Nandhiya to replace Khushbu!

When former leading actress and television anchor Khushbu joined the ruling party, the opposition-run channel was in a big fix. Their most popular game show, hosted by Khushbu, which fetches them good TRPs, had to be yanked off the channel as the anchor had joined the rival camp. The nine-year-old programme not only made money for the channel, but also gave Khushbu her larger than life image.
Recently, the channel launched a hunt for a new anchor who had to match up to the popularity of the former hostess, and deliver the TRPs.Now, they have zeroed in on Nadhiya Moidu, another former actress of the 1980s, whose girl-next-door image worked big time with family audiences.
Nadhiya, who made a sensational debut with Fazil���������s Nokkatha Doorathu Kannum Nattu, later made it big in Kollywood, playing heroine roles during the late 80s and early 90s. Later, post marriage, she shifted to Mumbai and was leading a happy family life before making a comeback playing Jayam Ravi���������s mom in the 2005 superhit M Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi. Overnight, she became a most-wanted on-screen mom (thanks to her youthful looks) and also got a lot of accolades for her performance in Pattalam, her last release in Tamil.
The channel, which conducted a survey among the audience, thinks that Nadhiya would be the perfect replacement for Khushbu, as she has phenomenal reach in the B & C centres and is also acceptable among women audiences due to her squeaky clean image.
In an exclusive to CT, Nadhiya says, ���������I���������m not replacing anybody. The show is a brand by itself. I look at it as a popular family show which has massive reach among all sections of the audiences. Actually, the show and my image complement each other and I���������m sure it is going to be a rocking hit.��������� Nadhiya reveals that what attracted her to the show was its ���������family appeal cutting across all segments of audiences���������, and the fact that she had to shoot only for a limited number of days in a year.
The channel was also very particular that that a non-political person, preferably settled outside Tamil Nadu, but with reach in the state, should anchor the game show. Says Nadhiya with a smile, ���������I think I fitted the bill perfectly as I live with my family in Bandra in Mumbai and have no connection with any political party. But, I look at this opportunity more as hosting a popular game show to the best of my abilities, while ensuring that it entertains and garners impressive TRPs.���������
Nadhiya is now all excited about her first television appearance as a game show hostess and is trying to create an ���������all-new look���������. The general perception among advertisers is that the programme became a runaway hit mostly ���������due to the blouses that Khushbu showcased on the show and which created a fashion statement among women���������. But, Nadhiya, at the moment, is keeping her wardrobe a secret. ���������I���������m going to be Nadhiya, which means style with elegance. I would like to dress ethnic with a fusion touch. We are talking to a couple of designers and will be shopping around Chennai to get that look,��������� she signs off with a twinkle.
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