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Indian
television's classiest and most popular talk show is all set
to return. Rendezvous With Simi Garewal returns on 29 January
with an introductory episode featuring John Abraham.
 Simi
raves about her first guest. "John was an absolute eye-opener.
Such a genuine down-to-earth, honest-to-goodness guy. I'm
yet to meet someone as deserving of his current success as
John. I met his parents during the research for the Rendezvous
and I know where John got his virtues. On Rendezvous he has
spoken both about professional and personal pressures. I can't
think of a better candidate for my inaugural episode."
But it's the post-inaugural segment, to be telecast in the
first week of February 2006, which really proves Simi's strengths
as a mover and shaker.
She laughs. "I don't know about that. But I've recorded
the most exhausting Rendezvous ever. I've got Zayed Khan to
come with his wife for their first together interview. In
the first segment you'll see Zayed with his parents Sanjay
and Zarine Khan. The second segment features just Zayed and
his three sisters. In the third segment I bring on the bride
and the groom."
The episode was recorded on Tuesday evening and Star intends
to project it as the season's USP on Star World.
Says Simi, "I'm really happy that my Rendezvous is on
Star World. First of all I can't conduct my interviews in
Hindi. And then Star World has taken my show to every corner
of the world."
****
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 The
ever-forthright Ekta Kapoor has no qualms about admitting
that she had a minor scuffle with Sony Entertainment,
its head honcho Tarun Katial to be precise.
"I was rather annoyed with Tarun. They had left
out my soap Kkusum from the invitation card
of their party celebrating their successful soaps.
Though Tarun said it was an oversight I thought it
was a deliberate attempt to push our Kkusum
hastily out of sight. Come on! Just because the soap
was winding up, it didn't mean it shouldn't have got
a decent send-off."
The minor fracas is now forgotten. And the workaholic
TV tycoon is now working on her new show - a TV gossip
magazine called Kandy Floss for Sony.
Giving the details of the format for the first time
Ekta says, "We've never really had a gossip-and-information
show about TV on TV before. Also, Balaji Telefilms
hasn't really done much non-fiction… though we
did do the Sunita Menon Show on Zoom which was very
successful. But yes Kandy Floss is a first
for us. And we're excited."
Besides a regular female anchor, Kandy Floss
will have an animated character called Kandy who'll
take viewers through the party-gossip-info circuit
on television. "It would be my tribute to Madame
M, the fictional gossip writer whom I grew up with
reading in the magazine Cine Blitz."
The anchor though is not confirmed. Isn't Archana
Puransingh talking about anchoring the show? "We're
in negotiations. But some nitty-gritty needs to be
worked out," says Ekta.
Besides Kandy Floss on Sony, Ekta has two new
fiction programmes coming up on Star One… Kya
Hoga Nimmo Ka and Kasam Se. "We've
already started casting for Nimmo. Though it will
have a new face in the central role, the supporting
cast will comprise some very well- known veterans
from stage and movies, never seen in my serials,"
promises Ekta.
 Ekta
is also thrilled with the remarkable recovery of ratings
for Star's Kavyanjali. "From being written
off - almost - to now being our fourth most popular
soap on Star after Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu
Thi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki and Kasauti Zindagi Kay
(just ahead of Kahiin To Hoga) we're very proud
of Kavyanjali and the support that Star offered.
Star's COO Samir Nair assured me he wouldn't close
down the show, come what may. That gave me the courage
to go on."
As for the revival of Hum Paanch on Zee, Ekta
says it's still not certain how successful it would
prove to be. "The first few weekends were overshadowed
by other events on rival channels. But I had no choice.
The channel told me either I bring Hum Paanch
back, or they'd do it themselves. How could I let
someone else take over my show? I've revived two of
my shows Mano Ya No Mano and Koi Haadsa Koi Haqeeqat
successfully. Why not Hum Paanch?"
****
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The
channel war is whacked out beyond redemption. On Monday
night Star News did something about the two Khans - Salman
and Saif - being jointly in trouble with the law. They cooked
up a hilarious plot that showed visuals from the two Khans'
movies.
I wanted to tell them to relax… let the stars be. There's
more to life than voyeurism into glamorous lives.
Prabhu Chawla tried to get the better of Akshay Kumar on
Seedhi Baat. The anchor tried to poke fun at the
actor's angrezi. To this Akshay retorted, "I think
I manage as well as you."
 Oops,
and ouch to that. Most stars don't really hit back when
they're made into spectacular scapegoats. I enjoyed watching
Shahid Kapoor on Nach Baliye and the next day on
Zee's Sa Re Ga Ma. His comments on the contestants
were gracious and apt. He was quite a contrast to Tanisha
Mukherjee who 'graced' Sony's Indian Idol. Her comments
on the contestants careened towards the corny.
On Nach Baliye there's many a slip between the cup
and the leap. Varun Badola just blanked out while doing
his steps. Poor guy! He had worked so hard on coming up
right to tip of the top. So what happened? No one knows.
What we do know is that life often doles out a raw deal
to those who work hard for the big prize.
Jhon's Pic from: www.entertainmenttv.com
Tarun,
Ekta and varun's pic by: VICKY AHUJA
(The
views expressed here are those of the author and indiantelevision.com
need not necessarily subscribe to the same)
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