a strong contender for Tewari’s post.

Hitler Didi on Zee

Her first film Agneepath as a screenplay writer is all set to release in January next year and her first serial as a producer,Hitler Didi,is slated to be aired on Zee this month. We are talking about Ila Bedi Datta,the granddaughter of Rajinder Singh Bedi,eminent Urdu writer,filmmaker and scriptwriter who wrote or co-scripted timeless sagas like Madhumati,Anupama,Abhimaan and Dastak. Ila’s father Narendra Bedi also directed films like Jawani Diwani,Benaam,Rafoo Chakkar and Sanam Teri Kasam. Ila has now formed her company,Trilogy Krikos,under which she is producing Hitler Didi. She,however,has been writing shows for the last ten years and has to her credit serials like Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand,Saara Akash and Mili among others. Hitler Didi,also written by Ila,is about a 25 year-old contemporary girl who is forced to shoulder the responsibility of her family as her father has left the family for another woman. “Her brother is a wastrel and she ends up looking after the entire family. Also,because of what her father has done,she hates men and becomes a stern woman,so everyone calls her Hitler didi,” explains Ila. Rati Pandey (Miley Jab Hum Tum) plays the title role while a new actor,Sumeet Vats,is her hero. The serial is set in Chandni Chowk,Delhi.

Waqar Sheikh enters Shobha Somnath Ki

With Shobha Somnath Ki going for a 20- year leap,some new characters are being introduced in the historical. First up is Waqar Sheikh,who will be seen playing the role of Puru,a close and staunch supporter of Shobha’s uncle Dadda Chalukya who later becomes Shobha’s fierce protector and close confidant when the family is on the run,having been evicted from the kingdom. Puru,who is unable to speak,will find in Shobha the daughter he longed to have while Shobha will find her mentor in him. Says Waqar,“Whatever role I take up,I make sure that it is always a challenge for me. Playing the role of someone like Puru will be something very different and especially when you consider that this was a man with a physical handicap.” Meanwhile,Amrita Raichand,who plays Gayatri Devi,has expressed her desire to quit the serial once the leap happens because she doesn’t want to play a mother to a 20- year-old. She had apparently made it clear to the makers at the beginning,but wasn’t aware that the leap would happen so soon. Another actor who is in two minds about continuing to be a part of the serial is Yash Tonk who essays king Dadda Chalukya.

Karan Wahi in Yeh Pyaar Nibhayenge Hum

Creative Eye’s new show Yeh Pyaar Nibhayenge Hum is being readied for Star Plus. Based on the life of a boxer,which would be the first-of-its-kind on TV,the show is set in Haryana. Karan Wahi has been roped in to play the male lead while the girl is yet to be finalised. Dheeraj Kumar of Creative Eye is being flooded with calls asking him to cast Jennifer Winget opposite Karan as the duo had acted together in Dil Mill Gaye,which was a big hit. However,Kumar says that Jennifer,though a good actress,does not suit the character they have in mind. “Still we are considering her,” he informs. While the date for the show is yet to be finalised,the shooting has started this week in Mumbai. A part of the serial will also be shot in Haryana.

Prasad’s excited about Bol Bachchan

Prasad Barve,who was recently seen in Double Dhamaal,has bagged a role in Rohit Shetty’s Bol Bachchan. The actor,who is known for his comedy and has done serials like Dil Mill Gaye,Pyaar Mein Twist and Chhoti Si Zindagi,is excited about being a part of the film starring Abhishek Bachchan. “Rohit Shetty is one of the top Bollywood directors and his films are superhits. He saw my ad films and took me on without any screen-test.” Talking about Abhishek,Prasad informs that from day one the actor would come and greet everybody on the sets and make them comfortable. Prasad has done a Tata Sky commercial that has a tag line “Poonchne mein kya jaata hai?”. “Abhishek often jokes about that and uses that line on me,” he smiles.