TELEVISION
Small wonder

Hansika…A star is born

Lights, camera, action...she slips effortlessly into the role. A coy smile, a ripple of laughter and an expression of fun and masti. Be it an ad for Bournvita, HBO, Onida or Santro with Shah Rukh Khan, this young lady is in great demand.

Priety Zinta? No. She’s Hansika Motwani, who plays both Kareena and Koel in Sony’s Hum 2 Hain Na. The poorly produced serial may have done nothing for Sony’s ratings but it seems to have given a dramatic boost to her career.

Hansika, who turned 13 on August 9, is now a big Bollywood draw. She was part of Hrithik’s gang in Koi Mil Gaya and will now be seen as Dimple Kapadia’s daughter in Hum Kaun Hain and then in the Manoj Bajpai-Raveena Tandon starrer, Jagoo.

"I am getting so many offers that it gets difficult to say no," gushes Hansika, whose most memorable day was when she bought pizzas for the whole family with her own earnings.

And studies?`85well, that’s quite another issue for the 9th standard student of Mumbai’s Podar International School. The star-struck authorities give her time off for shooting.

HE is faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a train and is neither a bird nor a plane. He is Karma, the Indianised Superman on Star Plus.

The story revolves around Karan, the grandson of a seer, who is killed by the dark forces of Markesh but is resurrected from the dead as Karma, and so begins the story of good triumphing over the evil.

Much like Superman, Karma is blessed with the ability to see through walls, hear sounds thousands of miles away and run as fast as a train. He is also adept at the twists and turns of an Ekta Kapoor serial.

With lots of special effects and a racy story line, Karma is targeted at the younger audience. Hopefully, the serial will be a welcome change from the saas bahu melodrama that plagues Balaji and Star alike.

Shifting from a career in marketing after a chance meeting with the legendary Richard Burton, Kevin Costner today has transformed from a mere poster boy to a critically-acclaimed award-winning actor in Hollywood.

The History Channel focuses on Hollywood hero Kevin Costner Sunday September 12 at 10 p.m. starting from his graduating days at the California State University in 1978, to his career in marketing and his decision to take a crack at acting.

After an inauspicious debut in Sizzle Beach, the actor’s big break came in 1987 when he burst on the screen with two major hits, No Way Out and The Untouchables.

Costner made his directing debut, Dances with Wolves (1990), which took home a slew of Academy Awards, including the award for Best Picture and Best Director. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) was followed by Oliver Stone’s JFK and The Bodyguard, with singer Whitney Houston.

Watch the making of one of Hollywood’s most enduring actors who has almost become an icon now.

Jiten’s big trip

TILL a few months ago, he was one of the most visible faces across all channels. But Jiten Lalwani is now playing the vanishing trick. He says there is no safety in numbers and only quality matters. Which is why he’s on a serial dumping spree.

He has dropped Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and SSSHHH... Koi Hai. "They were no longer challenging," says Jiten. But why did he not discard Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani on a non-happening channel like DD? The grapevine has it that he’s disappearing from the television, as he wants to forge alliances on the silver screen.

Jiten vehemently denies the allegation. "That’s simply not true. Though I don’t mind doing movies as long as Bollywood doesn’t treat me like any other TV star. Because I am not any other TV star."

He adds that he would like to select his own directors. And pray, who would those be? "Let’s say with Ram Gopal Verma and Mira Nair." Okay, Jiten you might select them but are you sure the equation would work the other way as well.

SHE’S barely one-soap-old but the girl who’s perennially clad in churidaars and sports a radiant smile is already a head turner.

News is Aamna Shariff a.k.a. Kashish of Kahin To Hoga has let it be known that she is no longer available for small screen roles after doing the Indo-Pakistani serial Aan.

Aamna makes no secret of her decision. "Yes, I am not signing any new serial as I am negotiating a few film roles. I don’t want to be distracted by television," says the lady.

In fact, Aan, too, is a preparation for the big leap. "I play a bar dancer. And some producers who have seen parts of the yet-to-be released serial are so impressed that offers have already started pouring in," says Aamna. But isn’t it a bit risky shutting out TV producers so early in her career? No, she says, "If people have liked me on television, I see no reason why they won’t accept me in films." Aamna should ask stars like Aman Verma, Natasha, Bhumika and Navneet Nishan. After burning their hands in films, they have all retreated to the safety of the small screen.

— NF

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