Imagine brings to screen two new prime-time sagas
NDTV Imagine is on a launching spree. After announcing Pati Patni Aur Woh, the channel has started two new soaps Palkon Ki Chaaon Mein and Basera at primetime. While the first show is about a journey of an orphan girl who dreams to be loved by a family. It has Amrapali Dubey playing the lead role of Suman, while Shoaib Ibrahim and Sumit Vyas play important parts. Basera is a story of four families and the relationship between the parents and children. In each family the parents worry about how their kids will treat them in old age. After hosting Rakhi Ka Swayamvar, Ram Kapoor gets back to acting with this show. Others in the cast include Pallavi Subhash, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Rajesh Shringarpore and Akshay Anand. Supriya, who will be seen in the show after Radha Ki Betiyaan...,plays the role of Manda Deshmukh who is a part of a Maharshtrian family of five people with two sons–one settled abroad, one studying and a married daughter and her loving husband, Sachin Deshmukh. Says Supriya, “I liked the role, as it is powerful. If you have noticed, the roles offered to my age group of people are very typical, so within that layer I wanted to do something different. For example, when I did Radha Ki Betiyaan..., it was a role of same mother of three daughters, but still it was a very special role. This role has a subtle message for the viewers and I want to connect with them.”

Professionalism at its best
Sandiip Sikcand, who is the creative director for Balaji’s two shows– Bandini and Koi Aane Ko Hai–, is also acting in a play The Alchemist.He is doing the role of the crystal merchant. Apparently, Sandiip has been unwell for quite some time with a stomach infection, but he made sure his work did not suffer. To keep up with the shooting schedules of his shows, Sandiip worked from home. His entire team was at his place and together they completed their work on time. This is not the first time that Sandiip has fallen ill due to a stomach infection. Sandiip is a big foodie and simply cannot resist outside food and loves to gorge on junk food.

Dreamy doctors
MCDREAMY and his crew of fellow doctors at Seattle Grace Hospital are back, as the fourth season of Grey’s Anatomy kicks off this week. With many question marks left hanging at the end of last season, Meredith, Cristina, Izzie and Alex will take on all the new drama as residents, and not interns. George, however, was not so lucky and will have to re-do his internship year. With new interns coming in to take their place, new romances will blossom, old war wounds will heal, ongoing feuds will continue, and lives will, of course, be saved — in the most exciting and enthralling ways possible.

Janmashtami celebrations turn out to be a rocking affair!
Janmashtami was celebrated on some TV shows like Rajan Shahi’s Maat Pitaah Ke Charno Mein Swarg on Colors, which has Vrindavan as the backdrop. A small get-together was organised on the occasion of Janmashtami followed by bhajans and a dahi-handi session. The atmosphere on the sets was cheerful and the cast was in a great mood. Producer Rajan Shahi said, “In Maat Pitaah Ke Charno Mein Swarg Lord Krishna plays an important part. The whole unit bonded like a family and everyone cherished the moments of celebration.” On the occasion, Nikkhil Chaddha, who plays Arjun and Dheeraj Dhoopar, who plays Ansh on the show, attempted to break the handi, but fell down. The celebrations took a different turn as people started playing Holi by sprinkling colours and doused each other with water colours.
Tony and Deeya Singh also hosted a Janmashtami celebration bash for the cast and crew of their shows. Eijaz Khan, who was present at the do, was seen indulging in a lot of masti as he broke the dahi-handi with his head. Anas Khan from Choti Bahu donned Lord Krishna’s attire, spreading cheer all around. The rest of the cast was seen enjoying themselves to the fullest adding on the euphoria around. “With fests around, we forget that we’re working, it’s almost as if the entire unit comes together only to celebrate!” said an elated Deeya. An ecstatic Tony, on the other hand, wrapped it up saying, “Hathi, ghoda, palkhi jai Kanhaiyalal ki!”