CKRPKJ: Articles Archive - Page 2

Tejaswini is excited to play Rani Padmini

Teenager Tejawini Lonari made her debut on TV with the serial Rani Padmini Ka Johur a week ago on Sony TV. But unlike the long, winding plots adopted by most television shows, it has been decided already that Rani Padmini Ka Johur will only have 104 episodes. Tejawini gives us the details.

The actress, who was among the twenty girls short-listed out of a hundred and ten, says, "I am from Pune. I always wanted to become an actress and trained at the Kishore Namit Kumar acting institute. No one in my family is into acting, although my mother is very good at it! I went for a series of auditions and look tests, and finally, I was selected for this role. Though I am shy and simple, I can relate to my character to a certain extent."

19-year-old Tejawini has done a lot of research for the role. She adds, "I didn't know much about Rani Padmini, we had just a page on Johur and Padmini in our academic books. So I was provided with all the necessary reading by the team. We had acting workshops too. I was also trained to ride a horse and learnt stunts and sword fighting for six months."

Elaborating on the stunts, Tejawini proudly says, "I have done all the stunts myself. I was once put on a 30 feet high crane with a harness. I was scared hanging in the air like that. Even now, when I think of it, I get the goose bumps. I had my college exams while we were shooting for the stunts but the production house was sweet enough to let me give my exams."

Neeta Lulla has designed clothes and jewellery for the show. Tejawini adds, "We're using real jewellery. I did many screen tests and when I started shooting, I carried off the costumes very well; without any problems. When I faced the camera for the first time, I wasn't even nervous. It was because the team made me comfortable and I am a trained actress."

The show is produced by well-know art director Nitin Desai. Describing working with him, the actress says, "Nitin sir is a hard taskmaster and he knows how to get the best out of an actor. The sets are very grand and beautiful. I really feel like a queen when I am shooting. The sets have become my second home now. And since my mother is always with me, I don't even miss my family much."

Tejawini, who bears a striking resemblance to Bollywood star Rani Mukherjee, is flattered by the high profile comparison, saying, "Rani is one of the best actresses and my favourite too so it feels good to be compared to her. It's also nice that people are comparing my look to Aishwarya Rai's in Jodhaa Akbar. But when you watch the show, you'll see that it is totally different."

Talking about her future plans in the industry, the newbie says, "There is no difference between television and films. If you have the will and luck, you will definitely make it big. I don't have anything against saas-bahu shows. If I am offered one, I'm sure I can carry it off well. I am blessed to have got the role of Rani Padmini. I couldn't have asked for a better launch."

Shooting for Rani Padmini Ka Johur is taking place at ND Studio in Karjat. The film Jodhaa Akbar was also shot there. This week, Rohit Bakshi will make his entry on the show as the King of Chittor, Ratan Singh.


http://www.indya.com/news/newsDetails.aspx?xfile=2009/June/News_20090605_21

Maharaja Ratan Singh is petrified

June 4th, 2009 - 4:18 pm ICT by sampurn -

Maharaja Ratan Singh of Chittod aka Rohit Bakshi who is playing male lead in the show Chittod Ki Rani Padmini Ka Johur is bit petrified when it comes to the combating with the real weapons.

As per our khabroo from the sets, "Rohit Bakshi is bit apprehensive when it comes to the sword fighting or horse riding. He is scared of the horses."

Rohit and Tejaswani use real weapons in the scenes. "They had been given a special training in handling the armaments. Tejaswani is lot more confident than Rohit and had been doing well so far. She has learnt the art of sword fighting and horse riding easily."

"Though Rohit has also learnt and we are not that he is bad. But when it comes to comparing both in the same, Tejaswani is much better," ends the source.

Well Rohit you need to buck up to stand out from Rani Padmini is all that we can say!!!

-Rachana Trivedi/ Sampurn Media

Kranti to play Ratan Singh's first wife

June 4th, 2009 - 12:53 am ICT by sampurn -

The new historic show on Sony, Chittod Ki Rani Padmini Ka Johur is all set for a high point. Not many people knew that Raja Ratan Singh had two wives, Padmini and Nagmati. Kranti Redkar will be playing his first wife.

"I essay the character of Nagmati who is the first wife of Ratan Singh. She is a strong headed person and very ambitious," states Kranti.

Elaborating more on her role, the actress quips, "My role will see some grey shades. She is negative but it has been presented in a different way. I being a queen have some kind of sophistication like the way I dress, walks, and talks and behave. So it's quite different from what I have played in the past." Kranti was last seen in Simply Sapne playing a negative role.

How will be your rapport with Padmini in the show? "Of course there will be confrontation with Padmini as she is very beautiful and second wife of my husband. I am a woman who doesn't like her husband to be shared. The reason is that I am very possessive about him," she adds further.

Kranti Redkar has been a theatre and Marathi movie actress. "I have done some 14 movies in three years and Jatra was my first film. I had been doing theatres along side. Now I am trying my luck in main stream Hindi television too. I hope audience do like me and appreciate me," she concludes.

Let's see if Kranti is able to bring a new kranti on small screen?
-Sampurn Media

Small screen's big wedding

S.M. Zaheer in Rani Padmini

Edited by Jenifer. - 14 years ago

'Jewellery in Rani Padmini's wedding scene is worth Rs 1 crore'

In fact, the TV show is also shot in the same sets as Ashutosh Gowariker's historical. It was art director Nitin Desai's idea to re-use the film sets for a TV show, as he could not bear to dismantle it. He is producing the show now.

"The skeleton and the basic things are the same but the sets have been modified according to the needs of the serial. So it's not entirely the Jodhaa Akbar set," Desai explains. "I don't like to repeat my creativity but keeping these sets idle is like keeping a white elephant -- the maintenance costs are very high. It's our studio creation and I don't think it's wrong to use it. It's heart-breaking to dismantle the sets that have been painstakingly created over a period of time. But when you see your new creation, it gives creative satisfaction."

When Rohit Bakshi bumped into Akshay Kumar!

Edited by Jenifer. - 14 years ago