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 Divya
Dutta is one actress who gives her optimum for a role.
So it is with Shanno Ki Shaadi. It's a simple
story about a young girl's search for a bridegroom.
Vikas Bhalla who plays a supporting role in this week's
film Pyar Mein Twist, gets to jump many steps
up. He's the soap's hero. He's the NRI returned to
India, and to Shanno's dhaba to be more precise, where
he tries out the parathas made by her.
Mouth-watering? But Shanno Ki Shaadi needs
time to take off. It's been a while since we had a
Plane Jane metamorphosing into an eligible candidate
for Prince Charming. Shanno ki Shaadi fits
the bill. But will it have the kind of impact that
Divya Dutta's career commands?
This
wonderful actress has cut down considerably on TV
assignments. "I like Shanno ki Shaadi because
I had never done anything like it before. The whole
process of Shanno's transformation from a sniveling
giggly bachelor girl with stars in her eyes, to a
confident woman of the world is very interesting to
me."
But isn't this the Jassi formula all over again? Has
TV suddenly discovered the virtues of frumpiness?
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Not
if you go by the growing popularity of Eva Longoria, the
girl from the avidly watched Desperate Housewives who's
pleasuring her gardener while her millionaire husband is
making the bucks.
The
bucks 'n' f..ks formula in Desperate Housewives is
a big hit. Its raunchy tenor has left Sex & The City
far behind. I watch the series as frequently as possible,
and not just because Karan Johar comes on air to recommend
it (I'm not surprised since his Koffee With Karan replicates
the mood of glorious insouciance from Desperate Housewives).
The
screenwriting is so brilliant it makes our average desi
soap appear frumpy in comparison. I feel Desperate Housewives
will precipitate a renaissance in the way TV soaps style
their screenplays. The ailing never-ending sagas of familial
suffering are soon going to be a thing of the past. Let's
have them in a way that they remain fresh for as long as
they last.
Saif
Ali Khan and Preity Zinta were fun doing the Raksha Bandhan
special of Kaun Banega Crorepati. I wondered why
they were invited for Raksha Bandhan. But then they did
appear to be as comfortable as siblings together sharing
confidences, whispering over the answers.
Speaking
on the comfort level that he seemed to share with his celebrity-guests
the host-with-the-most Amitabh Bachchan laughed, "That's
the Indian concept of hospitality. The ghar bulaya mehmaan
is supposed to be God. That's why I treat every contestant
and his/her companion the way I do. I behave with them as
I would if I had a guest over. As for the relaxed demeanour
and casual clothes, those were all decided by the channel.
I had no say in it."
AB also spoke to me about the impact of KBC. "I'm
really surprised at the way it has worked. I never really
thought it would. That's because I'm never as confident
about my projects as those around me seem to be. The whole
process of doing KBC is a learning process for me
as well as the contestant. The other day there was a contestant
who had to identify one of the capital cities of the country.
In trying to hit on the right answer he actually went through
the whole gamut of capital cities in the country loudly
one by one. In that way he made his own process of discovery
a journey for all of to participate in. I think it's the
participative spirit of KBC, and not my presence,
that makes it such a success."
While
the celeb-guests lounged and reveled in the august company
on KBC, there was another celebrity on Sony's Fame Gurukul.
Karan Johar was the star-judge on the talent-hunting contest.
He couldn't help commenting on how filmy one of the contestants
- Qazi Touqueer - was.
But I'd like to know why we were treated to a shaadi special
on Fame Gurukul on Raksha Bandhan day… As confusing
as having Preity and Saif on KBC 2 on the day shared by
siblings.
On the always-watchable BBC special Talking Movies,
actress Jessica Simpson said , "I'm not a bimbo. But
I definitely have my ditzy moments."
Wish our celebs would learn to take themselves lightly too.
If it isn't them, it's the media making them out to be mountains.
A business story on CNBC referred to John Abraham as "Brand
Abraham". A bit early in the day for that, especially
since the story seemed to be based on one motocycle ad that
the actor has done.
It's hard to figure out who's more star stuck. The people
who run news channels or those who watch them.
Karishma
and Sanjays pic from: www.subhvivaah.com
(The
views expressed here are those of the author and indiantelevision.com
need not necessarily subscribe to the same)
What
makes news? Or more pertinently who makes news? Karisma Kapoor's
very personal marital squabble has now become a staple of
the news channels. The sad part of the twisted reportage is
that it misses the point completely. There isn't one scrap
of footage of Karisma in the present day.
