Ba not doing 'Ye Meri Life Hai'
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Sony has to find someone other than Sudha Shivpuri for playing mother to Inder Gujral and girlfriend to mischevious grandson Ronit. Shivpuri has opted out.

Although a lot of women were considered for the role, producer Vipul Shah settled on Shivpuri because her acting abilities fitted the range of the role.

Shivpuri’s character of Baa on Kyunki... was supposed to be eased off air, because the show was taking a 20-year age leap.

But the latest is that the leap has been postponed. Hence Sudha's inability in this regard. When contacted, Sudha explained, "I won't be able to shuttle between two sets. I agreed on YMLH because I was told that my death was nearing in Kyunki.... But now I'll be there as long as the leap does not occur. Now I hear that the leap may happen in July or August."

Is Manasi Joshi-Roy on her way out from 'Kkusum'?
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The rumour mills are working overtime that Manasi Joshi-Roy will no longer play Kkusum in Kkusum- Balaji's show on Sony. We hear, Shilpa Saklani is one of the front contenders for the role.

Uff! Is this going to be a Mihir Virani-like saga, the character from Kyunki.... who changed not once but twice?

When contacted, Manasi said, "I am fit and fine. I am putting all my energies from 9 am to 6 pm, and at times, go even beyond if need be. I am still shooting. There is no replacement coming."

On the other hand, Saklani offered, "I have been offered (a long pause) but I don't know which role. Let's see. Ekta is a little caught up with a few things. Plus I haven't yet given my consent."

Over to Ekta's trusted lieutenant, Nivedita Basu. "We have offered Saklani a role in Kkusum but that's another character, a negative role. Kkusum is not changing," Basu squashed the rumours.

Prior to Manasi, Nausheen Ali Sardar enacted this portrayal. Today, she is doing Star Plus' Kalcchakra which has thus far failed to garner any appreciable response.

For more on this if any, watch this space...


Ekta's new serial with Smriti
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The 20-year leap that Kyunki Saas... takes on April 14 may see Tulsi in an oldish get-up, but Ekta Kapoor who discovered her seems to have another ace up her sleeve. "I am making a serial which would have Smriti playing a 25-year old. It will be a weekly which would be telecast on weekends." Wow! But for which channel, Ekta? "My lips are sealed," she smiles.

Ekta's love for her mom
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More on the Queen of Soaps. Ekta Kapoor's new investment- the four storeys she has bought recently- may go only partially utilised. While three floors, she tells us, will be utilised for- parties, sauna, steam, office, library and lots more, the floor which was originally planned as Ekta's residence may go fully vacant. Reason? Ekta cannot shift into her new house! "I can't stay away from my mother. Initially, I thought that I'd stay alone, lekin nahin ho raha hai." So what hapopens to the fourth floor? "I don't know," she sighs.

Karishma signs her first film
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Karishma Tanna has signed her first film. The shapely Gujju lass will play Bobby Deol's sister in Suneel Darshan's Dosti. The film also stars Kareena Kapoor and Lara Dutta in lead roles. Karishma started shooting for the film in Filmistan yesterday. Their last film together Ajnabee set the cash registers ringing quite loudly but owing to some misunderstandings, Bobby and Kareena had decided against working with each other. Suneel may not say it, but he is surely responsibble for the patch-up. After all, who doesn't want to hear those sweet rings of success?

Sameer to pen Indian Idol Album
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Lyricist Sameer who is celebrating 25 years in the industry has been signed to write for the prestigious album of the Indian Idol winner. The album is to be released by Sony Music. According to Sameer, the album will be written keeping inmind Abhijeet's temperament, taste and singing ability.