Journalism of Courage
Sanjay Dutt is the celebrity guest in a special episode on Sonys Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega that will be aired in the first week of October. In this episode,which was devoted to stunts,Sanjay himself has done some dare devilry. The show,which is usually shot at Yash Raj Studios was for this particular episode shot at Film City. Incidentally,even KBC 4 is shot there,albeit in another studio. So,when politician Amar Singh came to meet Amitabh Bachchan who was shooting for KBC,he dropped in on the sets and met Sanjay too.
Navjot Sidhu,Saurav Ganguly in Jhalak..?
Buzz is that cricketers Navjot Singh Sidhu and Saurav Ganguly have been approached to partipate in Sonys dance show Jhalak Dikkhla Jaa. Madhuri Dixit was also approached for the same.
In fact,the channel had almost finalised the Dhak dhak heroine last year to judge their dance reality show Dance Premiere League,but due to personal reasons she opted out and was replaced by Rani Mukerji. In the past,Madhuri has judged Nach Baliye.
While Navjot has been judging laughter shows,Saurav had judged Knights & Angels,which was a hunt for cheerleaders for Shah Rukh Khans IPL team Kolkata Night Riders captained by dada.
ITA Milestone awards on Star Plus
As part of its 10th anniversary,the Indian Television Academy awards has announced the ITA Milestone Awards that honours the biggest shows and personalities who have changed the face of Indian television in the last decade.
Prominent personalities of Indian television will be attending the event. Performances by TV artistes like Shweta Tiwari,Mona Singh,Sharad Kelkar,Manav Gohil,Aamir and Sanjeeda and Suhasi have been lined up. The event will be aired on Star Plus on October 31.
Says Anu Ranjan,President,ITA,The ITA has always celebrated the glory of television in its entirety. To us,the past is as important as what is current in the medium. After all,today is only a bi-product of yesterday and the iconic work on TV from time to time has to be accorded its due recognition. We have done it in the past and would continue to do so in time to come!
Adds Anupam Vasudev,Executive Vice-President,Marketing and Communications,Star India,As both Star Plus and ITA complete 10 years of celebrating Indian television,we are very proud to bring The Milestone Awards that will honour and acknowledge all those who have significantly contributed to this industry and its growth.
Akshay re-shoots initial episodes of MasterChef India
Akshay Kumar is extremely particular about his new show MasterChef India that will start airing from October 16 on Star Plus. The khiladi was apparently not happy with the first three episodes. He felt that they were not up to the mark and asked the producers to re-shoot them. Meanwhile,the channel has just started airing the music video for the show,which has Akshay dancing with the 12 contestants. The video has been conceptualised by Star and created by Ravi Udyawar.
Bidaai to go off air?
Speculation is rife that Bidaai,the popular soap on Star Plus,is set to go off air from November 13. The soap has been on air for over three years and has been one of the top-rated shows on the channel for a long time.
A couple of months ago the serial took a leap of eight years that saw the exit of Sara Khan and Kinshuk Mahajan. Apoorva Agnihotri made an entry then.
The TRPs of the serial,however,have been fluctuating and even its special episode spanning an hour failed to deliver. One wonders if thats one of the reasons it is being taken off.
Buzz is that the channel has six shows that are ready to go on air but are waiting in the wings due to lack of slots. However,when contacted,producer Rajan Shahi dismissed talk of it being axed.
I have been hearing these rumours for a year. Theres no truth to it. All I can say is that in the beginning itself,the channel and I had mutually decided that when the time comes to end it we will do so on a high note with scope for it to come back.
CID and Aahat special on Sony
The top-rated and the longest running Sony show CID has just started a new series Super Villain starting September 24.
For 12 years now,the team has been relentlessly solving crimes. But now it has to face an enemy who has targetted the supersleuths by kidnapping them one by one.
Says producer-director B.P. Singh,After 12 stupendous years of success,for the first time ever in CID we have a mysterious super villain,who is targetting the entire CID team. Also,for the first time,parts of this series will be shot in picturesque locations of Paris.
Meanwhile,his horror show Aahat,too,is having a special series Maut Ka Khel based on a reality show format. He has roped in 12 TV celebrities like Roshni Chopra,Aashka Garodia,Vivan Bhatena,Tanaaz Irani and Karisma Tanna for the show.
They have to live in a haunted haveli for eight days and whoever survives the paranormal activities will win a huge cash prize. Well,before you think the booty is for real,that is the theme of the story being shot in an old house in Satara.
Yashpal Sharma takes a break
In the last issue,we had written that Yashpal Sharma,who plays Kunwar Saahib in Zees Mera Naam Karengi Roshan has opted out of the show.
Currently,the track is that he has been shot at by Thakur,the protagonist Reets father,and is in a coma.
However,producers Nayel Productions and Hats Off Productions Pvt Ltd. have clarified that Due to the inherent requirement of the story his character is in coma. As the serial progresses he will be back on the show.
Amit learns filmmaking
Amit Jain,who was recently seen playing a director in Star Ones Miley Jab Hum Tum,is all set to turn into one in real life soon. The actor has joined Whisting Woods International for a course in filmmaking.
Says the actor who made his acting debut with Yeh Meri Life Hai,I started out with my love for acting but later realised that I am in love with cinema. We only see films through actors and are not aware of the hundreds of technicians who make it happen. I was always curious and Avatar blew me away completely. I wanted to know how the 3D film was made.
It was when he was shooting for a Dettol commercial with director Shaad Ali at Whisting Woods International in Film City that he was impressed with the campus and decided to do a course in film foundation that will teach him editing,production design,directing etc.
He,however,has had to take an eight-month break in his acting career. That does not mean he will disappear from the small screen. He is already being seen in the Dettol commercial and soon will come in another ad for a tea brand.
The nationwide ad campaign should start in another two weeks, informs the actor who has done several serials including Thodi Khushi Thoda Gum,Mere Apne,Kuch Is Tarah and Kis Des Mein Hai Mera Dil.
