Sunday, May 4, 2003		Television

Touching tales of triumphing over odds

Kunika in Strivers & Achievers: Inspiring show

THEY are the true children who have triumphed in the face of overwhelming odds and are re-inventing their lives. "Disability is all in the mind," says chartered accountant Gurinder Kohli, who has fought back the debilitating Parkinson’s disease for a decade now.

Strivers & Achievers on DD Metro every Sunday at 10 a.m. brings together a number of people like Kohli who are determined to change their lives for the better.

"It is tough but not impossible," says the man whom doctors gave just two years to live the day he became a chartered accountant. That was 10 years ago. Today, Kohli not just has a successful practice but also advises others about the disease.

"The series has identified people who have fought back adversity to triumph in their chosen fields. There are also those who’ve kicked drugs and have rehabilitated themselves," says Kunika, the anchor and producer of the show.

Viewers may have seen Kunika in a different role — as Vasundhara in Zee TV’s Kittie Party. Says she, "The vamp’s role in Kittie Party is okay. As long as it finances this series which is so close to my heart." Small screen’s dark angel with a heart of gold!

Time was just a year ago, when it was largely watched more for its sensuous models in revealing dresses and less for fashions. So much so that the government was reported to be considering blacking out the channel.

But good times seem to be rolling out for FTV as the channel gears itself to go Indian with a passion. Instead of little known European designers and ramp models in skimpy attire, the fashion channel will focus on Indian designers, models, fashion photographers, hair and make up stylists.

There will also be group shows by up and coming designers, model watch and many more added features of the fashion world.

"The content will be more from India and neighbouring countries, but the format will be international," says a spokesperson of the channel. Heritage fashion and textile will form a major chunk of the programming. Since they impact the national psyche to a great extent, filmi fashions too will form an important part of the offerings.

With this very focused India tilt, Fashion TV hopes to attract megabuck advertising that has been eluding it ever since it was launched.

Today, there may be something outsized about the lady. The star of serials like Mohandas B.A.L.L.B., Idhar Udhar and Zindagi may be weighed down but as far as her flair for comedy goes she has neither lost her spirit nor her touch.

As in the past, she is the fulcrum around which revolves the devilishly funny Khichidi every Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Star Plus. It’s the story of Mohan Niwas, an ancient bungalow that houses an ensemble of puckish women and their ridiculous spouses who are all united on one issue — they hate the bungalow!

Supriya, who plays Hansa, says she’s loving every moment of it. Her last TV appearance was in real life husband Pankaj Kapoor’s Mohan Das B.A.L.L.B. " I didn’t get any exciting offers so instead of doing meaningless roles I took a break," says Supriya.

And now that the actress is back in business she is open to new offers but says she’ll consider only roles with a twist. "I don’t want to keep doing the same things again and again," says the actress who made an award winning debut in Shyam Benegal’s Kalyug.

Her film and television appearances may be spaced out now, but one thing that still excites her is a good role. And Khichdi fits in like a glove.

They all look inspired — inspired by each other. Each one of the saasoo ma-bhaurani sagas have started resembling the other uncannily. Not just that. Even stars playing important cameos are changing ever so rapidly that the viewers are left confused.

Take the case of Bhabi at 1.30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays on Star Plus. There’s a definite sense of deja vu — similar sets, similar costumes, similar dialogues and a similar storyline — a wicked woman pitched against an innocent lady. But then, like it or not, that theme’s been the winning formula of Star Plus, making it the number one channel.

The similarities don’t end there. In Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, three different stars have played the character of Mihir. Now Bhabi is following suit. Dolly Sohi comes in as the new Bhabi even as Neha Mehta walks out without so much as a curtain call.

But the saving grace is that Dolly is no stranger to the small screen. She’s done important roles in serials like Kalash, Sanskruti and Aati Rahengi Baharen. With the experience she has confidently walked into the role of Bhabi and looks all too comfortable to deal with the twists and turns of the family saga.

Bollywood had been beckoning him for sometime. But he says he wanted to be sure that he didn’t falter in his debut. Which explains why he turned down Mira Nair’s offer to act in Kamasutra because he felt it wasn’t good enough as a first role.

With nothing much coming his way Rahul also toyed with the idea of picking up TV roles that were offered to him by the dozens. But then Champion happened and that changed his life forever. He chose to stick to film — "at least for the time being," as he puts it.

Though Champion flopped, it made Rahul a champion star. What followed were films like Ashoka, Indian and Aawara Pagal Deewana. His forthcoming films include-88 Antop Hill Supari, Footpath , Adharm , Agnipath , Kyun Singhasan and regional films like Parshu Ram (Tamil) and Takri Donga (Telegu) where he has been nominated for south Filmfare Best Actor Award.

Today, Rahul is deluged with film offers but he says, "I accept only those roles where I can establish my identity. I don’t care whether I am playing hero or villain."

But in real life, Rahul Dev is a man who has worked hard to be a hero to his countless fans. A teetotaller, his second home is the gym. And his passion is swimming and riding the Arabian horse that he recently bought. Surely life is on a fast trot for Rahul.

His personal life may be mired in controversy but Michael Jackson the singer still reigns supreme. And here’s your opportunity to know all about your favourite star.

On Sunday May 4, Star World brings you Michael Jackson: The Interview They Wouldn’t Show You. Here the superstar gets a chance to clean the air.

As a rebuttal to the documentary by martin Bashir titled Living With Michel Jackson, the singer has his outtakes from t he interview sessions, shot by one of his employee that he says will vindicate him. The two-hour documentary features Jackson’s personal footage from Bashir’s interview, which he claims will tell the real truth about his life.

"Your relationship with your children is spectacular, "Bashir says on tape, adding, it almost makes him "weep" when he sees how caring Jackson is with his kids. This special also includes glowing reports on the star and his relationships with children from people like ex-wife Debby Rowe, mother of the singer’s two oldest kids.

Like his spectacular videos, this one’s a slick PR job that should once again put a shine back on Jackson’s diminishing appeal.

— Mukesh Khosla