It was after a long time that I went on a junket for the launch of a serial. I must say that it was a good break from my routine. Sony had organised a two-day trip to Agra for the launch of their forthcoming fiction show Bade Acche Laggte Hai.Ye Dharti,Ye Nadiya,Ye Raina,Aur Tum produced by Ekta Kapoor. The serial was already in the news for its lead stars Ram Kapoor and Sakshi Tanwar who are supposed to be making a comeback to TV in a big way. When I mentioned that to Ram and Sakshi,they were incredulous. How can you say that its a comeback? I anchored Rakhi Ka Swayamvar and before that had participated in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, questioned Ram,while Sakshi said that she had recently played an important negative role in Balika Vadhu. While they have got a point there,its equally true that neither has been able to recreate the magic of their iconic roles Ram as Jai Walia in Kasamh Se. and Sakshi as Parvati in Kahaanii Ghar Ghar Kii. Now,Bade Acche..has all the ingredients required to put the duo back on top of the TRPs. While Ram plays a ruthless enterpreneur with no time for love,Sakshi is a happy-go-lucky woman who is content with wherever life leads her. The duo has an arranged marriage like most Indian couples do and fall in love after tying the knot. Thats the hook with which Sony is hoping to catch the viewers,read women. Love is one emotion that makes most women dreamy and mushy. No wonder,the channel thought of launching the show against the backdrop of the ultimate symbol of love the Taj Mahal. Though I had seen the marble beauty more than a decade ago,I was as mesmerised by it as I was the first time. That it was built by a king as a memento of love for his wife made it more romantic. The press-conference held on a full-moon night with the Taj glorying in the moonlight was an added visual delight. Never mind that it turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year in Agra,so far. Jeetendra had come in place of his daughter Ekta who was said to be busy with other commitments. Recalling one of his daughters earliest serials Ghar Ek Mandir that starred Ram,Jeetendra let on that he had never watched it because he couldnt stomach a plump hero Ram even then was on the heavier side. I asked Ekta how the hero could be so fat? said the actor,much to everyones amusement. His next line had the crowd in splits. Now I think Ram who has put on more weight is perfect for this mature love story because if he were thinner he would have looked like a chhichhora Romeo! he chuckled. Romeo or not,it will be interesting to see if the romance between the older characters in an era dominated by youth and teen love stories proves to be a clutter-breaker. If so,it will be pathbreaking not only for Sony but even in the TV space as a love story between a 30-plus heroine and a 40-year-old hero has not been seen for a long time on the small screen. chaya.unnikrishnan@expressindia.com
