Shahid’s no-show
On the day his semi-autobiographical movie Chance Pe Dance released, Shahid Kapoor was invited to an event by MTV as guest of honour. The channel was promoting their latest web show Gang Next, which has gangs from five different cities, who perform a different set of tasks each week until the winner is chosen. In its second week now, the gangs were required to perform a dance number in front of Shahid as part of their task for the week. A good two hours were spent waiting for Shahid, who was to be accompanied by Genelia D’Souza, his co-star along with a few officials from the channel and sponsors. Finally, the entire show was scrapped and harried. PR personnel tried hard to convince journalists that Shahid had suddenly taken ill. So much for dancing around just for a chance to meet Shahid.
Sab Chup Raho
SAB TV is all set to go silent for half-an-hour every Friday from late January. No, it is not plugging off, rather it will be the first channel to introduce a silent comedy Sab Chup Raho. A light-hearted family drama, the serial has Sunil Grover, Sheetal Maulik, Bhavna Balsavar and K. K. Goswami in the cast. Produced by B.P. Singh and directed by Prabal Baruah who has also conceptualised it. Talking about the unique concept, Prabal says, “I am a big fan of the silent Charlie Chaplin and Laurel And Hardy films. That was the germ of the idea and I had written this story of a joint family 10 years ago. I never thought anyone would be interested in it as it is unconventional.” Nevertheless, he approached Anuj Kapoor, Business Head of SAB, who was excited and willing to back it and Singh, with whom he has been working, decided to produce it. For Sunil, who is playing the lead role, “It’s a challenge to be a part of this serial. Since there’s no dialogue, we have to convey through body language and mannerisms.” The makers are planning a surprise in the inaugural episode, the date of which is yet to be finalised. It remains to be seen whether the small-screen will pull off a Pushpak, Kamal Haasan’s silent film in 1987.
MAX hunts for T20 junior
MAX was the first channel to introduce a female host Mandira Bedi on Extra Innings and set a trend. Now, the channel is all set to find a T20 Junior host for Extra Innings in the age group of 7 - 14 years. A nationwide hunt has being launched across Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Chandigarh, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. To be judged by Gaurav Kapoor and Samir Kochhar, Extraaa innings T20 Junior will go across 50 towns and 1200 schools through School Contact Programmes, radio contests and IVRS modules. The T20 Juniors will get an opportunity to express their views and interact with their home team players, guests and expert panel on-air for the entire DLF IPL 2010 season. Speaking on the initiative, Gaurav Seth, Vice President - Marketing, MAX says, “MAX has presented cricket in an entertaining way. Seven years ago when we launched extra innings, we introduced a lot of innovative features including tarot-card reading, a contest and female anchor in Mandira Bedi. Kids are a vital part of our audience and it will be interesting to bring in their talent and showcase it. It will add variety and make it a family viewing experience.”
Gearing up to tie the knot
Rajan Shahi, who is known for pampering his actors threw a special sangeet party for Ashita Dhawan, who plays Malti in Sapna Babul Ka Bidaai on Star Plus and is getting married to actor Shailesh Gulabani in real life later this month. Seema Kapoor was seen shaking a leg with Sara Khan, Parul Chauhan and Hina Khan. Ashita turned emotional on seeing the DVD with messages from her co-stars made exclusively for her. At the party, the Bidaai sisters Parul and Sara were inseparable.
The big win
Twenty-five year old Siddharth can’t contain his joy of winning UTV Bindaas’ Big Switch. So much so that, the youngster, who hails from Delhi, is now planning to stay back in Mumbai and try his hand at acting in TV/films. “I think I have finally found my calling,” says Siddharth, who has done several courses including fashion designing, management trainee and one in hospitality. A typical rich brat, Siddharth used to spend his time sitting at home and chilling out with friends. “Being part of the show has been a life-changing experience. I, who never bothered about bank balance, had to earn money washing clothes, polishing shoes and convincing people to buy vada-pav. It taught me humility of work,” says Siddharth, who is now all set to fulfill his partner Sameer’s dream of opening an event management company. “Right now, I have asked him to deposit the prize money of ten lakh in a bank. In the meantime, I have introduced him to one of my friends who runs a event management company so that he gains the experience,” informs Siddharth who is happy to have got an opportunity of being socially responsible at his age.
