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No pressure from BJP over Smriti, says Ekta
By Subhash K Jha,

Mumbai, May 25 Televison producer Ekta Kapoor is rubbishing rumours of being pressured by the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) to continue Smriti Irani's tenure as
Tulsi on "Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thii", saying the party is too big to indulge in such trivial issues. "This is rubbish. A respected organisation like BJP can't be expected to take interest in something so trivial. Besides, do I look like the type who would buckle under pressure?" asked Ekta. However, she confirmed that Smriti Irani, who joined BJP in 2003, has quit the long running show.  "Smriti is leaving the show. She needed a break. We're giving her one for some time. The future course of her track in the show is undecided. Whatever she decides, she will
always remain a part of Balaji," Ekta told IANS. However, the confusion regarding the change of guard in Balaji's flagship show "Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thii" continues. The change at the helm is scheduled to happen in just about a fortnight but Ekta has still not decided who would be the new Tulsi. "It's either Padmini Kolhapure or Gautami Gadgil. We'll make the change in a week. And we still haven't decided. The story is still being worked on," she told IANS.Talking about Smriti Irani's return to the show, Ekta said, "She would be returning. But when, we cannot say. It could be a month, two months, or six months. She's welcome back anytime. Smriti has always supported 'Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thii'."
Ekta is now focusing on "Shootout At Lokhandwala"."It is Balaji's first co-production with Sanjay Gupta's White Feather Films. I know it is an unexpected alliance. We at Balaji are accused of churning out predictable soaps.
Might as well spring some surprise in movie production," said Ekta.
 

Aroona joins hands with competitor Ekta
Television producer, director and actor Aroona Irani has now joined hands with Ekta Kapoor and denies rumours that the young entrepreneur is her archrival "Who said that? She is not my rival," said Aroona, who has earlier played myriad roles in Bollywood films. "As far as rivalry is concerned, I am in this business and I think everybody who is into serial making is my rival. But that doesn't mean I can't work with them," Aroona told via phone from Mumbai. "First, I am an actor and I can choose to act with anybody. And I think working with Balaji Telefilms is going to be a great experience for me," she said. The senior actress forays into Ekta's "Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki" as Kalyani Devi who comes to Parvati's (the protagonist) rescue at a time when she is helpless and without any support from her family.

Is Ekta a pampered rich star kid? (INTERVIEW)
Sudhir Mishra, the avant-garde director of critically acclaimed films as Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin, Main Zinda Hoon, Chameli and "Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi, is coming together with the soap queen Ekta Kapoor

I hope viewers accept new Tulsi, says Ekta Kapoor
(INTERVIEW) By Subhash K. Jha

 
Mumbai, June 9 (IANS) Generation leaps are a must in Ekta Kapoor's serials and her long running family saga "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" is seeing one again, now that the TV tycoon has finally found a face to play the new Tulsi. 

"She is Moni Roy, a Bengali student from Delhi. She knows nothing about television. She went to the auditions for a lark with her friends. And she landed up getting the plum part," Ekta told IANS.

"Now she is Krishna Tulsi. I hope viewers accept her. She is very raw right now. That works to her advantage because she doesn't come across as someone who knows it all. More than acting it is your attitude that works with viewers. Moni has the right attitude. The rest is up to the script and destiny."

A new boy is also being launched opposite Moni. 

"He has just been cast. He is called Pulkit. We got him from Manish Goswami's show 'Sixer'. Pulkit had a contract with them and it expired. Now he is in 'Kyunki Saas...'. 

"He was the last person to be cast. We didn't like any of the boys we auditioned. Then we heard Pulkit was a good guy. He was on in no time. We'll have to shoot all the portions pertaining to Hardwar with him in Mumbai." 

Ekta has written the first eight episodes of the generation leap avatar of "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi". 

"Yup, we are all set. More than a birthday gift to fans of 'Kyunki', this new avatar was set for June 7 because 7 is my lucky number. I had planned it for April 7, then May 7. Finally, when we found our new Tulsi it happened on my birthday June 7. 

"Two years ago I had launched the film 'Kya Kool Hain Hum' on my birthday. It was a hit. And I had started 'Kyunki...' on my dad's birthday."

It was a mammoth task to find the right girl for the new Tulsi role. 

"We had a number of auditions all over the country. We distributed pamphlets, did radio interviews...we short-listed 11 girls. None of them seemed to match up. I didn't know whom I wanted. But I did know I'd know her when I saw her. 

"There was this one girl that wasn't in the short-list whom we wanted to cast in 'Kasautii Zindagi Kay'. We flew her to Mumbai and completely styled her. And then I knew 'Kasautii...' couldn't have her. Moni was the new 'Kyunki' girl."

But Smriti Irani will continue to be the serial's pivot. 

"It's her story. That doesn't change. She moves to a new level in the plot. She'll continue to be the catalyst of 'Kyunki...' Krishna Tulsi will be a mirror image of Tulsi while Smriti will now become Ba. When the serial started, Tulsi's anchor was Ba. And today she's all set to take over the role of Ba."

Every other member of the cast remains. Plans to bump off 'Ba' Sudha Shivpuri's character have been put on hold due to her popularity. 

"She'll now be very old on the show. She'll celebrate her 108th birthday on the soap. People love Sudha-ji so much. When she was shooting in Hardwar recently crowds of people genuflected before her, including grown-up men. Yes, she'll die, but after 35 more episodes."

Ekta is looking forward to the leap. 

"For a long time we have been planning it. The first generation of Viranis lasted for only 360 episodes. But the second generation was for about 600 episodes. And now we hope the third generation will last for 1,000 episodes."

Ekta's "Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka" has become the first soap to be successful on STAR One. 

"We shot for it in Mauritius last week. I was in the water all the time. It was awesome fun. While the whole unit would shoot and then party, I'd be underwater, snorkelling. I saw an eel and nearly fainted underwater. I thought it was a snake. I took along two friends from Delhi, also my friends Natasha and Shabbir Boxwallah." 

Speaking on her new filmmaking partnership with Sanjay Gupta, Ekta said: "Sanjay is the coolest guy I have met. He's a rock star. I love the music in his films. When I saw 'Zinda' I got his number to congratulate him. To collaborate with someone who's a master at production will be good fun." 

As for birthday celebrations, she said: "I rejoice in work. I'll get withdrawal symptoms if I don't work. I'm planning three-four more shows. I'll have my birthday party on July 7 when I have some breathing space. I'd rather finish my workload and then enjoy my party." 
 

Makeover for Smriti; new Tulsi yet to be found
By Subhash K. Jha,

Mumbai, June 5 (IANS) "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" producer Ekta Kapoor is yet to find a new Tulsi for the much-talked about changeover of Smriti Irani to Ba on June 7 - and there are 60,000 aspirants. 

But, according to Ekta, none fills the bill. 

The original Tulsi is oblivious of these developments. 

"I'll know about it when Ekta tells me. I haven't sat down with her to discuss the character's graph," she chuckles during a phone interview from Lucknow. She has been travelling in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu in connection with her Bharatiya Janata Party activities. 

Smriti has also been bombarded by queries about her supposedly sour relations with "Kyunki..." co-star Apara Mehta. 

"Here I am with so much to do...where do I have the time for fights and cold wars? Really, I've nothing to say about this. I don't get into any controversy. I've no idea where (these stories) come from. 

"I'd rather use my energies for my work than these absurd controversies. If I wasn't successful I wouldn't have been part of these controversies. And why would I get into any situation with Apara? She's my senior. There're no parallels in my career and Apara's," Smriti maintained.

She closed the issue on a positive note.

"I've always worked in a spirit of trust and friendship. I've made the "Kyunki..." set my home away from home. I do get hurt when such talk happens. But I don't allow the hurt to show," she asserted. 

Playing Ba is a challenge Smriti is up to. 

"Of course I'm too young for the matriarch's role. But I look at the role as a compliment. I'm playing my age in my plays. It's during these straight-off interactions with the audience that one comes to know one's true level as an actor," she said.

As Ba, Smriti is going to age accordingly. 

"I've no qualms about aging on screen. We've seen very glamorous actresses like Sharmila Tagore, Hema Malini, Rekha and even Karisma Kapoor turning grey. So it's no big deal. Even Preity Zinta turned grey in 'Veer-Zaara'. 

"Today's audience appreciates an actor's commitment. I don't put white in my hair to play Tulsi. But my whole body language suggests the character's age. And the age always shows in the hands. Those are the first parts of your body that get worn out. Those are details I'd like to consider when aging further for the soap," she pointed out.

Smriti is part actor, part politician and part mother. 

"Every working woman is a multi-tasker. I guess I'm blessed. The truth of television is the producer-director is king. Every actor is replaceable. I value the confidence in me. 

"Ekta had once said something valuable about me. She said she unconsciously chose an actress who was as close to Tulsi as possible. I identify completely with Tulsi except the fact that Tulsi tolerated another woman in her husband's life. I'd have walked out. None of us has Tulsi's patience. I wish I did," Smriti said.
 
Iqbal Khan says no to aging in 'Kaisa Yeh..."
By Subhash K. Jha,

Mumbai, April 29 (IANS) This could blow up into a major problem. After "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi", Ekta Kapoor of Balaji Telefilms has made up her mind to take another generation leap in "Kaisa Yeh Pyar Hai", but lead actor Iqbal Khan refuses to do so.

Iqbal has already informed Ekta that the generation leap isn't what he wants. 

"I don't know what the solution is. Maybe I can play Angad's son. Or otherwise they can bump me off. But I am certain I won't go through the aging process on the soap. Let's see what Ekta does with my character," Iqbal told IANS. 

"Please don't forget, I belong to the biggest family in Mumbai. Ekta can move me anywhere she wants. I am happy to be just part of Balaji. I have given them 19 hours a day of my time. They can do what they like with me," he added.

Shooting back-to-back for the two Balaji serials "Kaisa Yeh Pyar Hai" and "Kavyanjali", Iqbal is crystal clear about his priorities.

"My loyalty to Ekta Kapoor and Balaji is unquestionable. Even if Steven Spielberg was to ask me to do a film, I'll tell him to ask Ekta about my dates. I am currently working in two serials for Ekta." 

"My character Angad on 'Kaisa Yeh Pyar Hai' will always remain very close to my heart. I am Angad. But I can't bring myself to age on screen. It just doesn't seem right. My career as an actor has only started. I can't allow myself to leap forward by 20-25 years. It just won't work. I want to be the lead. But I don't want to take the leap."

Moving on to his new soap "Kavyanjali" which Iqbal has recently joined, the actor said: "My character Shaurya in 'Kavyanjali' is so different from Angad. I am the funny man in 'Kavyanjali' trying to make everyone smile. 

"On the sets I didn't know anyone except Anita. But now I am comfortable with everyone including Amrita Singh who is really awesome. But I am not much of a fun seeker. I give my shot. If someone cracks a joke, I laugh. But I won't crack a joke myself."

Iqbal is now looking forward to marriage next year. 

"My parents have consulted all the elders in our family in Srinagar. To me my parents' approval means everything. I don't care about anything else. My girlfriend and I will now tie the knot next year as soon as Ekta gives me some time off." 
 

Jeetendra keen to set up hotel in Jaipur
By Anil Sharma,

Jaipur, April 17 (IANS) Balaji Telefilms Limited, one of the biggest television production houses, is keen to set up a five-start hotel in the city.
 
Official sources told IANS Monday that former Bollywood veteran Jeetendra, the father of Balaji Telefilms owner Ekta Kapoor, met Rajasthan principal secretary for urban development Lalit K. Pawar and discussed the proposed investment.

The former star was in the city along with Ekta to attend the marriage ceremony of their friend Sameer Nair, CEO of Star Entertainment.

During his meeting with Pawar, Jeetendra discussed the possibility of coming up with an exclusive five-star hotel in Jaipur. He also gave a proposal to set up an IT city in Jaipur in association with an Australian company and sought 300 acres of land for the project. 

Sunil Kumar, a member of the film city empowered committee who was also present at the meeting, said that Pawar told Jeetendra about several locations, which according to him were the most suitable places for investments to be made.

After the talks, the Jaipur-Delhi highway emerged as the best location. 

Officials of Balaji Telefilms are expected to visit the city Wednesday to get more information about the locations, sources said. Jeetendra is expected to come to Jaipur on Thursday to proceed with other modalities in this direction.

Jeetendra also took keen interest in knowing about the developments of the film city project on Agra road.

Balaji Telefilms is the producer of some of the well known daily soap operas like "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" and "Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki".