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SHE’S 21, has drop-dead looks and a figure to die for. Channel V’s newest VJ, Archana is now igniting the small screen with Get Gorgeous-2, where she embarks on a nationwide hunt for the country’s hottest face. Incidentally, it was the same show that vaulted Archana into the VJ seat last year. "It’s groovy to be on the other side of the fence, looking for a sensational face instead of being a hopeful that I was last year," says Archana who is all set to shortlist 10 women for the final. The show will travel to six cities and culminate at an undisclosed location where the finalists will spend a week in the company of India’s top models where they will undergo a complete transformation in their Cinderella-like journey. "I love to travel and sample different cuisines and this is a brilliant opportunity to see the country," admits Archana. Let’s just hope with so much name, fame and moolah up for grabs this time’s winner does not oust her from her gorgeous throne. Studious Hansika
THE serial may have done nothing for Sony’s ratings but it sure has turned its main protagonist Hansika Motawani into one of television’s most redemptive child stars. But even before Hum 2 Hain Na, 13-year-old Hansika was a much in demand star in the ad world having done campaigns for leading products like Bournvita, Onida and Santro. Now she’s fast turning into a big Bollywood draw. She was part of Hrithik’s gang in Koi Mil Gaya, had a pivotal role in the Manoj Bajpai-Raveena Tandon starrer, Jaago, was the child lead in Abra Ka Dabra, played Dimple Kapadia’s daughter in Hum Kaun Hain and of course, Shah Rukh Khan was her on-screen papa in the Santro commercial. "These films, serials and ads are effecting my studies," says the 9th standard student who’s now decided to decline all offers. And the first unsuspecting victim has been Aditya Chopra who offered her a juicy role in his new Shah Rukh-starrer. "Education is my first priority," says the moony new gen star all set to go back to school. Return of Dr Omi DR Rahul is kidnapped by terrorists, Dr Juhi has lost her eyesight and Dr Simran has transformed from a genteel healer into bitchy bahu. Seeing these no-brainers are you surprised why viewers reach for the remote each time Sanjivani is on air. It’s not just the viewers, even Sanjit Bedi aka Dr Omi, who was part of the original quartet of Sanjivani, too left in frustration. "It was supposed to run on the lines of ER but it became a poor imitation of the saas-bahu soaps. That’s why I walked out," says Bedi now pursuing a Bollywood career and was recently seen as a closet gay in Mango Soufflé. The good news is Bedi is back in Sanjivani and the bad news is he’s back with an HIV infection (in the serial, that is). He has very little time and wants to spend it with his old colleagues. He is also on a mission to educate people about the disease. Will his re-entry prop up the ratings of a serial that has been beset with rigor mortis? Only time will tell though his playing an AIDS patient is bound to evoke sympathy among the viewers. And sympathy is something that Sanjivani desperately needs. Chinese chakkar
SO what if Gauri Karnik’s first three films Sur, Prarambh-The Beginning and Stop flopped at the box office? The bubbly young actress has taken failure in her stride and is wooing the Chinese audience in a film called Himalaya Singh. "It’s a wacky Chinese comedy where I play an Indian princess named ‘Beauty’. It’s an arty-arty family drama," says Gauri. For the 1998 Miss India contestant, life so far has been Little Mirchi Thoda Pepper — her debut serial on Sony. "Television was a learning experience and now its only films," says Gauri who has shunned numerous offers to act in quintessential soaps on TV. But where will alternate roles take her? She’s not sure. All she knows is that they’ve brought in another film offer — Hum Jo Keh Na Paye. A great Prarambh, no doubt. — NF |
