Tele-buzz

Playing with fireAfter India's Most Wanted and Bhanwar here is yet another docu-drama called Agnichakra, this time from Tracinema, being ...

Playing with fire
After India’s Most Wanted and Bhanwar here is yet another docu-drama called Agnichakra, this time from Tracinema, being produced by Vinta Nanda. The series will deal with real life criminal cases solved and unsolved. The show departs from covering landmark courtroom cases to focussing on tracking down criminals. Surprisingly it comes in place of India’s Most Wanted (Tuesdays, 10 pm) which moves on to some other slot. “We hope to generate a major movement of social awareness through this series” says Vinta. Agnichakra which means circle of fire is directed by Selina Sheth and Anil Sharma.

Psycho
If Zee has Saturday Suspense and Sony has C.I.D., it’s now Star Plus that’s coming up with a slot called Star Bestseller and at the same time as Saturday Suspense, i.e., 9.30. pm. The only difference being the Star slot will be a mixed baggage of suspense, comedy and romance. The first episode which premieres this week is a thriller called The End being directed by Rajesh Ranashinge. What’s interesting is that it has only two characters played by Niki Aneja and Aditya Srivastav. It’s about a psychic woman who believes whatever she does is right and can’t take no for an answer.Niki brings home on ailing Aditya who’s a renowned author and when he is cured asks him to write a book on her and later kills him, says Ranashinge “It was difficult to play with just two characters but I think it’s my best work so far. People won’t even blink for a moment while watching it.”

Real Life?
The Wadhwas have got an extension of 52 episodes for their soap Neeyat (Zee) which is about the showbiz industry. After Papiya was sacked, it’s in the news again — mainly due to the character played by Anju Mahendroo. She plays Devi, a journalist, who insiders reveal is based on the high profile journalist, Devyani Chaubel. Well, we don’t know how true it is but the writer of this soap, Pammi Somal who’s also been associated with a film magazine (read Cine Blitz here) for over 15 years denies any resemblance. And Anju who knew Devyani personally and even lived with her for some time feels the same way. “I’m not playing Devyani, nor am I inspired by her, though we’ve been good friends,” says Mahendrao.

Once burnt…
Just a few weeks ago we talked of Amit Behl’s professional attitude: how with 103 fever he was still shooting three shifts. After he recovered, he landed up with another problem and was forced to sit at home. What happened was he went for a hair cut and in the saloon the guy next to him was having steam treatment. Call it fate or whatever, accidentally the vessel containing hot water tumbled on Behl and burnt his thigh. The poor guy had to rest for a week, nursing his burns.

Mera Saaya We wouldn’t know if the marriage season is on but weddings are happening. Last month Madhavan tied the knot to his sweetheart Saritha. And now it’s Rohit Roy who got married to Manasi Joshi the star of Saaya. It was a quiet wedding without any fanfare, among relatives and very close friends. They have been seeing each other for quite some time and now they are out on a … honeymoon!