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Posted: 17 years ago

Hottie Anuj churns out soap Niyati

Anuj as an Actor:
TV hottie, Anuj Saxena is swathed with the chocolate dashing personality to make gals fall on. He is an actor of brilliance class. Once he stepped into the stardom, the ways to success had started laying for him. The swanky lad was shot to fame with his character of Abhey in Sony Entertainment channel's much watched soap 'Kksum'. After that there was no looking back for the actor. His family business 'Elder Pharma' recently conducted Filmfare awards and Best Lips Awards and is going great guns.

The Birth of Maverick Productions:
Last year in March 2005, the adroit actor Anuj Saxena had launched his own production house, 'Maverick Productions'. From the beginning till date, this abode has masticated more than 20 advertising films and one game show titled 'Khiladi No.1' on Zee Smile.  Anuj's production house is presently making waves with chewing up pilots for the shows, which will go on air very soon. Maverick Productions has also moored the belts to make feature films for Bollywood and for the debut flick, which will be announced shortly, the talks are going on with the big wheels like Madhuri Dixit.

Turning Face Towards Soap Making:

Now Anuj Saxena turns a soap maker. The working title for the show is 'Niyati'. 'Nayati' talks about 'Traditions….', 'Promises…', 'Values…' and 'Families'. And when the life is changed to fulfill the above, the story of 'Nayati' oozes out. 

Soap's Storyline:
'Nayati' – the central character of the soap is a modern day happy go lucky girl whose life is transformed into that of a woman caught on the wrong side of fate. This fiesta is an epic saga of two families and has been shot across the different catchy locales of Mumbai.

The two families – Darbars and Chauhans are the focus of the show, which depicts as to how they are forever destroyed when two young individuals decide to live their lives according to their family values but fate decides something else for them…and here the story takes new turns…the turns that make the soap a treat to watch.

Starcast:
The new face – Sudarshana has been roped in to act the leading role of 'Niyati' whereas the rest of the cast consists of the popular names from Mahesh Thakur, Kitu Gidwani, Amit Sadh, Aamarpali, Ila Oberoi, Sushmita Mukherjee, Manish Khanna, Shivani Gossain to Suchitra Bandekar. 'Niyati' is the well-knitted story of today's woman who has to live now – not for her but for what she does not want to do or be…!

Current Status of the Show:
For this show, the forty minutes' pilot has already been shot in the various locations of Mumbai.

The Efforts Behind:
Maverick Productions is the producer of this soap and with this soap, they are making debut as a TV soap producers. Swapna Waghmare is the director of this show who has previously directed the popular serials like 'Kehna Hai Kuch Mujhko', 'Kalsh' and 'Kutumb'. And her on air shows are 'Sindoor' and 'Saat Phere'. Prashant Bhatt is the creative incharge whereas Meenakshi Gupta has penned the dialogue for this carnival. With the collective efforts, the screenplay has been scribbled down by both Prashant Bhatt and Harsha Jagdish. Famous musician Lalit Sen has composed the title song for this show and the popular singer Richa Sharma and Javed Khan (of 'Kjrare fame) have rendered it.

Anuj Saxena – The Producer's Comments:

"I am very excited and looking forward to my show going on air. For me the most important thing is the quality, content and the look of the show. Currently the pilots we have shot are based on either our own ideas or request from certain channels. I hope I will be able to make the viewers proud of our show and content that is better than the best".

Anuj on Bollywood Front:

Anuj Saxena is waiting for his debut movie 'Lips – The Kiss of Death' directed by Sameer Malakan where the gorgeous sexy model Maushmi Udeshi (the Nescafe ad and Bally Sago's Noorie fame gal. She has recently done a dance number with Akshay Kumar, Govinda and Paresh Rawal in Priyadrashan's forthcoming 'Bhaagam Bhaag') is playing the lead opposite Anuj. Besides, Anuj is in talks with the biggies of trade for future films.

Contributed by Malashetty
Posted: 17 years ago
 
By A. L. Chougule

Sampada Vaze and Gagan Arya are part of two different shows on Sony's afternoon band, Rishton Ki Dor and Kabhi To Nazar Milao respectively. While in his show Gagan is trying to look into Sunaina's eyes but can't find a response because the girl is blind, in real life the actor has established a strong bond with Sampada.

"We are great pals," says Sampada. "Actually we hit it off well when we were touring together along with other actors for a promotional campaign for our serials in different cities. Since then we have been sharing a close bond. Whenever we meet, and we meet quite often mind you, we share an excellent chemistry. But definitely there is nothing more to the relationship except good and clean friendship."   

So is the case with Sudeepa Singh who plays Sunaina in Rishton ki Dor. Sudeepa and Gagan are Punjabis and Sudeepa says her close friendship with Gagan is "more of a regional bonding. I like him as a person. But I am definitely not seeing him. We only meet on the sets."

While Sudeepa doesn't deny her liking for her co-actor she maintains that if she is into a relationship she will take it very seriously. "I don't believe in flimsy relationships. I will marry the person I will be involved with. Right now I am concentrating on my work. As for Gagan he already has a girlfriend," she adds. Sounds like a quadrangle?    

Edited by Manoj_Tina fan - 17 years ago
Posted: 17 years ago
"I was offered to replace Gaurav Chanana in Rishton Ki Dorr"



Balaji's Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki made Sasha a household name, and now it's time for the new entrant, Nikhil Mehra aka Deepak Bajaj to make a roaring impact! This commerce graduate MMK College, Mumbai aspired to pursue MBA overseas but had never even dreamt that he would land up acting! But no regrets, he loves every moment of it! Prashant Golecha chats up with this handsome hunk. Excerpts….

First MBA and now acting…How did it happen?
I was jogging at a park where Shristhi Behl spotted me and inquired with me whether I was an actor or am open to acting. That's how I got my first break in her production, Rose Audiovisuals, where I did a cameo in Jeet (Star Plus). I was their discovery! After which I did three episodic stories in Balaji's Kya Kahein on Zoom, and then Kahaani...happened. I have also done a cameo in Kassamh Se (Zee), have shot for a few episodes of Karmik Connection and last week I played a cameo of a rock star in Kaisa Yeh Pyar Hai. So, you can say I have become a Balaji product as I keep doing cameos in their shows (laughs).

Tell us more about Nikhil in Kahaani…
I play Nikhil Mehra, an out and out negative character, who hates his father because he knows about his dark secrets. He is all the time scheming against Parvati (Sakshi Tanwar). There have been instances where villains have turned to positive characters, so as far as my track goes, let's wait and watch! I'm happy with the terrific response I have got. Initially I did face the pressure of performance but not anymore. The atmosphere on the sets is amazing. One learns a lot from the senior actors. Daisy Irani is the funniest co-stars around, who keeps us in splits.

After Mohnish Behl (who played your father), how is it working with Anoop Soni?
Though Mohnish was my papa on screen, off-screen we were friends. He spells class and I miss him. After Anoop's entry we too have bonded well, to the extent that we even go out for plays and movies together.

How is it like working with a senior actor, Saakshi Tanwar?


Saakshi is a very co-operative and appreciative in real life. Though on-screen I am supposed to hate her, but off-screen I am friendly with her. By chance we were both in Dubai two months back. She was there for a Pakistani show and I was there for a fashion show. My first shot in Kahaani…was with her and she made me very comfortable. She is a gem!

So how has the response been? Any uncanny incidents?
Wherever I go people recognize me as Nikhil Mehra. Middle aged women give me dirty looks for troubling Parvati (laughs), but I take it as a compliment. I am into modeling and in cities like Ahmedabad I get offers for ramp shows because of my popularity in Kahaani…. I also get a better price there than what I get in Bombay. I have modeled for Appy Fizz, Ever Youth Skin Products and Nokia phones.

What do you do when not on sets?
I regularly go out for short weekend holidays to places like Khandala, Lonavala and Alibaugh. My favourite international destination is Bangkok. I love its sea stretches, and above all it's a shopper's paradise.

Any upcoming projects?
Right now I am happy doing Balaji shows. I want to polish my acting skills and as per my plans, get into films by 2007. Recently, I was offered to replace Gaurav Chanana in Rishton Ki Dorr. Initially I considered it but later dropped the idea, as I don't want to be anyone's replacement at this stage of my career. I have no contract with Balaji, so if offered a good project with a good role and good money, I will surely grab it. By the way, I'm also into buying and selling of imported cars, which is a good source of income and also fulfills my passion for cars


Posted: 17 years ago
Where are the bad girls?

The filmi vamp has all but disappeared as lines between good and bad blur on the silver screen. However, she still sends TRPs soaring for popular telly soaps, where she is all-black, says Priya Pathiyan


   REMEMBER the vamp? The silver screen siren who tripped her way through every movie worth its dress circle ticket – shimmying in nightclubs, seducing the hero, scheming wholeheartedly with the dastardly villain and then dying in the penultimate scene with a whisper, while the audience got the best bang for its buck. The vamp was the perfect way to infuse a bit of sex and scandal into films that were otherwise populated by rather insipid characters, such as the self-sacrificing mother, the angry young man, the humorous side-kick, the virginal heroine and the assorted supporting roles. There was a time when she added that much-needed bit of glamour to a film. But where is she today? Analyse any modern-day film and you'll notice that the vamp, as we know her, is conspicuous by her absence. Where are the New Millennium Aruna Iranis, Helens, Shashikalas, Bindus, Nadiras, Padma Khannas…? 

   Well, you needn't look far... all glamorous negative characters can now be found batting their eyelashes and tossing their heads on television instead! And, not just that. The vamp we knew has moved away from a sometimes purely decorative role in films to a pivotal part in tele-serials, with the story often revolving around her. In many cases, less isn't more and a single serial will have two, three – or even four! – dastardly damsels vying for our eyeballs! 


   So we hang on to every word uttered and every eyebrow arched in tight close-ups of the likes of Komolika, Debonita, Aparna or Menaka in Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki's Pallavi and Chhaya, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi's Meera, Mohini and Mandira, GK in K Street Pali Hill on Star Plus, Jigyasa and Roshni in Kasamh Se, Tanisha in Mamta, Saat Phere's Kaveri on Zee, India Calling's Kamini on Star One, Ek Ladki Anjani Si's Tulika on Sony, Woh Rahne Waali Mahalon Ki's Sheena on Sahara One, etc. We rush home from wherever we are to find out what new depths that kohl-eyed beauty will sink to on tonight's prime time show. 

   Urvashi Dholakia, who plays Komolika, one of the best-known small screen vamps in Kasautii…, says, "While TV has evolved completely only a couple of years ago, the current genre of cinema is taking a different turn altogether. Masses are accepting different kinds of films on the Indian circuit, which is very good. But perhaps at some level, viewers (especially housewives) miss drama in movies and that's why they turn to television, which is right in their home and constantly in their face." Besides, she avers, since "oomph does count as well" and vamps are rather glamorously presented, people like to watch them in action. After all, the first thing she was told by Balaji Telefilms head Ekta Kapoor about the Komolika role was that it was the 'next big thing' because she'd be playing "a sex bomb"! 

   Dholakia agrees with Krrish director Rakesh Roshan, who says, "Today's films have become very hero-oriented." According to Urvashi, since latter-day films are so dominated by the male fraternity, TV serials, which not only have several women characters, but are also made by women, are consequently watched by an audience made up of the female gender.

   Ekta Kapoor, who has spearheaded the trend of multiple-manipulators, also concurs that since serials are purely for women, it's natural that "they'll be about women's problems". "Movies are made for men and demand a sex symbol like Priyanka Chopra. But soaps tell a woman's story, which usually is about issues with other women. And when you have a positive protagonist like Parvati, you need someone who is the antithesis of her to create the drama," says the soap queen, explaining why today's vamps are all black. 

   Psychoanalyst Dr Anjali Chhabria goes into the psychology of the individual, saying, "If you're all good, you come across as a 'bechara bhala aadmi'. Anything mysterious, negative or unpredictable invites curiosity, provides material for gossip and results in higher TRPs for the channel." Dr Chhabria adds, "Viewers also identify with television much more than cinema and are apt to recognise certain character traits of some relative in that of the vamps'!" But sometimes it's not as rosy a picture as is painted by the channel gurus. TV serial and documentary filmmaker Vinta Nanda gives the insider's view of this transition. "As there's a lack of good writing and plots today, everyone's picking up stories from films of the '70s and '80s. They take the same characters and give them a contemporary look with nice clothes and different jewellery. They take Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki and make it Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi! All the vamps are glorified Bindus, while the mothers are modern-day Nirupa Roys!" she remarks. 

   Fellow filmmaker Tanuja Chandra says, "The writing is of a juvenile level as there's no one in life who's really all bad or all good. And the viewers expect that from a soap. In fact, the same viewer is two different people while watching the two media. We're ready to forgive a lot when we're watching the same people day after day from the comfort of our couch instead of going out to watch something!" 

   So much has the telly world claimed the vamp for its own that "she is rather redundant in cinema", opines a film journalist. He explains, "There is a paradigm shift as far as romance and sexuality in films go. Earlier, there was a distinct disparity between the pativrata heroine and the bad girl. Today, the lines are blurring as heroines don't even mind doing item numbers." Chandra adds, "Yes, in older Hindi movies, women who were bolder than the heroine, more westernised and sexy, did things which were negative, but they were nothing like our TV women with no redeemable qualities in sight. For example, Helen used to be an interesting negative-positive mix, once a specialised character slot, which is now filled by the heroine." 

   Trade analyst Vinod Mirani goes a step further to aver that it's only a matter of time before the vamp gets resurrected in Bollywood. "Right now, we've stopped making social films or family dramas, where the sister-in-law or the villain's moll is a vamp. But none of these trends last long – one guy will make a tearjerker hit and everyone will follow suit."
Posted: 17 years ago
playing by ear:Urvashi Dholakia

Urvashi turns a year older
Urvashi Dholakia celebrated her birthday on July 12 with the cast of her Sony afternoon show Rishton Ki Dorr. The actress cut a cake on the sets with her on-screen husband Suhas (Anuj Saxena) and there was an impromptu small party with the cast and crew. But we assume that the real merriment of turning a year older must have been off the sets with a certain Mr Sandeep Chowta. And needless to add, it must have been accompanied by some sweet music to her ears.


Posted: 17 years ago

Anuj Saxena's Bollywood presence
Lips — The Kiss of Death was to be Anuj Saxena's big screen debut, as well as director Sameer Malkan's re-entry into Bollywood. Hyped as a film with some bold scenes with co-star Maushmi Udeshi, the film is still lying in the cans two years down the line. Has the film been sealed with the kiss of death? Also, what about the film he planned to produce when he floated his company Maverick Productions last year?

Posted: 17 years ago
Small screen, big dreams
 
The line between films and television is blurring but TV stars are weighing their options carefully before making the big leap to films Nausheen Ali Sardar who became a household name with her serial Kkusum is still waiting to make her big screen debut
 
 
W hile Amitabh Bachchan's 'stepping down to TV' with Kaun Banega Crorepati made it cool for film stars to work on the small screen (the logic being, 'If he can do it, so can we!') the same can't be said about TV stars striking gold on the big screen. A popular TV actor has always been reduced to being a second or third fiddle to his big screen counterpart. An Aman Verma, Amarr Upadhyay or Rohit Roy, despite their chocolate-box looks, have never really got the chance to translate their success on the tube to celluloid. We have all heard and read of how Upadhyay burnt his fingers by leaving his big ticket TV show Kyunki…Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu for a career in films only to see all his hopes come crashing down at the box-office. Yet, every small screen actor feels that the 70 mm screen is where all the magic is. For how long can you play the same type of character over and over again on television? Besides, the stardom that comes with being a film star is many times the adulation a TV star gets. But again, just as film stars have realised the importance of keeping the 'working on TV at a later time' option open (wasn't it TV which gave Amrita Singh much-needed succour when her personal life went haywire? And we have all seen the Shekhar Suman small screen success story), TV stars have also realised the folly of forsaking their lucrative careers in pursuit of big screen glory at the slightest impulse. So now our telly stars jump the wagon only for a big banner opportunity with a leading star cast, and a decent role. We remember an extremely choosy TV actress once telling us, "It's so humiliating to sit in a film producer's office. He doesn't even acknowledge the work you have done on TV. Even if he is aware of who you are, he expects you to take crumbs for a role in a film. I mean, that's just not done." Actors like Sanjit Bedi (he featured in Pooja Bhatt's dud, Holiday), Anuj Saxena (his debut film Lips is still to be sealed and delivered), and Nausheen Ali Sardar — the latter two who tasted success with their serial Kkusum — are yet to fulfil their bada parda dreams. Rohit Roy, who's done bit roles in films like Sanjay Gupta's Plan is gung-ho about working with Gupta again. And if his claims are anything to go by he seems to have a good role in the new film. He says, "Films are where my future lies and right now, my stars seem to be favouring me." Yet he's not given up on TV completely for he thrives on being the poster boy of TV with serials like Viraasat. Says a reputed TV producer, "Every actor dreams of being a film star some day but not every body is fortunate to land that dream role or replicate their success in films. Some TV stars just forsake their careers for that elusive film role and then have to eat their own words and come back to TV. TV is like a mother…she forgives and forgets and treats every body equally." Another actor on the condition of anonymity says, "What's wrong if I want to do a film? Agreed, my experi ence on TV or any num ber of lead roles I have done in serials do not guarantee me a lead role in a film but then at least I have the satisfaction of knowing that I tried. Besides, I think the line between the small and big screen is blurring. Even big film stars today keep their options open about working on TV. And since I have age on my side, I can afford to try." Interestingly, most TV actors today are intelligent enough to weigh their options carefully and completely before signing on the dotted line for a film. TV actor Nikhil Arya had once said, "I am just not interested in doing a B or C-grade film. I have achieved a certain amount of success and reputation on the small screen. I can't blow it all up by doing something insignificant." Saxena who wants to produce and act in more films is realistic when he says, "I know that not every TV actor has been lucky with films but this is a risk I'm willing to take. In the film industry, it doesn't matter how big a TV star you are because to them you are slotted as a TV actor. Most of them have not even watched your work. They also ask why they should spend crores on you when the audience can watch you free of cost in their living rooms? Also, they don't take you seriously unless and until you are prepared to give up TV for films. But all said and done, films are larger than life and give you your own identity." And then there are some actors like Divya Dutta and Mohnish Behl who juggle both film and TV careers with ease and have the best of both the worlds. Dutta has a slew of films coming up and she's also basking in the success of Shanno Ki Shaadi on Star Plus. Finally, we guess both film and TV stars have realised one thing: while angling for a film role may be an attractive career option, losing all that TV has given them is a choice they don't want to make in haste.

With inputs from Princy Jain Waiting to exhale Shabbir Ahluwalia Small screen stars who made or are soon making their big screen debut SHABBIR AHLUWALIA: The small screen hottie will be seen in director Apoorva Lakhia's Shootout at Lokhandwala. MAANINEE MISHRA: Was recently seen as a TV reporter in Rakesh Roshan's Krrish MONA SINGH: She's all set to take her big screen plunge with producer Bobby Pushkarna's film

 
WORK IS WORSHIP: Anuj Saxena


Contributed by Malashetty

Posted: 17 years ago
Dudes of tellydom….served hot!


Gone are the days when 'only' the stars of the big screen, the Khans and the Kapoors, were tagged as the hottest men in town. The recent boom in the television industry has made such a remarkable impact on it's viewers that it wouldn't be a surprise to find a poster of aapna tv star in one's bedroom. Amongst them too, are a select few who have a winning streak in them and have carved a niche for themselves.

We at Tellychakkar.com present to you these hot n happening telly stars….

PS: It's sheer co-incidence that all these actors got their share of name and fame via K factor, Balaji Telefilms.

Ronit Roy: No one looks so dashing in peppery hair as Mr. Bajaj aka Mihir aka Ronit does. He must be a forty something and is yet is considered a hot and stable star of Balaji camp. He couldn't make it big in Bollywood but it was on television that Ronit found his true calling. Be it Kasauti Zindagi Ki, Kyunki…or a small stint in Sarkaar, he has successfully managed to leave the audience spell bound with his melodramatic performance. Off-screen too, he has equally maintained his reputation and has survived controversies with patience. He has been through thick and thin in life and that maturity reflects in his performance. We are sure with the long run of these K series, Ronit will keep ruling the hearts of his fans.

 

Rajeev Khandelwal: No other character has been missed so badly as Sujal of Kahin To Hoga. Rajeev shot to instant fame by playing this lover boy role with great intensity. He has a mesmerizing effect on the fairer sex and he would win hands down if contested for the most loved actor in tellydom. His exit from Kahin To… affected both the parties; the show witnessed a fall in TRPs. Following next, Rajeev couldn't help the fate of Time Bomb (Zee) and Deal Ya No Deal (Sony). But the viewers are still anxiously waiting for his upcoming series, Left Right Left (SAB). With the promising promos of this show, we are optimistic that Khandelwal will be back with a bang and will prove to be a lambi race ka ghoda.

 

Iqbal Khan: What would you call a concoction of stunning looks, towering height, thundering voice and oodles of talent? Iqbal Khan! Girls have been drooling over his taut physique and chiseled looks since the time he has appeared in Kaisa Yeh Pyar Hai. The fact that he is already engaged in real life hasn't hampered his romantic image. His presence as Shaurya in Kavyanjali has added to his existing popularity. We think he is one rocking star in the making.

 

 

Anuj Saxena: 'Jack of all trades and master of …... no, not none but all, is what describes Anuj Saxena. A doctor, an actor, a producer and a successful entrepreneur…whew! He adorns many caps with quite ease it seems. Though the Kkusums kept changing, Anuj, as Abhay in the show, created consistent impact on telly viewers. He is thirty-seven but still retains the charm of a youngster. An interesting note is that he is hot with the aunties of the forty plus bracket. Coming to his current show, Rishton Ki Dorr, though it has not boosted his career, he still continues to make his presence felt in the industry via his production house, Maverick. His background, go-getter attitude, and ambitions streak makes him the most sophisticated and versatile dude of television.

 

Eijaz Khan: He lights up the screen with his presence. His charisma never fails to create magic. His saucy looks and cool attitude set him apart. Eijaz Khan, the man in question has created quite a stir with many Balaji shows like, Kavvyanjali, Kahin To Hoga and Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka. And when it comes to stage performances, no one sets it of fire like Eijaz does. He is so refined with his moves that he can put many Bollywood stars to shame. This is one guy, we say, who is the best package to boost even a sagging serial.

 

 

Posted: 17 years ago

Tales from the powder room: Urvashi Dholakia


What's in your make-up pouch?
My kohl pencil, lip gloss, compact and blush-on. 

One product you can't do without?
My L'Oreal blush.

A must-wear for a night out?
It depends completely on the occasion and what I'm wearing. I go light on my make-up for informal occasions, and apply a little bit of everything (mascara, eye-shadow, blush, etc) for formal nights, without overdoing it.

One beauty faux pas most Indian women make?
Going wrong with your compact shade, even if it's an established brand. Be very careful and ensure your compact matches your skin tone.

One beauty tip?
Whilst applying make-up, don't forget to touch up the most beautiful part of your body – your neck! Or else your face and neck will have two different shades! Instead of covering your skin with make-up, try and be as natural as possible and concentrate on keeping your skin healthy and glowing.


Posted: 17 years ago
Anupama Verma walks out of Rishton ki Dorr


 

This is one show which is generating a lot of drama...well, off screen, even before it's launched!

The Sony show, Rishton Ki Dorr, which was recently in the news because of a change
(Sony show gets makeover before launch) in nomenclature and duration, is at it again -- its lead, Anupama Verma has bid adieu to the show, after having shot for a few days!

"Yes, I have decided not to do the show because we (she and the producers, Adhikari brothers) could not come to a mutual financial settlement," says Anupama, whose character will now be played by Urvashi Dholakia.

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