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Naughty granny

Farida Jalal with co-stars in Shararat

CAN anyone guess who inspires Farida Jalal while playing the naughty nani in Shararat? The bubbly veteran says she lets her mind roll back to her childhood days that she spent with her real nani.

"The character is very close to that of my grandmother. She too was full of beans,"

says Farida, who got the Favourite Jadooi Kirdaar award for the role. The actress who is doing a balancing act between the small and big screen confesses that films are still her first love. "It’s a different high to see your self on the silver screen. Nothing can match that feeling."

But yet, she says, she loves the variety that TV offers with the kind of diverse roles she’s doing in Shararat and Dekh Bhi Dekh or being an anchor in Star Yaar Kalakaar.

"I am starting my own studio that will specialise in film and TV productions," says TV’s Nani No. 1 all set to add yet another dimension to her brilliant career.

HIS three-episode cameo as Rahul Singhania shot the TRPs of Kahin To Hoga to stratospheric heights. Now as Rudra in Kesar, Nikhil Arya is enjoying every minute of the adulation from his ever-increasing fan following.

"It’s getting better everyday," says Nikhil who had earlier turned down Ekta Kapoor’s offer for a role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. But this six-foot something star who made his debut in Kya Haadsa Kya Haqeeqat now has filmmakers knocking at his door though he’ll have to wait till his contract with Balaji is over in December.

But as of now Rahul’s got writers scripting plots revolving around him. Yes, he says, there are several proposals for special appearances. Which must make him a kind of a Mr Fixit. Whenever the TRPs of a soap starts dipping, call in Nikhil to heave them up.

THE trend started with music channels hunting for singing talent. Now the National Geographic Channel too has hit the road to identify the Indian Inventor of the Year and also the Young inventor of the year.

A joint venture with IIT Delhi and Nokia, the eight-part series focuses on recognising Indians who have turned their creative genius into beneficial technology for the country.

Being aired on Sundays at 10 p.m., it promises to go beyond the wow technology and features people who have been most affected by these advances and also take a peek into behind-the-scenes happenings.

The winner of the Inventor of the Year takes home a whooping Rs 10 lakh to make the innovation a commercial reality. The winner of the Young Innovator Award bags a cool Rs 2 lakh that will be held in a trust fund till the winner turns 18. So keep your Sundays free to watch brilliant young innovators at work. And if you are a whiz yourself contact NGC. Who knows, you may be the next Edison or a Marconi.

Across the LoC

FOR once, the makers of Karishma–The Miracles of Destiny on Sahara Manoranjan have a reason to smile. The star-studded flop show has now crossed the border and is being aired in Pakistan on the Ary Gold Channel.

Ironically, Karishma that must be among the lowest viewership serials in India is turning out to be a hit in the entertainment-starved Pakistani telly world. As the channel report states that for the past few weeks it has occupied the No. 1 slot in that country.

Coming at a time when there are rumours that the show is now on the brink of being switched off in India, this is a big shot-in-the-arm.

Lika...the word reverberates on the small screen whenever a wicked thought crosses the mind of Kamolika. And the dark angel of Kasauti Zindigi Kay is pleased to be on top of the viewer hate list.

"I hope more and more people are disgusted by my character. The more I am disliked, the more popular I become," laughs Urvashi Dholakia.

Her ambition is to be the most despised vamp on TV. "I am thoroughly enjoying being a very dreadful person. The popularity of the soap is directly proportional to the amount viewers abhor me," says Urvashi.

Though in the past she’s done serials like Kabhi Sautan Kabhi Saheli and Ghar Ek Mandir, she went unnoticed because of her goody-goody roles. But her popularity peaked when she started playing the evil Kamolika. Whoever said goodness pays in life.

Modest Mihir

IN the last two years he’s got no offers apart from Sanjeevani. And that should have put Mihir Mishra’s career in serious trouble. But surprisingly he’s not complaining.

And why should he? Recently shooting at a five-star hotel in Delhi he was mobbed by female fans who virtually clawed the visibly blushing star. "I keep thanking my good fortune all the time," says Mihir who plays Dr Rahul in Sanjeevani.

But happiness and contentment are two different things and he knows he has to move on.

In October, he’ll be seen on Zee in a new comedy Kabhi Haa, Kabhi Naa.

Comedy, confesses Mihir, is not a very easy task. "I play Aditya who’s a happy-go-lucky chap trying to make people laugh," says Mihir.

The star says that though the shift in Sanjeevani’s focus from a medical to a soapy affair bothered him but he didn’t quit as viewer interest is paramount as far as TV shows go.

"I’ll be very much with Sanjeevani till it goes on." And going by the way the story — and imagination — is being stretched that could go on forever.

— NF

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