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Q Is Virrudh primarily a story highlighting a constant conflict between father and daughter?
We all have desires and dreams in life. As we grow up we look up to one person in the family and start idolising him or her even though they aren't perfect. Virrudh is the story of Vasudha who idolises her father though he is calculating, corrupt and even mean when it comes to safeguarding his business interests. Essentially it is a story of relationships in a contemporary rich family where the protagonist is a loser. We have portrayed certain relationships where there is an undercurrent of conflict. In fact, no relationship is complete without a conflict.

Q Does Virrudh have regular elements of a daily soap?
What are the regular elements? Virrudh has a family; it has relationships, tears, conflict, clash of personalities and ideology. It has strong and weak characters. It is as real as any other contemporary television content.

Q But it definitely looks different in terms of characterization and treatment as well as pace of the story. How confident are you of sticking to the original format?
We will ensure that it remains this way. My writers are adamant that we will not deviate from the format we have chosen to tell our story.

Q But at the end of the day the TRPs determine everything. If TRPs don't come in will you resist the pressure to tell your story in a popularly accepted format?
TRPs are very important. There is no taking away from the fact that the television business is all about entertainment and eyeballs and both go hand-in-hand. But I also believe in certain convictions. It's the way you look at your show and how convinced you are about it. I see TV in a transitory phase and as a maker and actor it's very heartening. Good products always gets good eyeballs.

Q Why did you pitch Virrudh at Sony and not Star Plus?
Certain stories can be placed in certain channels only because they get picked up easily at certain places. I had written this story about a year back and waited for the right channel and slot. My next show, which is for Zee, is absolutely different from Virrudh.

Q Why did you cast Sushant Singh opposite you and not a popular television actor?
Sushant is more concerned about the subject and his role. He doesn't get titillated by money. Of course he is quite busy in films but he was willing to walk the extra mile for this role.

Q With this show you will be busy with two dailies and one weekly. How will you manage all of it?
It's not difficult at all. Before coming for the interview I attended the shoot of one of my shows. I also cooked a meal in the morning (smiles). Things can be managed if you know how to manage them.

Q Do you cook regularly?
I cook at least one meal everyday. But from the last three days my servant has not been reporting to work so I have been cooking all the three meals.

Q As a producer what kind of shows are you looking at making?
I am open to all kinds of concepts . It all depends on the channel's requirement. I am even ready with a reality show and am waiting for the right slot.

http://www.deccan.com/Sunday%20Chronicle/Sunday%20ChronicleD escription.asp#Smriti's%20kitchen%20bound

Bollywood's fine actor, Sushant Singh, who is busy with in Ram Gopal Varma's remake of Sholay (where he plays Sambha), is also finding a footing for himself on television. With Sony's Virrudh, he is all set to kick off his full-fledged small screen innings. This rather stern looking actor plays an investigative reporter, and will also be seen romancing Smriti Irani, the lead protagonist of the show.

"Currently, I've more than five films up my sleeves. But somehow, Virrudh has a well defined male protagonist in it, which I why I decided to take up this offer. Unlike other TV dramas, here the story moves ahead and the conflict is about basic beliefs in life, rather than because of petty fights," says Sushant.

So how difficult has it been to romance Smrit Irani on screen? Gushing enthusiastically, the suave actor says, "Oh, very difficult, to begin with. I was a bit stiff initially. But what worked in my favour is the fact that I am not aware of her Tulsi image. Simply because I don't watch too much of television. Since, I am not a mushy person, I was nervous of enacting the romantic scenes with her. But over a period of time, I think I will pass with distinction."

On the small screen, he has done some episodic work for Bhanwar and Agnichakra. Recalling his past work on the small screen, he says, "In the past, I had done some stupid things on TV just for money. I thought nobody will notice it. But then someone happened to call up my dad and told them about my role. That's when I had decided never to do anything for money. In the regular soaps these days, every bride is committed to finish her in laws. Every third episode you have a new husband; now where do these things happen."

True to his real life image, in Virrudh, Sushant plays an intense character - a reporter who goes to any length to cover the truth. He gets thrown out of 15 publications as he's looking for transparency in his relationships: personal as well as professional.

"I love to essay intense character, be it positive or negative. Smriti had earlier approached me for Thodi Si Zameen for a cameo, but things didn't work out, Now, since she's trying to do something different on TV, I was inspired to take up this show. In any case, there's so much untruth around. Even your parents lie to you in life. I guess, we'll be able to portray the kind of society we live in."

As far as his film career goes, Sushant is currently busy shooting for Pradeep Sarkar's Laga Chunari and another Telugu film.

http://us.tellychakkar.com/y2k7/mar/19mar/news_sushant.php

There's no stopping nation's ladli bahu and CEO of Ugraya Entertainemnt Pvt Ltd, Smriti Irani. After delivering two star-studded shows Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasman on Star and soon-to-be-aired Virrudh on Sony, now the plucky producer's readying a plum project for Zee network.

Rather elated, yet weighing her words rather carefully she says, "I am producing a family drama for Zee network. But let me clarify, it's not for Zee Hindi but for a regional channel probably. Woh ek naya shetra hoga(that will be a new area altogether). The story of Thodi Si Zameen….was woven in a chawl setting, Virrudh is a drama looking for the truth in relationships and the next project will also be breaking new grounds."

As for now, apart from being busy with Virruddh, her eyes are really set on taking her production house, Ugraya Entertainemnt Pvt Ltd to greater heights. Revealing her strategy further, Smriti says, "I believe as a production house we should be ready to cater to all the demands of any channel. I think I've been one of the lucky few actors who have managed to break away from my screen image. When I travel round the country, people do recognize me as Smriti Irani and not just as Tulsi. Though, I must also confess I haven't forgotten my roots."

What's driving Smriti really, is it ambition or just her creative impulses? "Well, I wouldn't say I am ambitious but I don't want to rest on past laurels. Woh ek zamane mein itni badi star thi (she used to be a big star at one point in time) I want to move ahead with the times and try out more things. I've proved my skills with writing but I am not keen on directing; as I believe direction is not a wimp but a concentrated effort. Also, there is so much talent in the market that needs to be given direction."

With so much on her hand, does this leave her with much family time for her kids? Flashing a 100 watt smile, the actor turned politician says, "I make it point to cook at least one meal for my children. But right now, my maid is on leave, so I am cooking all the three meals."
Perhaps, that says it all!

http://www.tellychakkar.com/y2k7/mar/17mar/news_smriti.php

Sony is finally ready to showcase its primetime daily, Virrudh which boasts of best talents from all the three mediums of the acting genre - theatre, TV and films, all weaved together to a rather off beat storyline.

And who's the happiest on this occasion? Nation's favourite bahu and CEO, Ugraya Entertainemnt Pvt Ltd, Smriti Irani, who after a successful stint in television production (Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasman) is all charged up about her second offering, Virrudh.

In a candid chat with Seema Pherwani, this actor-cum-producer-cum-politician gets candid about her short journey as producer.

"For Virrudh, Sony felt I suited the role"
Simply put, the show is about love, power, trust and betrayal. I play Vasudha, media baron Dhirendra Raisinghaniya's illegitimate daughter. She dotes on her father, trusts him, not knowing that he's the most corrupt and shrewd businessman. She slowly becomes the reflection of the man she idolizes. Also she's in her 30s who decides not to get married as it suits her purpose. She loves her father and her boyfriend doesn't want to rush into marriage and eventually she is supposed to take her father's place.

"Winning is not about power and money"
In a way, the show is a look at contemporary society. One may amass power, money and still be a loser at the end of it. I want viewers to sit up and question themselves - What makes me happy, is it money, power or then relationships? Because, sometimes we focus a lot on our goals to the extent that we fail to realize what we've left behind.

In the end, Vasudha loses all the relationships and she doesn't even realise this. By the time she realizes that her father is actually not what she thought him to be, nature takes it toll and she herself becomes like him.

"A contemporary story of friction and angst"
Virrudh is a contemporary rich story while Thoda Si '..was the story of a lower middle class family. It's about amalgamation of relationships, and the perception of how families are in different parts of the country. By keeping the language very simple, we've tried to explore the undercurrents of relationship in every family and bring out the friction and angst.

"Inspired by the Mahabharata"
I took a year to pen the story. When the channel heard the story they felt that Vasudha sounds like Abhimnayu from Mahabharat, who's caught in a web of relationships. Whether she can break the web or no is what the story is about. All along the way, I knew it won't be a flowery but a fiery story. I waited for the right time and the right star cast. When I was sure that this is what I want is when I approached Sony.

"I am very adamant as a writer"
My creative team and channel have given me the confidence to go ahead with the script. Channels do want something different; it depends on the writers and the audiences' acceptability. Kamlesh Pandey and I are very adamant about our storyline.

Why Sony?
I don't think a producer should run around with the same concept to three different channels. This way, certain amount of disloyalty comes into play and also there's a risk of some elements getting picked up. I believe in doing channel specific stuff. Also, every story will not be a reflection of our last project.

"I love multitasking"
I've enacted a variety of rules in my career. Be it comedy, going black to grey, countdowns and plays. I don't believe in limiting myself to acting. Now, as a producer my greatest kick is to see that my writing, my creation gets accepted by a channel. I love multitasking as it helps me keep my interests in my work alive.

www.tellychakkar.com