Freida says Dev is the perfect guy

Following the 10-year leap in Phulwa,Sargun Mehta,who was last seen in 12/24 Karol Bagh,is playing the grown-up Phulwa,who is now looked upon by the clan as Bhawani’s successor. Right from the outset,her clan is clear on the purpose behind their work — to loot the rich and help the poor. Speaking about her role as the dacoit,Sargun says,“I am excited about this role and believe it to be my privilege to have been chosen to play a grown-up Phulwa. The role has a lot of potential. It’s not everyday that one gets to play a female dacoit who has gone through a lot of trials and tribulations and has now chosen to blaze her own trail in a manner she thinks fit. It is a very strong character and I hope I’m able to do justice to it.”

Pankaj Ke Zaike on Star Plus

Pankaj Bhadouria,the winner of MasterChef India,is all set to host a self-titled show called Pankaj Ke Zaike soon,on Star Plus. The channel is also planning to release a book of her recipes. Life for this Lucknow-based teacher changed when she quit her profession of 16 years to pursue her dream of becoming a chef. After winning the show,Pankaj was invited as guest lecturer at Cambridge University and was a guest at the prestigious Varli Food Festival in New York. She also designed the Olympic menu. Currently,she is promoting Apna hunar apni pehchaan campaign with Tata Tea ground activation to empower women.

On a song

Yet another serial,Neem Neem Shahad Shahad with a title based on a song from Mani Ratnam’s Yuva,is set to make an entry on the telly. To be aired on SaharaOne from August 15,Neem,Neem.. is about a joint-family versus a nuclear family. Two sisters,Sonali and Nirali,share a great bond and can go to any extent to make each other happy,but when it comes to marriage,their dreams are poles apart. While Sonali wants to get married into a joint family,Nirali desires a nuclear set-up. But a twist of fate has the duo in reverse situations. Whether they are able to deal with it is what the serial about. Neem,Neem.. stars Amrapali and Khyati Mangla as the sisters while others in the cast include Deepak Parashar,Abhishek and Anas Khan.The serial is produced by Creative Eye,which is already having Niyati on the same channel. While Niyati is aired at 8 pm,Neem… is slated for 8.30 pm. “Effectively one hour of primetime on the channel is blocked by us,” smiles Dheeraj Kumar,Chairman,Creative Eye.

Imagine gears up for Dharampatni

Imagine TV is all set to air Dharampatni from August 16. The serial,based on the philospophy that behind every successful man there’s a woman,has Aasiya Kazi of Bandini fame and Harshad Chopra playing a couple,Kastur and Mohan. Set in a Gujarati backdrop,it starts with Kastur and Mohan being engaged to each other. However,Mohan goes abroad for three years and when he returns,his outlook changes and he considers his family and his fiance an embarrassment. How Kastur wins him over and is intrumental in his success is what the story is all about. Says Saurabh Tewary,Programming Head,Imagine TV,“It’s about Kastur’s unconditional love for her husband and I am sure 99 per cent of Indian women will identify with it.” Obviously he is hoping the identification will translate into ratings for the channel that is struggling to get back into the top five chart.

Kirti Nagpure is the lead girl in Parichay

Prachi Deshmukh,who was seen as the younger Taani in Tere Liye,was the original choice for the lead role of Siddhi. But buzz is that the actress got dropped as Ekta Kapoor thought that the character of Siddhi would be perfectly essayed by Kirti Nagpure,a 22-year-old from Pune. Ekta wanted somebody who could play a fun-loving modern girl who is also deeply rooted in traditions. “I play the role of Siddhi and I am yet to come to terms with the fact that I have been selected for Parichay. At this stage,I cannot reveal too much,but I will be playing a key role. I am on top of the world and thankful to Ekta Kapoor and Colors,” says Kirti.

Meanwhile,Prerna Wanwari,who debuted in Ekta’s Bandini has been signed on to play Raveena Chopra,Samir Soni’s sister in the serial. Says Prerna,“I am playing the youngest member and the only daughter of the family. It’s a positive character and a welcome change from the horror series (Anhoniyon Ka Andhera) I did last. Since I have three brothers in the show I will be the most loved and pampered.”

While on Parichay,Ekta Kapoor has asked Ravindra Gautam,who was directing Bade Acche Lagte Hai,to helm Parichay as she considers him her lucky mascot. Bade Acche.. is now being directed by Sangeeta Rao.