Artiles Archives-No Comments - Page 2

Sumeet does a casper

Actor Sumeet Raghavan, who became popular as the bumbling husband Saahil in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai (Star One), is all set to prove that he can act tough too.

In the forthcoming supernatural thriller Akela (Sony), Sumeet plays the ghost of a deceased ex-cop. He reluctantly divulges, "Now that you seem to have an inkling, all that I can say is that my character Savio is like Casper (the comic character of a friendly ghost). Savio helps his buddy (Sudhanshu Pandey) in solving crimes. The thriller has its light-hearted moments!"

Will he be convincing as a cop given his soft face? Sumeet shoots back, "Aren't there cops who do not necessarily have a stern and grim face?"

After being nagged by Monisha (Rupa Ganguly) in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, going Akela in the show must be a kind of relief for the actor. Sumeet replies with a laugh, "They have not yet zeroed in on any actor to pair with me. But I hope the character is different from Monisha's."

In real life, Sumeet is not fond of the scare-fare. "The morbid scenes with eyes popping out of masks put me off. Give me a romantic comedy any day," he asserts.

Meanwhile, Sumeet will also be seen in Jamnadas Majhethia's new family show Resham Dankh. "It's a powerful character of an elder brother," he concludes. Off-screen Sumeet is married to noted Marathi actor Chinmayee and they have two children, Neerad and Deeya

Mouli settles the score with Rupali

Rupali Ganguli got unceremoniously replaced in Resham Dankh

Sapana Patil Poojary

Rupali Ganguli, popularly known as Monisha of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai had her hopes dashed when she did not bag the role of Divya Balraaj in Resham Dankh. Although she had not been finalised for the role, she was under the impression that she would be doing the role. It was just a matter of time before things were expected to fall in place. And then suddenly she got the news that Mouli Ganguly had bagged the coveted role.

According to sources, "Rupali was upbeat about doing the serial and was looking forward to acting in it. She was hurt when she heard about Mouli doing the role."

When contacted, Rupali says, "Generally I don't go for auditions, but this time I did, only because it was JD's (Jamnadas Majethia and Aatish Kapadia's) serial. I have worked with them in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and was very keen on doing this serial too. Even Aatish was encouraging enough. I really don't know what happened."

Apparently, Rupali got to know about it a few days later. She says, "I got to know from JD that Mouli is doing the role. I was very disappointed. When I enquired about not my exclusion, he simply said that there were 'various reasons'. And I didn't feel like asking him for an explanation."

Expressing her bitterness, Rupali didn't turn up for the launch party of the serial. "My father was not well and so I couldn't manage to go for the party. Everyone thought that I was unhappy, but that is not the reality. Even JD called me the next day to ask me why I didn't come," says Rupali.

Rupali added in a self-consoling tone, "Rajesh Kumar (who played Rosesh in Sarabhai…) is now in Baa, Bahoo Aur Baby and Sumeet Raghavan (who played Saahil in Sarabhai…) got a role in Resham Dankh. So I guess, I will also be offered a role in their forthcoming project. Not only me, but many big names had auditioned for the role of Divya Balraaj. JD and Atish are sticklers for perfection and I understand that they must have had reasons for casting Mouli. But we haven't let the issue affect our relationship. They are special to me because they have given me one of the best characters; that of Monisha."

JD says, "It's destiny. Both Rupali and Moulli are competent actors. Rupali is already a part of Hats Off family. She should just keep her fingers crossed and who knows, she might be a part of our forthcoming projects too."

Hats Off Productions with a brand new show

Hats Off Productions is widely known for churning out comedies like Instant Khichdi and Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai. Now the house owned by Aatish Kapadia and J D Majethia are turning their face to try a different genre but ofcourse with their trademark humor intact. The show is still untitled and revolves around family social thriller with a dash of humor. It will go on air on Star TV next month featuring Apara Mehta, Kiran Karmarkar, Sumeet Raghvan, Rahil Azam and Mouli Ganguly. And it will be aired at prime time slot. "Once the show progresses, it will have many good actors on board", says J D Dipesh Shah will direct the soap whereas J D and Aatish will be the creative directors.

RAHIL AZIM & MOULI GANGULY INTERVIEW

He is young and ambitious but will not take on anything that comes his way. Rahil Azim who's featured in serials like Hatim, Yeh Meri Life and the ongoing Saarthi is now busy with his latest Resham Dunk. Screen catches up with this budding artiste for a tete-a-tete...

What is Resham Dankh all about?
Resham Dankh is a social thriller. The story is about a business family and how a child born into the family brings it closer.In short, Resham Dunk, is a story of a family and depicts ow a child changes day-to-day affairs of the family. This is a gripping drama of young parents' unconditional love for their child. A riveting story of unthinkable betrayal, revenge and supreme sacrifice.

Who plays the child?
It is small wonder Yash Bhadrani who plays the key role of Dev Balraj, my son.

The story sounds interesting.
In fact, the serial is based on Aatish Kapadia's Gujarati novel by the same name. The idea of the serial came from the story that Kapadia penned down for Chitralekha. It has a definite beginning, middle and end and will not drag on endlessly like other soaps.

What role do you play in the serial?
I play the main protagonist Aditya Balraj, a very big business tycoon. He is a shrewd person but at the same time he is affectionate to the extent that he is obsessive about them.

You got noticed in Yeh Meri Life Hai. What happened after that?
In Yeh Meri Life Hai, I played the villanious Ashmit Gujral. My role in the serial gave me lot of fame. I got to portray different shades in one role that helped me get a lot of fan following specially abroad. I got even more famous after my character turned negative. After the serial rounded off in November last, I decided to take a two-month break. Would you believe that I refused offers right from Prithviraj Chouhan, Akela and Viraasat. But when I went through the script of Resham Dankh, I was sure that it was written with me in mind. The confidence to portray the role grew and without hesitation I lapped it up.

Charismatic She's now a seasoned actress having done serials like Kaahin Kissii Roz, Saakshi and Sarkar. Still she considers herself to be a learner. Now Mouli Ganguli is busy shooting for Resham Dankh, that will be aired on Star One since August 14. Screen corners her for a brief interview...

You were a student of Hotel Management and Mass Communication. How did you end up acting?
I am a science graduate from Kolkata and came down to Mumbai to do my hotel management. Soon I realised that I wasn't cut out for it and left it midway. Then I joined a course in mass communication, but didn't complete that either! (smiles) At this juncture, I started getting many modelling offers and believe me, despite my best efforts, I could not resist the temptation.

Was there any objection from your parents?
I come from an educated family where people are settled in either a job or family business. Almost all my relatives knew hardly anything about this world. Entering the glam world was taboo for them. Hence initially there was a little resistance.

Tell us about the modelling assignments you have done. I did a lot of advertisements prominent among them being those of Pears, Rin, Ariel, Close-Up, Double Diamond, Asian Paints, Sonam Quartz, Britannia, Maggie and Bombay Dyeing.

What has been the fallout of Kahin Kisi Roz?
The fallout has been very encouraging. People still remember me as Shaina.Though I have been receiving offers by the dozens, I don't want do roles wherein I am required for two or three scenes because I am not ready to be projected as a mere showpiece. Besides, I am petrified of too much action. Like there was this scene I did recently in KKR, where my 'pallu' catches fire. The director did not want to use a dummy. I do not know how many times my heart skipped a beat.

What's your role in Resham Dankh?
I play Divya Balraj, Aditya's (Rahil Azim) wife. Though Aditya has an elder brother, he isn't married. Hence, Divya has got a very important task to play in the family.My character is a mix of childish, romantic etc. In fact my role demands enacting of all shades.

Have you worked with Rahil earlier?
Yes, both of us were together in Kahin Kisi Roz. Both of us got along very well.Rahil takes his job too seriously whereas I am of the type who would think that I could've done better.

It is heard that before agreeing to do Kaahin Kissi Roz, you had told Ekta Kapoor that you don't want to be portrayed as a bahu.
Absolutely. I didn't want to people to relate me as a bechari. If you are nice, you can still be a confident go-getter without being timid and helpless.

Having done a central role, will you play a second or a third bahu in a joint family?
I do not have an author-backed role in Resham Dankh. The role has lots of substance and I am almost there in every frame. If the second or the third bahu has that much weight, I am game. Once a director feels that I can do a particular role I take it as a challenge to do it.

How important is a director to you?
Please don't get me wrong. When I say that I have completely got into the skin of the character, that does not imply that I don't need a director. I am purely a director's actor. Without a director, I would be lost. I understand a director very quickly. Every director can extract the maximum out of me. Naturally, my best is a long way off.

Source :Yahoo