ITV

Tag: Siddharth Malhotra

  • TLC gung-ho about Aalim’s Bollywood hair style show; more Indian originals coming up

    TLC gung-ho about Aalim’s Bollywood hair style show; more Indian originals coming up

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications’ lifestyle channel – TLC, armed with consumer feedback and international research, is back with the second season of “Style Inc. with Aalim Hakim.” With a reach of over 70-80 million households in India, the lifestyle channel is attempting to give viewers another peek at what is the latest in terms of hair styling in India.

    The series will provide a gateway to the life of Bollywood’s new male brigade from 20 October every Thursday-Friday at 10 pm. The repeat telecast will be on Saturday-Sunday at 6 pm on TLC and TLC HD World.

    The second season of the series has heart throbs Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Siddharth Malhotra, Aditya Roy Kapur, Ayushmann Khurrana, Tiger Shroff and Sanjay Dutt opening themselves up to Aalim. Viewers can watch Aalim transform their favourite stars for movies, photo shoots and ad films, as well showcase the unique relationship they share with Bollywood’s go-to stylist.

    The six-episode show has roped in FitBit and Usha International as advertisers on board so far, and talks are on with a few more brands.

    “TLC is a unique, standalone channel. It can’t be compared with any other channel. We have always tried to capture the trend of the country. Once, travel was a trend and then grooming was, and makeover used to be; now styling is in vogue. We believe that the audience is looking for content on beauty and style right now. We want to invest in this genre which is unique,” said Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific vice president, female and family entertainment products, south Asia Rajiv Bakshi.

    He further stated that, “We are overwhelmed with the tremendous response the series has received on social platforms. Style is the new buzzword, and no one does it better than the new generation of Bollywood actors. The kind of Bollywood stars who would be appearing on the show can offer tips about maintaining one’s hair. It is a layered show, and not a straightforward one.”

    Depending on the success of this season, the team will explore further possibilities. “We want to build a franchise,” added Bakshi.

    Hakim added, “It is so exciting to witness this shift in India towards styling and grooming. I am super-charged to be doing the second season of “Style Inc. with TLC.” Fans will get to see Bollywood’s youngest and most stylish stars and get to know their style mantras.”

    Targeted at the young millennials in the 15-35 age-group across India – who have a deep interest in styling but don’t know where to get it done from – the show will tell them the difference between a good and a bad haircut. “We are certainly targeting urban India. From the south, Bangalore is a very important market for us, and Hyderabad too has a good viewership. There is enough appetite in the north and the south,” voiced Bakshi.

    The channel is launching eight to 10 shows in the next three months based on the genres of dating, relationship, food, travel, and a couple of series coming in from India.

    Bakshi stressed that TLC is not limiting itself to a particular show genre. “We have always tried to do something more than what the audience demands. The approach of what they would want to watch which could be unknown to them is what we want to capture.”

    With a countable number of channels in this space, Bakshi opined that there was enough place for new players.

    “It is an attractive and feasible genre, and the market is dynamic. Certainly, as a market, it can obviously take more channels. The passion towards a certain kind of TV will overtake passion towards traditional TV. And, we believe, lifestyle is one of the areas of interest,” Bakshi concluded.

  • Alchemy borrows household name ‘Naagin’ to create ‘Ichhapyaari’ series

    Alchemy borrows household name ‘Naagin’ to create ‘Ichhapyaari’ series

    MUMBAI: Some get inspired, others hop on to the success bandwagon and there are those who create spoofs. Whether some would want just their foot into the door using a namesake is a moot question.

    As an audience, we have seen several supernatural characters on the Indian television. In recent times, from ‘Naagin’ to ‘Makhi’ and ‘Gorilla’ to wolfs, these were among the supernatural characters that trended on the Idiot Box. Among these, ‘Naagin’ ruled the Hindi general entertainment channels scripts for months together.

    Though the concept has now grown old, Colors is among the few broadcasters who reignited this trend. After launching Naagin in 2015, broadcasters and production houses had gone gaga over supernatural series of their own.

    The image of a snake in stories relayed on the Indian television is stereotypical and symbolises a negative character akin to Shakti Kapoor’s image in Bollywood. But, has one ever thought what is it being to be a snake? Do they always intend to harm human beings?

    Using the character of ‘Naagin’ but in a different story line, Alchemy Productions co-founder Siddharth Malhotra, who had co-founded Cinevista, brings the friendly version of snakes in “Ichhapyaari Naagin’ which will be telecast on Sab TV. Starting from 27 September, the show will be aired at 8pm from Monday- Friday.

    “The idea struck me after watching ‘Naagin’ and 20 other shows,” Malhotra said. “What would a snake think if it ever watches the show. And, what if a snake appears in front of you and says, “Hey, don’t run away. I am not that bad” are some of the ideas that germinated in our minds,” he added. “And so, we thought somebody needs to change this image. It’s a positive take on snakes!. It’s a story from the snake’s perspective,” informs Malhotra.

    The story is about a ‘Ichhapyaari Naagin’, who stays in Naagistan (Naagland) and comes down to earth to change the perspective of people about snakes. According to the information available withIndiantelevision.com, the show’s production cost per episode was between 7-8 lakhs.

    The show, written by Raghuvir Shekhawat, has been directed by the creative genius who directed Balaji Telefilms’ ‘Naagin’ — Santram Verma. Bunty Rathore has penned its dialogues and Jitu Verma was the VFX wizard.

    Speaking about the comparison, Malhotra said, “Our show is not at all similar to ‘Naagin’ which is a genre of drama, revenge and love. ‘Ichhapyaari Naagin’ is a slice of life, sweet show.”

    The channel has been aggressively promoting the show through mass media and campaign. The marketing campaign is to build excitement on basis of its new avatar. Outside the home network, the channel will be focusing on youth music, movies and kids. In print, they will be focusing on leading national and regional dailies. In radio, it is trying to market the show through 30 radio stations across key states.

  • Alchemy borrows household name ‘Naagin’ to create ‘Ichhapyaari’ series

    Alchemy borrows household name ‘Naagin’ to create ‘Ichhapyaari’ series

    MUMBAI: Some get inspired, others hop on to the success bandwagon and there are those who create spoofs. Whether some would want just their foot into the door using a namesake is a moot question.

    As an audience, we have seen several supernatural characters on the Indian television. In recent times, from ‘Naagin’ to ‘Makhi’ and ‘Gorilla’ to wolfs, these were among the supernatural characters that trended on the Idiot Box. Among these, ‘Naagin’ ruled the Hindi general entertainment channels scripts for months together.

    Though the concept has now grown old, Colors is among the few broadcasters who reignited this trend. After launching Naagin in 2015, broadcasters and production houses had gone gaga over supernatural series of their own.

    The image of a snake in stories relayed on the Indian television is stereotypical and symbolises a negative character akin to Shakti Kapoor’s image in Bollywood. But, has one ever thought what is it being to be a snake? Do they always intend to harm human beings?

    Using the character of ‘Naagin’ but in a different story line, Alchemy Productions co-founder Siddharth Malhotra, who had co-founded Cinevista, brings the friendly version of snakes in “Ichhapyaari Naagin’ which will be telecast on Sab TV. Starting from 27 September, the show will be aired at 8pm from Monday- Friday.

    “The idea struck me after watching ‘Naagin’ and 20 other shows,” Malhotra said. “What would a snake think if it ever watches the show. And, what if a snake appears in front of you and says, “Hey, don’t run away. I am not that bad” are some of the ideas that germinated in our minds,” he added. “And so, we thought somebody needs to change this image. It’s a positive take on snakes!. It’s a story from the snake’s perspective,” informs Malhotra.

    The story is about a ‘Ichhapyaari Naagin’, who stays in Naagistan (Naagland) and comes down to earth to change the perspective of people about snakes. According to the information available withIndiantelevision.com, the show’s production cost per episode was between 7-8 lakhs.

    The show, written by Raghuvir Shekhawat, has been directed by the creative genius who directed Balaji Telefilms’ ‘Naagin’ — Santram Verma. Bunty Rathore has penned its dialogues and Jitu Verma was the VFX wizard.

    Speaking about the comparison, Malhotra said, “Our show is not at all similar to ‘Naagin’ which is a genre of drama, revenge and love. ‘Ichhapyaari Naagin’ is a slice of life, sweet show.”

    The channel has been aggressively promoting the show through mass media and campaign. The marketing campaign is to build excitement on basis of its new avatar. Outside the home network, the channel will be focusing on youth music, movies and kids. In print, they will be focusing on leading national and regional dailies. In radio, it is trying to market the show through 30 radio stations across key states.

  • SAB TV aims to change female-male skew with HD launch

    SAB TV aims to change female-male skew with HD launch

    MUMBAI: Hoping to redefine the abbreviation of HD from high definition to happiness ka destination is Sony Pictures Networks Television India (SPN) comedy channel Sab TV. The channel is all geared up to launch its HD feed by 5 September.

    Mirroring the prime time programming line-up from its SD channel, the new HD version is to be made available on Tata Sky, Airtel, Dish TV and on cable operators across the country.

    But why did a channel which was launched in 2005 take six years to roll out its HD version? Answering that is Sab TV senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor who asserts that it took sometime to launch an HD version as they were upgrading the quality in terms of looks, costumes, sets, etc. Says he, “We did not see any compulsion to get into HD. We wanted to be ready with a string of shows before launching HD. Consistent efforts really ensured that best technical equipment are used for HD which looks good as the rest of the competition. The process is complete now. A different definition of HD, according to me, is very logical as our shows provide comedy and warmth which ultimately brings smiles and happiness to our audience”

    With the male- female skew being 52:48, most of the shows will see female protagonists, says Kapoor. Continuing to resonate the core brand promise Asli Mazaa Sab Ke Saath Aata Hai, the channel has lined up the launch of four to five shows in the next couple of months.

    The male balance will continue. The shows are tailored in such a way that these appeal to males as well. “We will not erode our core audience of males,” says Kapoor. “We are trying to add to that by wooing some GEC watching audience who somehow have this fixation in head that unless it is led by a female protagonist it is not for females. We are trying to get them on board using that mindset which is a big target audience.”

    He further mentions, “The audiences are mildly skewed towards males which gave us the confidence to increasing the female ratio from 48.”

    The differentiator between the two channels is that the HD version will have certain shows, talk shows, things werein people will be invited to provide information about comedy or the genres that were explored successfully.

    The packaging of the HD version of the channel will also be at its premium best. The swish and swirl of the threads in the shades of blue and purple will give a very fresh look to the channel. The threads signify coherence in the audience’s lives, it’s the thread of relations and love, which bind us all together. This new packaging will also be introduced on the SD feed corresponding to the launch HD channel.

    Attempting to be different and innovative, the channel will launch a show titled Iccha Pyaari Naagin Ki on 27 September at 8 pm. It will present a erstwhile concept of the entire idea of naagin (snake woman) that has been seen so far. It will break all the perceptions about naags and naagins that we have seen on the small screen, reveals Kapoor. Iccha is a sweet and charming character who is sent to Earth for rectifying the negative image of snakes made by humans. The show is been produced by Siddharth Malhotra which will be his first production post his exit from Cinevistaas Ltd.

    The other show that will be launched is Dil Deke Dekho which is a mix of male and female protagonists. It is a romantic comedy of three generations. “We might shoot the title song for our show from the original song in the movie Dil Deke Dekho,” said the channel head while singing the same song. The show will launch on 18 October and is produced by Manish Goswami.

    Parivaar 007 will see two daughter-in-laws and sister-in-laws appear sweet but otherwise are RAW agents with the father-in-law being the boss. The show will be a combination of thrill, action and domestic comedy. Slated to launch on 2 November, it is being produced by Sonali Jaffar.

    The channel is also working with Manish Popat from Saregama for a show titled Gupp Chupp.

    “We are not only working on several concepts but are also giving opportunities to several new producers to come on board with us,” adds the channel head.

    But does that mean its long running shows on the channel like Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Chidiya Ghar and Bal Veer will come to an end? Certainly not. According to Kapoor, if the ratings are being delivered consistently and if there is a consistent audience, they will continue. “Certain level of ratings is reached through these shows which also makes the advertisers happy as they get their audience and invest more. So there is no point pulling it out. As revenues and ratings go hand in hand, certain shows see a downfall which shall be relooked.”

    Sab TV primarily being an urban centric channel, will certainly target people who view HD and subscribe to HD channels. “We will target the audience who belong to certain strata within the urban audience. HD specifically caters to this certain segment,” he further adds.

    The advertising on both the channels will be dedicated and differentiated from each other. Advertising will be seen not in the first month but post the channel getting stable the ad push will start. “Once we have gained certain availability, we will have advertisers on board for Sab TV HD. There is a certain pattern with high-end advertising in our mind,” voices Kapoor.

    With several OTT/VOD players coming into the picture with major shows in the rom-com genre, is Sab TV seeing any danger from them? “Digital is a revolution across the world. Any channel is similarly under threat like us. You can’t stop it. Till now limited segments are consuming it which is not threatening the overall business model. There are long term challenges post its penetration but I think the solutions will also be available till that time.”

  • SAB TV aims to change female-male skew with HD launch

    SAB TV aims to change female-male skew with HD launch

    MUMBAI: Hoping to redefine the abbreviation of HD from high definition to happiness ka destination is Sony Pictures Networks Television India (SPN) comedy channel Sab TV. The channel is all geared up to launch its HD feed by 5 September.

    Mirroring the prime time programming line-up from its SD channel, the new HD version is to be made available on Tata Sky, Airtel, Dish TV and on cable operators across the country.

    But why did a channel which was launched in 2005 take six years to roll out its HD version? Answering that is Sab TV senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor who asserts that it took sometime to launch an HD version as they were upgrading the quality in terms of looks, costumes, sets, etc. Says he, “We did not see any compulsion to get into HD. We wanted to be ready with a string of shows before launching HD. Consistent efforts really ensured that best technical equipment are used for HD which looks good as the rest of the competition. The process is complete now. A different definition of HD, according to me, is very logical as our shows provide comedy and warmth which ultimately brings smiles and happiness to our audience”

    With the male- female skew being 52:48, most of the shows will see female protagonists, says Kapoor. Continuing to resonate the core brand promise Asli Mazaa Sab Ke Saath Aata Hai, the channel has lined up the launch of four to five shows in the next couple of months.

    The male balance will continue. The shows are tailored in such a way that these appeal to males as well. “We will not erode our core audience of males,” says Kapoor. “We are trying to add to that by wooing some GEC watching audience who somehow have this fixation in head that unless it is led by a female protagonist it is not for females. We are trying to get them on board using that mindset which is a big target audience.”

    He further mentions, “The audiences are mildly skewed towards males which gave us the confidence to increasing the female ratio from 48.”

    The differentiator between the two channels is that the HD version will have certain shows, talk shows, things werein people will be invited to provide information about comedy or the genres that were explored successfully.

    The packaging of the HD version of the channel will also be at its premium best. The swish and swirl of the threads in the shades of blue and purple will give a very fresh look to the channel. The threads signify coherence in the audience’s lives, it’s the thread of relations and love, which bind us all together. This new packaging will also be introduced on the SD feed corresponding to the launch HD channel.

    Attempting to be different and innovative, the channel will launch a show titled Iccha Pyaari Naagin Ki on 27 September at 8 pm. It will present a erstwhile concept of the entire idea of naagin (snake woman) that has been seen so far. It will break all the perceptions about naags and naagins that we have seen on the small screen, reveals Kapoor. Iccha is a sweet and charming character who is sent to Earth for rectifying the negative image of snakes made by humans. The show is been produced by Siddharth Malhotra which will be his first production post his exit from Cinevistaas Ltd.

    The other show that will be launched is Dil Deke Dekho which is a mix of male and female protagonists. It is a romantic comedy of three generations. “We might shoot the title song for our show from the original song in the movie Dil Deke Dekho,” said the channel head while singing the same song. The show will launch on 18 October and is produced by Manish Goswami.

    Parivaar 007 will see two daughter-in-laws and sister-in-laws appear sweet but otherwise are RAW agents with the father-in-law being the boss. The show will be a combination of thrill, action and domestic comedy. Slated to launch on 2 November, it is being produced by Sonali Jaffar.

    The channel is also working with Manish Popat from Saregama for a show titled Gupp Chupp.

    “We are not only working on several concepts but are also giving opportunities to several new producers to come on board with us,” adds the channel head.

    But does that mean its long running shows on the channel like Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Chidiya Ghar and Bal Veer will come to an end? Certainly not. According to Kapoor, if the ratings are being delivered consistently and if there is a consistent audience, they will continue. “Certain level of ratings is reached through these shows which also makes the advertisers happy as they get their audience and invest more. So there is no point pulling it out. As revenues and ratings go hand in hand, certain shows see a downfall which shall be relooked.”

    Sab TV primarily being an urban centric channel, will certainly target people who view HD and subscribe to HD channels. “We will target the audience who belong to certain strata within the urban audience. HD specifically caters to this certain segment,” he further adds.

    The advertising on both the channels will be dedicated and differentiated from each other. Advertising will be seen not in the first month but post the channel getting stable the ad push will start. “Once we have gained certain availability, we will have advertisers on board for Sab TV HD. There is a certain pattern with high-end advertising in our mind,” voices Kapoor.

    With several OTT/VOD players coming into the picture with major shows in the rom-com genre, is Sab TV seeing any danger from them? “Digital is a revolution across the world. Any channel is similarly under threat like us. You can’t stop it. Till now limited segments are consuming it which is not threatening the overall business model. There are long term challenges post its penetration but I think the solutions will also be available till that time.”

  • Eros joins hand with Excel & Dharma for ‘Baar Baar Dekho’

    Eros joins hand with Excel & Dharma for ‘Baar Baar Dekho’

    MUMBAI: Eros International has acquired the worldwide rights of Excel Entertainment and Dharma Production’s upcoming film Baar Baar Dekho. The film stars Katrina Kaif and Siddharth Malhotra and is the directorial debut of Nitya Mehra.

     

    Eros International Media Group CEO Jyoti Deshpande said, ‘We are delighted to join forces with two of the most notable production houses, Excel and Dharma, for this very interesting love story. With such creative forces behind the project, audiences can only expect the very best. Through this partnership, we hope to drive together the strategy for creating, marketing and distributing the film on a global platform.”

     

    Excel Entertainment producer Ritesh Sidhwani added, “We are happy to associate with Eros International once again and look forward to our film getting the best release platform through their unparalleled reach and network.”

     

    Dharma Productions co-producer Karan Johar said, “We at Dharma are happy that we are joining hands with Excel for the first time and with Eros again, who make our old associates.”

     

    The film goes on floor in London on 1 September. It will be shot across several international locations and will be released in 2016.

  • The Content Hub: Broadcasters are averse to experimenting with content

    The Content Hub: Broadcasters are averse to experimenting with content

    MUMBAI: The first edition of Indiantelevision.com’s The Content Hub saw a full panel of broadcasters, producers and writers discussing how to change the dynamics of TV content. Moderated by Bodhi Tree Multimedia director Sukesh Motwani, the panel consisted of Doordarshan ADG West Mukesh Sharma, Zee TV business head Pradeep Hejmadi, Cinevistaas producer Siddharth Malhotra, Shashi Sumeet Productions co founder Sumeet H Mittal, Satyamev Jayate director Satyajit Bhatkal, Viacom18 head of content regional network Sanjay Upadhyay and writer Purnendu Shekhar.

     

    Motwani started off by asking whether the only model of monetising was through having daily soaps with the 23 minute per episode limitation? Upadhyay responded to this saying that some efforts have been made to break away tried to break away. “For instance, Viacom18, we have attempted to do this with our regional shows with one hour shows run twice a week,” he said. “What we found with this is that the audience’s addiction level isn’t as good as a daily because they are so used to dailies. At the same time, economics do play a big role.”

     

    Motwani further queried if broadcasters could experiment with hour long episodes during weekdays while restricting certain genres to only weekend? Hejmadi  pointed out that it isn’t easy to do dailies, as people generally think. “There is a need for change, yes. But the manner of migrating the audience is also needed. Some people have tried that but even then there is a thought process that broadcasters don’t encourage innovation,” he said.

     

    On the other hand Malhotra said that when the 9pm-10 pm time band became successful, the economics improved and after that no one even tried to experiment with hour long episodes. Upadhyay clarified that though the broadcaster makes an effort, the pressure on them is heavy. Shekhar lamented that broadcasters are scared of losing loyal audiences by introducing short stories that conclude in four episodes from Monday to Thursday.

     

    In most shows, the characters drive the shows and shows are scripted accordingly. Hejmadi pointed out that it takes to build characters and promote them amongst viewers to develop stickiness, hence having limited episode shows – like say which run from Monday to Friday does not really work, thanks to the attention deficit among Indian veiwers.  even suggested that producers should comHee with their own research insights that they should show broadcasters.

     

    Public broadcaster Doordarshan, on the other hand,  tends to look at art, culture and of course  literature for inspiration. Sharma said that this was mainly due to them having a different mandate. “For us the universe isn’t between 7pm to 11pm. We also do events such as every second Sunday is a ‘mothers’ day’ where we bring mothers and daughters to talk about them and this makes good money. But we don’t interfere with producer whether or not a show makes money.”

     

    As to Motwani’s question of whether there can be different shows for ‘India’ and ‘Bharat’, Upadhyay said, “Honestly, we don’t try hard enough because we don’t have patience. We shift goal posts depending on hits.”

     

    With a few shows having big names backing them such as Saraswatichandra and Everest, he also went on to say, “The noise that comes out of big shows may amortise costs in a shorter time.”

     

    While format shows are slowly losing audiences in India, the TV community needs to look at other metrics than simple TVTs and TRPs,  opined Satyemev Jayate director Bhatkal. “We chose the graveyard slot – Sunday morning  – when no one is really watching television to do the show,”he said. “We wanted to reach those viewers who don’t generally watch television, we wanted to encourage appointment viewing. People who would take the trouble  to switch on their sets at that early hour. And we apparently did, if we look at the buzz that SMJ generated online. And this is what sellers of channels also need to do, show the media buyers and planners the  volumes of social media data. In six episodes, we had billions of impressions and we were trending worldwide,” he said.

  • It’s time to #Gowiththeflow at Aquamagica

    It’s time to #Gowiththeflow at Aquamagica

    MUMBAI: Get ready to soak yourself in some great electronic dance music coupled with uber cool ambience and exciting water rides as the new water nation, Aquamagica brings you DJ Ankytrixx and Madboy/Mink  tospin their tracks on 4th October 10:00am to 06:00pm at the water park.

     

    #Gowiththeflow weekender will showcase leading EDM DJ’s performing at the water park with DJ Ankytrixx –winner of the prestigious MyFav Awards for the #DJ of the Year (2013) and #No1 DJ in Electronica (2012, 2013) and Madboy/Mink a funk/nu disco duo featuring the extremely talented Imaad Shah and Saba Azad known for electronica features mashing up electro and funk by incorporating live instruments. Aquamagica will host similar gigs every 1st and 3rd weekend of the month and at the cost of a park ticket, visitors can experience the thrilling water activities and the music event doubling the fun. Water lovers can also experience 14 exciting kinds of water slides and wave pools, including an aqua loop, individual and family slides, natural-light effect rides, rattlers and other water-based entertainment such as a beach front, waterfalls, cabanas, wide selection of F&B options and much more at Aquamagica.

     

    So get into your aqua gears and brace yourself for a water park experience like never before as you visit the hottest water party destination of Mumbai and Pune, Aquamagica.

     

    Located conveniently off the Mumbai-Pune Express Highway, Aquamagica is just a happy drive away from Mumbai and Pune. Its 20 minutes before Lonavala while driving from Mumbai. You can also reach Aquamagica by bus from Mumbai and Pune.  There are local trains from Mumbai to Khopoli, and free shuttle services from Khopoli to the park every day at 10am. To book tickets, log on to www.aquamagica.com or call (022) 4213 0405.

     

  • Bollywood’s three most dapper men spotted on Niranjan Iyengar’s ‘Look Who’s Talking’

    Bollywood’s three most dapper men spotted on Niranjan Iyengar’s ‘Look Who’s Talking’

    MUMBAI: Bollywood’s most eligible bachelors – Karan Johar, Arjun Kapoor and Siddharth Malhotra were spotted on Niranjan Iyengar’s ALL ACCESS, ALL REVEALING talk show, Look Who’s Talking. Niranjan got them to open up and spill the beans on their love lives and a lot more! All three of them had quite interesting things to say. You can catch their interviews when the show makes its debut during the first week of August on Zee Café. Here’s a little glimpse of all the madness you can expect from Look Who’s Talking.

     

    Karan Johar being his usual self as was quite upbeat, witty and humorous throughout his interview with Niranjan. Karan revealed his worries and fears. Quite a refreshing change from him prodding other celebs into answering his questions, don’t you think? He said that nothing frightens him anymore, not even death. However, growing old or dying alone scares him the most. Karan also went on to say that he has tried everything, to find his special someone but he cannot put himself out there like a prostitute. Trust Mr. Johar to find humor even in such situations in his own life!
     

    Arjun Kapoor aka Fubu was his charming, naughty self on the show. Interestingly, a 140 kilo weighing Arjun’s inspiration to become fit was the idea of getting laid! More than the looks, Arjun is looking for someone who can keep him engaged in great conversations. Some prerequisites Arjun’s ideal woman must have – she has to be intellectual, have a great sense of humour, should play hard to get and most importantly, should be fond of kissing! Ladies, are you listening?
     

    We all know Sidharth Malhotra as the hottie with the chiseled wash-board abs, but we hear that wasn’t the case while he was growing up. He opened up about his one true love in life – his love for food! Did you see that coming? Neither did we! Apparently, the Ek Villian star had a french-fry obsession as a child, that left him slightly on the chubby side. He recalls having them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We don’t know what made him lose all that weight, but we sure can thank god he did!
     

    Want to know more? Make sure to catch the all new series, Look Who’s Talking on Zee Café.
     

  • Star Plus presents ‘Ek Hasina Thi’

    Star Plus presents ‘Ek Hasina Thi’

    MUMBAI: Star Plus’ latest offering – Ek Hasina Thi is a story unlike any other on Indian Television. Set in the eastern megapolis of Kolkata, this is not a revenge story but a story of a woman seeking justice for a crime committed in the past. However, her methods of claiming justice are unconventional as she steps out of the shackles of traditionalism and utilizes her Mind to conquer Might!

     
    The fight to deliver justice for an inhuman crime is a universally moving theme. It is also equally true that ‘When all else fails and one is pushed to the brink, one is compelled to take an extreme action’. Ek Hasina Thi tracks the journey of such a woman Durga (played by Sanjeeda Sheikh), who has decided to become an active agent of change to achieve her motive of justice. Durga is not only rich, brave, focused with a heart of gold but is also strong, powerful, calculating and manipulative, using her intelligence to stay a step ahead of her adversaries. She doesn’t mind stepping over the boundaries of ‘right’ and flirt with the dark side, but she always remains within the confines of good, never losing touch with her humanity.

     
    However, Durga’s fight is not easy as facing her are the extremely powerful and influential Goenka family – the main antagonists and the target of Durga’s actions. Vatsal Sheth plays the role of Shaurya Goenka who is the rich, womanizing scion of the Goenka clan. A playboy and brat who is not used to hearing the word NO, Shaurya knows that with his family’s influence, he can get away with anything. Standing by Shaurya through thick and thin are his parents – Sakshi and Rajnath Goenka (essayed by Simone Singh and Ayub Khan), whose financial muscle and stronghold over the city automatically make them both a revered and feared opponent. Durga’s task is further complicated when she faces multiple hurdles as relationships, romance and her own emotional conflicts play a role in making her question her actions.

     
    Talking about the show, Mr. Gaurav Banerjee, General Manager, Star Plus said, “Durga is a very exciting character. Through her, we are celebrating the Empowered Woman – she is primarily a nurturer but if wronged, instead of suffering silently she will fight for justice. We believe our viewers will enjoy the lavish scale of the show, the beautiful outdoors of Kolkata and performances of the ensemble cast.”

     

    Mr. Siddharth Malhotra, Creative Producer, Cinevistaas said, “We are excited to present Ek Hasina Thi, a show we have been developing over three years. Our vision for the show was to elevate it to a completely film like experience. Therefore we haven’t compromised on anything, right from the way the characters are presented to the overall  treatment, action, sound, locations and sequences every aspect has been given a larger than life feel. We have had an amazing relationship with STAR PLUS and are happy to have collaborated once again for Ek Hasina Thi.”

     

    Will Durga be successful in her mission or will she too fall aside like every other person who has stood in the way of the Goenkas? Who will reign supreme in this challenging battle of wits and intellect, where everything seems to be a fair game!

     

    Watch this gripping story of Durga unfold starting April 14th at 8.00 PM on Star Plus!