In-house jokes

Coils of cable lie on the ground, lights are adjusted, a rickety bench with a painting overhead help create the ambience of a drawing room ...

Coils of cable lie on the ground, lights are adjusted, a rickety bench with a painting overhead help create the ambience of a drawing room scene. We8217;re on the sets of Jeene Bhi Do Yaaron STAR Plus. The place looks like it has more help than it needs and the cast is almost lost in the sea of unit hands that throng the Crown Mill bungalow at Saki Naka, Andheri, Mumbai.

The set is ready. Cameraman Lenin is happy with the angle and the position of the lights. As if on cue, Sandhya and Rushali who play Meena and Sapna step down from their make-up room. Sandhya, fresh and chirpy, coaxes director Akashdeep to begin the shoot. quot;Wait, our Madras Masala8216; is not yet here,quot; says Akashdeep. quot;He is referring to Madhavanquot;, grins Sandhya. quot;The serial is about two girls and a boy who are staying as paying guests in Raju Kher and Shobha Khote8217;s bungalow,quot; she reveals. quot;Rehearsal,quot; screams Akashdeep. Sandhya jumps up, joking and chatting up everyone. A tired Madhavan comes down, clad in a black T-shirt and jeans.

Then the rehearsal begins. Madhavan speaking in monosyllables, Rushali speaks at intervals and Sandhya8217;s voice rings out loud and clear.

The cameraman checks out the lights as Akashdeep calls out for sound. There is no response from the room where sound recordist Bala is preparing for the shot and unit members joke that he must be taking a siesta. The room reverberates with laughter as Bala responds after the third call.

Suddenly Akashdeep calls out quot;Silencequot; over the speaker. quot;Silence,quot; echo the unit hands. Madhavan stands on the bench, while Sandhya and Rushali are instructed to stand on a flight of stairs. Then it8217;s quot;actionquot; as Madhavan brings a look of disbelief on his face and hollers, quot;Meena, Sapna jaldi aao.,quot; and Sandhya, Rushali come running down the stairs. The shoot is sailing along nicely. quot;Lucky aunty,quot; says Sandhya; quot;Lucky uncle,quot; says Rushali; quot;Unlucky Vicky,quot; says Madhavan and then adds, quot;This is a little exaggerated.quot; quot;No, no, it8217;s fine. Continue,quot; insists the director to a visibly unhappy Madhavan.

Take Two: The three stars are seated on the bench, and suddenly Madhavan stands up saying,quot;Got it.quot; Rushali and Sandhya stand up with him. Akashdeep likes this spontaneous action. quot;When Maddy stands, you two get up; and Maddy you sit when they standquot;. As they prepare for the third take, Akashdeep comes out of the recording room, grinning. A few guys run around with Bisleri bottles. Then you hear a shout from inside and the whole unit bursts out laughing: Bala has wet his pants! Not intentionally. His chair had been soaked with water before he sat down. As the laughter subsides, the room resounds with another scream: Bala smartly replaces Akashdeep8217;s chair with his own, leaving Akash with a wet bottom too.

Take three ends up with the three actors standing simultaneously and then scrambling to sit. quot;I am confused,quot; says Madhavan. quot;I was the only one who stood at the right time 8212; what are you guys doing?quot; laughs Sandhya.

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Akashdeep gives instructions. Take four. Madhavan muddles up a word. quot;ho kar,quot; he says and then corrects himself, quot;hote huequot;. As they prepare for the fifth take, Madhavan apologises, quot;Sorry, I messed it up.

quot;I play Vicky constantly flirting, full of life and the most sensible of the lot who works out solutions. This character is close to my heart, I am basically like this,quot; reveals Madhavan, between shots.

After the seventh take, they gang up to review the scenes, and are pleased with Madhavan8217;s spontaneous clapping after a particular line. quot;That was good,quot; compliments the director. As they prepare for the dubbing, Akash asks Madhavan to repeat words in different tones. quot;8230;Taki tum unhe samjha sako,quot; intones Madhavan, dutifully at different pitches.

Then Akashdeep shouts, quot;Pack upquot;. Sandhya is aghast. quot;What, pack up? You must be joking. Let8217;s shoot some more,quot; she pleads. Guess it8217;s time for the director to say, quot;Jeene Bhi Do Yaaronquot;.