Earshot

Bumpy rideThe star of Jee Sahab and Zanjeerein, Amit Behl may be a success on television, but in real life he has a long way to go. Reported...

Bumpy ride

The star of Jee Sahab and Zanjeerein, Amit Behl may be a success on television, but in real life he has a long way to go. Reportedly, he had booked a Maruti Esteem but when he went to the dealer to pick it up, he had to return empty-handed 8212; Behl8217;s cheque bounced! The road to fame is full of potholes!

Never ending

Cinevista hosted a party in Mumbai to celebrate 400 episodes of the never-ending serial, Junoon. And what a party it was! Almost the entire television industry turned up. Since the serial boasts of 231 characters, we can assume that almost everyone in Tellywood has acted in it sometime or the other. But jokes apart, the party was a comedy of errors. A collage of around 45 minutes was to be screened but the prints arrived two hours later. As if the wait wasn8217;t long enough, around 25 actors were called on stage to quot;say a few wordsquot;. By then only a few listeners remained.

Off the air

Doordarshan8217;s reported decision to take off nationalprogrammes and put them on regional kendras has come as a rude shock for several producers. Consequently, Mukesh Khanna8217;s Deewar is no longer air on the air and Sattee Shourie is likely to follow suit with Yug. A bitter Khanna points out that his sponsors have backed out and he stands to lose Rs one lakh every day. quot;DD bosses have done it for personal gain even though there was no request from regional centres,quot; he adds.

Lights out

The fourth estate and tele-stars have a peculiar love-hate relationship. They love it when they are written about but also hate it when their name is mentioned. The latest to join the ranks is Niki Aneja. She complains that whenever something happens to her, the press makes a mountain out of a molehill. Recently, on the sets of Aandhi Jazbatoon Ki, a light almost fell on her. Luckily, the lightman pushed it away in the nick of time. quot;Otherwise I would have been a goner!quot; says Niki. The next day, a newspaper reported that she had been seriouslyinjured in an accident! quot;Even if I have a minor cold, they will write that I am dying from pneumonia,quot; she complains.

Not talking

Did you know that Shashi Ranjan8217;s Shotgun Show on Zee TV holds a record of sorts by roping in over 200 celebs in just 52 episodes? But now the show is going off the air 8212; because of ego hassles. Ranjan claims that Zee has given him step-motherly treatment and he is baffled at the channel8217;s indifference. quot;Even after a huge success and the show being hosted by a MP of the ruling party, there is no point in continuing it if I have to beg for an extension,quot; he says. Now he plans to put the show on DD or STAR Plus. Well, STAR seems a sure shot. R Basu seems to have a penchant for talk shows!

Dead end

While on Aandhi Jazbatoon Ki, the serial8217;s run of bad luck seems never- ending. You know that it is being taken off the air, but did you know that the director, Rajesh Panshinge, was finding it hard to think of a way to wrap it up? Apparently, hefinally decided that the lead actress, Bhagyashree, was to be shot dead by one of her partymen. Just when the scene was being canned, the director realised that no one had been signed up to play the killer8217;! He averted the bloomer by playing the part himself!

Childish

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A telemagazine for children should be previewed in front of an audience of kids, right? Wrong if you8217;re Sai Paranjpye and the National Centre of Films For Children and Young People mercifully, better know by the initials, NCYP. They held a screening of Paranjpye8217;s latest venture, Baldoot at Delhi8217;s Max Mueller Bhavan and if there was a child present, he or she was too small to be seen. Instead, the Bhavan8217;s lawns were crowded by adults and the elderly enjoying a second childhood?. The most popular venue was naturally the bar.After refreshing themselves rather generously, the audience sat back to watch the tele-magazine which Paranjpye claimed would wean children off other TV programmes. Going by the first episode, this claimappears taller than the Qutab Minar!