Love Scenes that will scorch your TV

By Subhash K Jha

Star Plus' star-studded new daily Viraasat is expected to raise the bars of Indian soaps in many ways.

It's the first soap to feature such a multitude of top marquee names on television. Obviously there were ego clashes on the sets, specially since tv stars are known to have egos many sizes larger than the size of the screen.

But the soap's romantic lead Rohit Roy dismisses the ego theory. "Yeah, I know TV actors are known to clash. But believe me, we were all fine with each other. I can't say we are one big family like I felt when I was doing my first soap Swabhimaan ten years ago.

But yes, we all get along fine. Aman Verma who plays my elder brother got along just fine with me. And Kiron Kumar was my first dad on screen. So I've a soft corner for him.

As for my co-star Sangeeta Ghosh we hit it off from Day 1….or maybe Day 6 or 7.. I found her hot on screen even before we acted together. But after Viraasat I found Sangeeta not only hot but also warm."

And the warmth is going to be translated on television in what promises to be a bold step ahead on Indian soaps.

Reveals Rohit, "Sangeeta and I play an Indian Romeo and Juliet. We've some rather bold love-making scenes, the kind never seen in any soap. No nudity or anything. But quite bold by our soap's soppy standards.

Come on, our soaps need to grow up! We're competing with the likes of Desperate Houswives and Sex & The City. I think couples need to express themselves more honestly in our soaps."

Now that Rohit has belled the cat, does he think it's the beginning of a new bold phase in desi soaps? "I hope so. I don't mind doing love-making scenes as long as they're done aesthetically.

And they're very delicately handled on Viraasat. I wouldn't do anything to be ashamed of. I've got a little daughter at home who will one day pull me up for my mistakes."

What about Rohit wife Manasi Joshi? "Hah, the first thing I do when I go home is to tell her I've done a love scene with Sangeeta. Fortunately she's an actor herself. So she knows what needs to be done has to be done."

Rohit is rather nervous about Viraasat. "All my co-stars have other serials to go to. I don't have any other serial on hand. I think I had done some really satisfying work in my last soap Sarkar.Unfortunately that didn't work. Viraasat is much more massy."