In & Out: TV celebs onboard, quit or kicked out

Shaheer Sheikh in a new romantic show?

TV heartthrob, Shaheer Sheikh, who has been away from Indian television might soon return to the small screen with Sony Entertainment Television's new show. According to various reports in the media, the 'Mahabharat' actor, who has just wrapped up his film and TV work in Indonesia is in talks with Beyond Dreams for a new show. The show is reported to of a romantic genre. The actor was quoted saying in one of the reports that he has been offered couple of projects but he hasn't finalised any. Shaheer further stated that he will take a call, once he returns to India.

TV actor Rohit Khurana to enter 'Lajwanti'

Rohit Khurana will soon be entering Lajwanti and he will essay the role of 'Jamal'.

According to sources, “The current track is showcasing Partition and Rohit’s character Jamal will be entering the show. Jamal, a trader of livestock from Rawalpindi will be shown to be a shrewd businessman. He will buy Ankita Sharma’s character (Lajwanti) from the market and make her serve his family as a slave.” Khurana says, “It is an honour to be able to work on a show based on Rajinder Singh Bediji’s short story. As the show progresses, during the Partition, Lajwanti gets separated from her family and stays back in Rawalpindi, where she is caught by Jamal. It is a very interesting character with shades of grey. I hope the audiences like me in this new character.”

Khurana adds, “This is the first time I am doing a period show and since I play a guy who belongs to Pakistan, my character will be speaking in Urdu. When Lajwanti enters his life, things change. Through this role, I wanted to tell people that I can also play a romantic guy like Shah Rukh.”

After playing cop in three shows, Vipul to play double role in his next: Looks like Vipul Roy has finally managed to break out of the stereotype of a cop. After sporting the khaki garb in his previous shows, Salaam Zindagi, Savdhaan India and FIR, he will now play a double role in Binaifer Kohli’s Sahib Biwi Aur Boss. Interestingly, he was in talks for another show, loosely based on the film Singham, which would have featured him as a cop again. However, the deal failed to materialise. “After playing a cop undergoing training in Salaam, I played a serious and funny police officer in Savdhaan and FIR, respectively. I would like to play a variety of roles and am looking forward to the new one. It’s my first in a double role, where I get to play a young and an old man,” he says.

Purvi Mundada to go glamorous for TV show

Purvi Mundada has replaced Chandni Bhagwanani in 'Dream Girl - Ek Ladki Deewani Si'. The actress hopes to come out of her simpleton image with a glamourous avatar on the TV show. Chandni was originally roped in as a new entry in the Life OK show for the role of Karan Roy’s girlfriend, but now Purvi will be playing the role. “I'm playing a very positive and a glamourous young character of Richa. She is today’s girl who is strong and very optimistic in life. It is completely different from what I have done in the past,” Purvi said in a statement. She will be playing the role of Richa, who is a location manager. She meets Karan Roy (Kunal Verma), who is Ayesha Sareen’s (Shraddha Arya) brother, at her workplace and they eventually fall in love as they start working together. The actress, who has also featured in TV series like 'Nisha Aur Uske Cousins', added that as she has “done Indian and simple roles in the past”, and that she now wants to come out of the zone. “This character will change my image as my look is very hot and beautiful where I am wearing really stylish clothes. So it is lot of fun and I am excited,” she said. 'Dream Girl - Ek Ladki Deewani Si' narrates a girl's journey to stardom and how she overcomes all the obstacles in between.

National Award winning actress Sarika in &TV’s 'Darr Sabko Lagta Hai'

After making her television debut with Amitabh Bachchan starrer 'Yudh', Bollywood actress Sarika is set to be seen on the small screen once again. The actress has been signed on for an episode of &TV’s Darr Sabko Lagta Hai to be directed by Soumik Sen of Gulaab Gang fame. The makers will be shooting in Madh Island from this weekend. Sarika will be seen in a role of a possessive-obsessive and strict disciplinarian of a mother who faces a horrifying crisis involving her daughter. Sarika had only done a couple of horror films such as Dahshat in the 1980s and played a Wiccan in Sacred Evil based on the true story of Ipsita Roy Chakraverti. The buzz is that she was prompted to take up this episode because of her close friendship with the producers of the show.

Producer Priti Sinha says that “Sarikaji was meant to do a film titled Gauri Ma to be directed by Sandeep Chowta and produced by us. The script of Soumik’s episode for 'Darr Sabko Lagta Hai' strangely reminded me of that film. So I immediately called up Sarikaji and she was onboard. The rest is history.”

Mayank Gandhi set to play the bad guy again

Mayank Gandhi will be joining the cast of the TV series Sarojini as the main antagonist. The actor was last seen in Ek Veer Ki Ardaas – Veera, in which he also played the negative character of a cunning moneylender. In the new show, Mayank will be seen playing a psychotic man who torments his wife. Sources shed light on the actor’s latest role, saying, “Mayank’s character will get married to Mohit Sehgal’s sister (Mohit plays Somendra on the show) and will trouble the girl. He will have a split personality and will be similar to Arbaaz Khan’s character in Daraar.” Mayank has confirmed the news about joining Sarojini.

Post Bigg Boss, Yuvika to feature in a game show

Yuvika Chaudhary, famous for her warm smile and soft demeanour, is riding high on the successful-though-brief stint on 'Bigg Boss'. After her experience on arguably the most controversial reality show, she will now be seen in Big Magic's game show, Family Fortunes. "It's going to be fun as my family and friends will be accompanying me on the show. I am looking forward to the question-answer and other rounds as I will be pitted against another team."

Shiva cannot play Krishna: It seems like the broadcasters are mightier than the Gods on TV. How else does one explain the overnight backing out of Himanshu Soni, who was finalised to play Lord Krishna in Siddharth Kumar Tewary’s Suryaputra Karn? Here is what happened — Himanshu, currently seen as Shivaye (an avatar of Lord Shiva) in Neeli Chatri Wale, was roped in to play Lord Krishna in the mythological show Karn on a rival channel. While the actor was excited about the new venture, the channel airing Neeli Chatri Wale pulled the plug on it. “The channel objected to him taking up the role of another God on another GEC (General Entertainment Channel). This sudden development sent the makers of Karn in a tizzy as they had to burn the midnight oil to hunt for a replacement.” Says Himanshu, “I am already playing God in another daily and so was no allowed. I had no choice but to opt out of it. I could have managed both the shows, simultaneously.”

Krishna’s role has now gone to actor Saurabh Pandey, who was seen in the same production house’s Razia Sultan. He says, “I am playing a God’s character for the first time. I am a Krishna-bhakt and to portray Him is very difficult. Call it a coincidence or divine intervention as I bagged the role two days after my first visit to Vrindavan.”

Nikita Dutta out of Dream Girl: Nikita Dutta, who plays Lakshmi in Dream Girl, has quit the show. The reason that prompted her decision was the fact that the Shraddha Arya-Sudeep Sahir track was gaining prominence. Ask her about it and she replies, “My track was going nowhere, especially after my hero (Mohsin Khan) died in the show. I checked with the production house if something could have been done, but when they told me the further track would focus on other characters, I decided to call it a day. It was a mutual decision.” However, the actress isn’t upset with the shifting of the focus from her on to Shraddha. She says, “I am not someone who would fight with the team to increase my role. Maybe, the new track is for the betterment of the show. Everything has its time and I guess the expiry date for me has come on this project. I have gained a lot from it in the last 10 months. I took it up because I wanted to get comfortable with acting and it has made me fall in love with the profession.”

Gurpreet Bedi, Abhishek Bajaj and Zaan Khan the news cops on Shapath

Life OK's 'Hum Ne Li Hai Shapath' produced by Fireworks' will soon witness the entry of three new cops. The production house seems to be targeting the youth and hence they are focussing on bringing in some young talent to the show. The makers have roped in actors like Gurpreet Bedi, Abhishek Bajaj and Zaan Khan as the new cops. Sources inform that Miss India contestant Gurpreet Bedi, Abhishek Bajaj of Parvarrish fame and Zaan Khan who played the lead in Jhali Anjali will enter Shapath as the new cops.

When contacted, Abhishek confirmed the news and said, "Yes, I am in talks with the makers but nothing has been finalised yet."

Ashish Sharma to quit 'Saath Nibhana Saathiya'

TV actor, Ashish Sharma, who plays the role of Kinjal's husband Dhavalji in Star Plus' popular show, Saath Nibhana Saathiya has reportedly quit the show. According to a portal, Ashish Sharma has already put in his papers and is serving the notice period. The report further stated that as the show is now focusing on Kokila and Gaura, the actor has hardly anything to offer to the show. Also, with his co-star Firoza Khan quitting the show, Ashish will have nothing productive to do on the show. Hence, he has decided to amicably leave, 'Saath Nibhana Saathiya'.

Chetan quits Bhagyalakshmi, Manish is the new psycho: Chetan Hansraj, who was playing the baddie in Bhagyalakshmi, is no longer doing the show. The actor apparently developed acute sinusitis and couldn’t cope with the schedule. He says, “Sinus is causing my ears to ring nonstop. It became so bad that I couldn’t even sleep for days. I had difficulty concentrating on the set as the sound was too loud. I am a little better now but these have been the most difficult two weeks of my life. I tried shooting for a week in that condition but just couldn’t handle it as the sound was overpowering. I was left with no choice but to quit. I’m really sad and disappointed as the role was shaping up so well.” We hear Manish Goel has stepped in to play the pyscho now.

Mihir Mishra to turn negative for TV show

Actor Mihir Mishra, who will be seen in a negative role in 'Jaane Kya Hoga Rama Re', is looking forward to don a never before seen avatar for the forthcoming show. The actor, who rose to fame with his role as a doctor in popular TV show 'Sanjivani', will join the cast of the Life OK show, which also features Supriya Pathak and Vinti Idnani, as a builder with shades of grey. “People are going to notice the change in my character and looks in the show. I have never looked the way I do in the show before,” Mihir said in a statement. The forthcoming show will narrate the story of two characters -- Nandu and Raju, and focus on their life in a dysfunctional neighbourhood. Mihir was attracted towards the show because of the different concept. “The show is very different as it is not the story of a couple or the story of two families. It is a story of a ‘mohalla’ called the Model Town which is in Noida and it is built by my character. Hence the story brings together different people from diverse walks of life and how they interact and behave with one another,” the actor said.

'Jaane Kya Hoga Rama Re' will go on air on November 16.

Shivansh Kotia to enter Zee TV's 'Qubool Hai': Child actor, Shivansh Kotia is all set to enter Zee Tv's Qubool Hai. He will be seen playing a role of a naughty kid who is full of life. He will be living with his father and his grandmother. When contacted, his mother confirmed the news by saying that he has already started shooting. However, she doesn't know much about his character.

Rishina Kandhari quits Tashan-E-Ishq: Unhappy with the way her track was shaping up, Rishina Kandhari has quit Tashan-E-Ishq, where she was seen as Nikki Sarna, who’s a fashionista.The actress says, “This is the first time I have ever quit a show midway. My role didn’t turn out the way it was narrated to me. There were a lot of creative differences with the team about the character. Since Nikki was shown to be an NRI, she’ll be shown returning to London.”Ask her what she plans to do after this incident, she replies, “I want to do something that’s creatively satisfying rather than just look like a beautiful artefact. I am focusing on gymming and grooming myself till a good offer comes my way. I don’t plan to settle for any regular role.”

Rakesh Bedi to play Shilpa Shinde’s father:

The key cast of light-hearted comedy show 'Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai!' will see a new member joining them. Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi will be soon introduced as Shilpa Shinde’s father Bhoorey Lal. According to a source, his look is inspired by Rishi Kapoor’s character in 'Do Dooni Chaar'. Bhoorey Lal dotes on his daughter but hates his son-in-law Manmohan Tiwari (Rohitashv Gaur) as he lied to Bhoorey about his business and to him. Because of this, he never enters Angoori’s house and only stands outside in the aangan. Rakesh says, “They wanted me from day one, but I couldn’t make time for it because I was busy with my play. I finally adjusted my dates to accommodate the show after almost a year of them pursuing me.”

Is Varun Jain quitting his daily soap?:

Varun Jain, who plays Mohit in 'Diya Aur Baati Hum', has quit the show. The actor, who was playing Suraj’s (Anas Rashid) younger brother, wasn’t happy with the way his track was shaping up. A source says, “Varun waited for some time for things to improve, but now, he feels that there is no scope of a good performance for him. His character will go missing.” The actor, who was rumoured to be dating actress Nia Sharma, was unavailable for comment.

Unhappy about being underutilized, Pritam Singh quits comedy show:

Pritam Singh, who took up 'Comedy Nights Bachao' after his reality show stint in 'Bigg Boss', has quit the show. Roped in as one of the key members on the roast comedy show, the actor wasn’t too happy with his role in it. Apparently, the fact that Bharti Singh and Krushna Abhishek were made the face of the show, reduced his chances to get an equal platform and move forward on the show. He says, “It’s not about Bharti or Krushna. They are brilliant at their craft and deserve the time they enjoy on the show. However, I was not too happy with the way I was being utilised. I wasn’t getting proper scripts and enough time to perform or showcase my talent.” We asked Pritam if the concept of roasting celebrities on the show also prompted his decision to quit. “Yes, to an extent. This genre of comedy doesn’t go well with my personality,” he said.

After a maid’s role, Shilpa to play a rich woman: After playing a maid in 'Ek Mutthi Aasmaan', Shilpa Shirodkar will soon be seen playing the role of a rich woman in producer Rashmi Sharma’s upcoming show that is tentatively titled 'Saajan'. The actress has already started shooting for the show and told us, “In my last show, I was playing a maid and in this show, I will be hiring maids (laughs). My character here is very affluent in her lifestyle, while the character that I played previously was of a strong woman. This character is quite stubborn and she is an obsessive and possessive mother. My look isn’t over-the-top though. Instead , it is very subtle.”

Shubhangi to play devdasi in a show: Actress Shubhangi Atre Poorey who was last seen in the show 'Gulmohar Grand', will play Devsena in 'Adhuri Kahaani Humari'. The actress will be seen as a Devdasi who is a mesmerising practitioner of the special Dev Rakshak dance. Her look apparently is inspired from the Bollywood film 'Utsav', where the Bollywood actresses Rekha and Anooradha Patel were dressed in apsara-like costumes. Shubhangi says, “For such roles, Rekhaji always comes up in every discussion as a point of reference. That’s what I took as inspiration. Since I play a devdasi in the show, who is a disciplined dancer, my posture had to be graceful.”

Ravi joins Rithvik to co-host a reality show: The second season of 'India’s Best Dramebaaz' will see actor Ravi Dubey, the male lead in Jamai Raja, join Rithvik Dhanjani as the co-host. The two, we hear, are great friends and are looking forward to working together. The inaugural season saw Ragini Khanna as the other host along with Rithvik. Both Ravi and Rithvik were unavailable for comments.

Mrunal Thakur quits Kumkum Bhagya?

Mrunal Thakur, who shot to popularity as Bulbul in Balaji Telefilm's, 'Kumkum Bhagya' on Zee TV has reportedly quit the show. The beautiful actress, who portrays the character of female lead, Pragya's sister on the show has decided to move on. According to reports in the media, Mrunal has put down her papers and is serving the notice period. Her contract will end in December 2015. Media reports further suggest that Mrunal was offered the lead role of Sita in Siya Ke Ram however the Production house and the channel were apparently not happy with Mrunal moving out of 'Kumkum Bhagya' for 'Siya Ke Ram'. Hence, Mrunal had to let go the offer. The actress was not very happy with these sudden turn of events and thus decided to opt out of 'Kumkum Bhagya'.

Sushil Kumar as the fourth judge on MTV Roadies X4

Olympic wrestler, Sushil Kumar will venture into the television space as one of the gang leaders in the upcoming season of the longest running reality show in the world, Renault MTV Roadies X4. Having been a part of Roadies in the past as a guest where he wrestled with the contestants, Sushil Kumar is excited at the prospect of interacting and engaging with the youth of the country on the brand new season of the show.

Known as the gentle giant of the wrestling world, this Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna recipient will be joining the original Roadie Rannvijay, actor Karan Kundra and the other new gang leader, Neha Dhupia for this season of the show. Sushil expects to be a strict disciplinarian on the show, but is also looking forward to have fun with fellow gang leaders and contestants.

Admitting his dislike for lack of discipline and focus, Sushil Kumar will be quite a tough task master for the contestants on Renault MTV Roadies X4. Quite like the wrestling arena, Sushil Kumar will exude his usual combination of gentleness with a touch of aggression on the show, translating into an exceptional and uncompromising judge.

Commenting on judging Renault MTV Roadies X4, Sushil Kumar said, “TV for me is a medium of communication and this is a good platform to engage with the youth, share my views and experiences with them. I follow strict discipline in my sport and I would expect the same on the show.”

Srman Jain to play Charu’s love interest: Srman Jain will soon be entering Mere Angne Mein as the guy opposite Charu Asopa. Srman will be playing a radio jockey who will eventually fall in love with the male lead’s sister, played by Charu. Srman told us that the character is a welcome break from the many comic roles he has played so far. “I have been doing comedy roles for a long time now and I wanted a change. This role has come at the right time and I will be playing a romantic role, which is quite interesting,” he said. Charu and Srman are good friends and Srman is looking forward to working with her. “Charu is a really close friend. In fact, a couple of years ago people had linked us and said that we are dating. We had a good laugh about it. But people will get to see us as a couple in reel life now,” he said.

Television’s favourite vamp, Amrapali Gupta is back! The light-eyed beauty, known for her stellar role as ‘Shashi Kapoor’ of ‘Qubool Hai’, is super thrilled about her forthcoming venture.
As per the inside source, Amrapali who recently appeared in a comedy show is getting her act together as the third angle in &TV’s ‘Adhuri Kahani Hamari’. Produced by 4 Lions Films, the makers wanted to continue their long association with the gorgeous Amrapali after the success of their previous show.
The actress could not be reached for confirmation. It will be interesting to watch this versatile actress in yet another eye-catching character.

Repeat mode: Sudeep to pair up with Shraddha again: Sudeep Sahir, who was last seen in Shastri Sisters, has bagged the lead role opposite Shraddha Arya in Dream Girl. This is the second show that will feature them together. They were earlier seen in the same production house’s Main Lakshmi Tere Aangan Ki. “The response to our pairing was phenomenal. However, there will be a fresh approach to the love story in this show,” he says. Talking about his character, he adds, “I play a businessman who doesn’t think much of film stars because of his family history.” Apparently, many characters are being written off to give the show a new lease of life. On the other hand, Shraddha is lucky to have a double role in the show.

Smriti to play Parvati again: It could perhaps be Smriti Khanna’s affinity for Goddess Parvati’s role or the Goddess herself choosing the actress, but Smriti is all set to portray the Hindu Goddess on TV for the second time. She played the role for the first time in Babosa Maharaj.

And now, she is set to repeat the act in her comeback show Santoshi Maa. “I feel a strong connect with the Goddess,” she says, elaborating, “I have played Lakshmi and Parvati in two of my previous shows. I’m fortunate as I feel that Maa herself chooses actors to portray her.”

She is returning after a break of three years as she was busy being a hands-on mother to her son Adamya. “I worked hard to get back into shape after delivery. I will take my son along with me to the shoot when both my husband (Tarun Khanna) and I are at work,” she signs off.

Viraf Patel returns with Dhaval Gada's next: Viraf Patel is back to doing what he does best - entertaining his fans with his acting chops and good looks. After playing Mrityunjay Singh Shekhawat in 'Ek Boond Ishq' and hosting 'Hunnarbaaz!' Season 2 on DD National, Viraf will now be seen as the male lead in Dhaval Gada's 'Naamkaran'. The show will air on Star Plus. The makers have also approached actress Barkha Bisht for a pivotal track. "It's a unique concept and we are happy to have Viraf on board. Barkha gave a look test and we are hoping that she would be able to accommodate her dates since she is busy shooting Sankatmochan Mahabali Hanuman." While Viraf chose not to comment on the story, Barkha said that nothing is confirmed yet.

Deepali Pansare quits her serial: Deepali Pansare, who is seen in 'Agent Raghav', has decided to quit the show. While the actress remained unavailable for comment, a source informs, “Her role was originally of a parallel lead, but it didn’t turn out as per the plan once the show went on air. She was miffed that things changed later after the shoot commenced. Deepali and the makers have mutually decided to part ways.” The actress remained unavailable for comment.

Ekta to be replaced in her TV show?: Ekta Kaul, the protagonist of 'Mere Angne Mein', seems to have irked the production team with her unprofessional behaviour. According to a unit hand, the show is set to take a crucial turn and the actress is required in almost every frame. However, despite being informed in advance about it, she didn’t report to the shoot, claiming to be unwell. “Since we have suffered because of her unprofessionalism in the past, we sent a unit hand to verify if the reason was genuine. She also told us that she won’t be available for another five days. The creative team had to make last minute changes in the script to accommodate her absence. This is not the first time the actress has resorted to these antics. She went to a Navratri event at a time when an important twist was to be shot. If this issue isn’t resolved, there are strong chances of her getting replaced after Diwali.” Ekta says, “I twisted my ankle and rested for three days as advised by my doctor. I have never let the shoot suffer. The only time I was missing was when I was down with a viral, which was a result of shooting continuous rain sequences in the show.”

Vinti plays a traffic police: There have been instances of women playing cops on TV, but I think this is the first time that someone is playing a traffic policewoman in a show. And this got me excited,” says Vinti Idnani, who will be seen as a tomboyish traffic police in Jaane Kya Hoga Rama Re.She continues, “There is a female traffic cop near my home, and I’d spent days with her, observing her mannerisms, body language and the way she uses both her hands to control the movement of vehicles. I like the way she treats people who flout rules. Her language is also bindaas. I’ve tried to incorporate some of her mannerisms in my act.”Vinti also says she learnt to ride a bike in less than 10 days for the show. “I didn’t even know how to balance a cycle. But, I had to ride a heavy 150cc bike to complement the nature of the character I play. I surprised myself by learning it so soon,” she says.

After Simone, now Khalida Turi gets replaced by Grusha: It seems the makers of Siya Ke Ram are facing trouble finding the right actor to play Kaikeyi in the show. After we reported that Khalida Turi was chosen to replace Simone Singh for the part, there has been a new development. Finally, Grusha Kapoor, the actress who became popular with the show Tara, way back in 1993, has been roped in for the role. The actress will return to acting after a gap of five years with this show. According to sources, Khalida has been replaced last minute as makers felt that she was too young to play male lead Ashish Sharma’s mother. Grusha says, “I was away since I had a baby and was busy being a mother at home. Also, nothing exciting came my way. I think Kaikeyi will be the ideal role for me to come back to TV.” Khalida expressed shock over the sudden turn of events. She says, “It’s weird. I just came to know they replaced me.”

Sameksha to play a film actress in Badi Dooooor Se Aaye Hai

Actress Sameksha is set to return to TV after a year-and-a-half long hiatus with the TV show 'Badi Dooooor Se Aaye Hai'. Last seen in 'Arjun' as the male lead's wife, she will play film actress Toffee in the new show. This can easily be called a dress rehearsal for the actress as she will commence the shoot for her film soon.

Says she, "The shoot of my movie has been postponed and I had dates available to accommodate this show. The duration of the track isn't decided yet, but I am expecting it to last 15 days."

Talking about her character, she says, "In the show, I will be shown shooting at Sunshine Colony and Murlidhar Ojha (Deepak Pareek) will fall in love with me. There is a mystery behind my character, which will be revealed in the end."

Incidentally, Monika Khanna was roped in to play the part originally. However, due to some last minute changes, she was replaced by Sameksha.

Khalida Turi replaces Simone Singh as Kaikeyi in a TV show: Actress Khalida Turi, who was last seen playing the role of Qutub Begum in the show Razia Sultan, has been chosen to play the role of Kaikeyi in Siya Ke Ram. According to sources, Simone Singh, opted out of the show because she was not ready to shoot away from her family, in Hyderabad. Khalida confirms the news and said, “I have watched Ramayan on TV. After playing a historical character, essaying the role of Kaikeyi will be a challenge.”

Supriya Pathak returns to TV in a dramatic role: Veteran actress Supriya Pathak, who is known for her comic roles on TV, will now be seen playing a rather dramatic one in the new show Jaane Kya Hoga Rama Re. We can’t help but notice her look in this show is similar to the the one in Ram-leela. Ask her about it and she replies, “I try to ensure that every character looks different from the other. I will be seen wearing dark-coloured clothes. Initially, the plan was to infuse more colours to the attire, but we finalised on black and brown.” Her last show was Chhanchhan in 2013, followed by a brief appearance in Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai. “I take up more movies as I get to travel, as with shows, you get stuck in one place. I am a traveller at heart and love getting out,” she says, adding, “The problem with TV is that though the show starts off with a certain idea, it becomes difficult to stick to it. With my new project, if the original idea is retained even as the story progresses, it will be interesting. It is a story of not just a family, but a moholla.”

Sara Khan In Agent Raghav

Actress Sara Khan, who was last seen in 'Dilli Wali Thakur Gurls' and 'Zindagi Wins', will be seen in an upcoming episode of Agent Raghav opposite Sharad Kelkar. Our source informs us, "Sara will be seen playing a lovely, enigmatic girl on the show which is very different from the roles she has played in the past. Her character is extremely good looking and hot and yet there is a certain mysterious element to her which is attractive."

When we contacted Sara she confirmed saying, "I have always played bubbly characters and hence this time I am experimenting with a different shade all together. I loved the story, the thrill, the non bubbly and mysterious character that the role had to offer."

Rita Bhaduri to enter TV show 'Mohi': Veteran actress Rita Bhaduri, who will be entering “Mohi”, is looking forward to her stint in the TV show. She says her inclination towards the plot made her say yes. The actress will be entering as a grandmother of the second lead Rishma Rochlani, who plays the role of Anusha in the Star Plus show. “I have watched the show since the beginning and I love the storyline and thus when I was approached for the same I was the happiest person,” Rita said in a statement. “Mohi” narrates the story of a girl from a small village, but with big dreams. Though she comes from a small village, the female protagonist wants to become a doctor and comes to Pune with the dream. The story delves into how her life changes when she falls in love. Talking about her role, Rita said: “I will be seen in the role of a grandmother. It will be a positive role and I will be seen supporting my granddaughter." She is known for her role in TV shows like 'Kaajjal', 'Choti Bahu' and 'Bani - Ishq Da Kalma.

Doting father turns psycho killer!: From playing a loving husband to Shilpa Shirodkar and a doting father to two grown-ups in Ek Mutthi Aasmaan, actor Mohit Daga has taken up a role that takes him to another extreme. He will be seen as a psycho killer Vijay in Kumkum Bhagya. A reliable source reveals the role is loosely inspired by Riteish Deshmukh’s character in the film, EK Villain. Mohit says, “My last role was positive, but this one is negative and challenging. I will wreak havoc in Sriti Jha’s life in the show. The very idea of playing a psycho killer is exciting as you don’t get to do such roles often on television.”

Mita Vashisht: Everybody but the actor is acting on TV: We don’t get to see her enough on the small screen as she feels “TV is not an actor’s medium”. However, Mita Vasisht is back in action with Kaala Teeka. The show will see her slip effortlessly into the role of a strong and authoritative woman. Probe her about her disappearing act on TV, and she says, “This medium is more like a platform for talent hunt and reality shows. Nowadays, it’s all about the get-up, not performance. Who’s talking about acting anyway? Actors aren’t even captured in a manner where they can showcase their acting chops. The cameras do the work for the actor. Everybody but the actor is acting on TV. People don’t think out of the box or write unconventional roles, so there is no character on screen currently that I would like to play.” What prompted her to take up a show then? She says, “It is layered. She’s more desperate than negative; desperate to ensure that her authority is not challenged.” Doesn’t she feel that she has been typecast on TV as she is often seen playing a tyrant? “Yes, getting typecast tends to become boring. But that’s the impression I make on people. They feel that I have a strong and powerful personality,” she replies.

Hero No. 10 for Qubool Hai: Qubool Hai does it again! Breaking their own record of numerous replacements, new characters and seasons, the production house has now roped another male lead. Avinash Sachdev is hero number 10; his predecessors being Karan Singh Grover, Rishab Sinha, Vikrant Massey, Raqesh Vashisht, Karanvir Bohra, Shehzad Sheikh, Varun Toorkey, Rajbeer Singh and Ankit Raaj. The actor, who was last seen in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?... Ek Baar Phir, will be seen opposite protagonist Surbhi Jyoti. “My first question to them was why the show has had so many male leads,” he says, adding, “I took my time, but eventually accepted it as a challenge. I realised that some of them were really good and had to leave for various reasons. Besides, the show airs at 7.30 pm; one of my longest-running shows, Chhoti Bahu was in the same time slot. They have told me that they will revamp the story. It’s a nice character. Fortunately, I won’t be shown possessing supernatural powers like the current male lead. It will be a love story now; a new story with the same title. I have earlier taken the risk of shooting a show for which the title was decided later (Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?). At least in this show, I know the title right from the beginning.” When asked if the show has run its course, Avinash disagrees, “That can’t hold true for a daily soap. It’s all about the script and chemistry between the lead couple. If the audience likes a track, the show runs for years. On the other hand, even if multiple tracks and twists don’t work in a show, it doesn’t last.” Incidentally, Rajbeer has been retained in the show.

Rajasthan’s Garima Parihar to quit TV show: Rajasthani girl Garima Parihar, playing Nimmi in the popular show 'Mere Angne Mein' is quitting the show.

Neither the actress has plans to do any other show nor she has any issues with the production house. The actor from Sirohi has decided to bid goodbye to the popular show as she is getting married and her would-be husband lives in the US.
A reliable source shared with us that Garima has put everyone in shock sharing the news of her quitting the show. As per the source, “Garima is getting married to a US based businessman, and plans to settle down in the US.

She is playing the role of Nimmi, the younger sister of Shivam played by Karam Rajpal on the show. The actress will shift her base to the US, where her husband-to-be lives.
The actress has not made the news official yet, but soon she will be announcing the same. And when JT got in touch with the actress, she said, “It’s very difficult to comment. Let the right time come and I will talk about it.

And the production house has decided to send Nimmi, her character to a foreign country for further studies thereby ending her character.” The makers of the show were building Nimmi’s character, and to find her replacement is not a very good idea according to them.

When we contacted the actress, she said, “I don’t want to comment on this at the moment. It’s something personal.”

Preetika Rao to return with Rashmi Sharma's next on Life OK: It's time for the Preetika Rao fanclub to rejoice. The actress, who became an overnight sensation with Beintehaa, is back to what she does best — acting. She has been signed up for Rashmi Sharma's next for Life OK. As reported by us, Abhinav Shukla will play the male lead. Informs a source, "It took a while for the deal to materialise with Preetika, who fits the bill perfectly. She will be seen taking care of Abhinav, who will be shown paralysed in the show." However, there is a twist in the tale, which will be duly informed to the Rao fans. When queried on the same, Preetika chose not to revert to our text message.

Alok Nath enters Yeh Rishta...: Alok Nath will play actress Umang Jain’s grandfather in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Umang is paired opposite Rohan Mehra who plays the son of the lead couple. The actor confirmed the news and said, “I have shared a long association with Rajan Shahi (producer of the show). I haven’t started shooting yet but I am looking forward to the experience.” Coincidentally Nath’s sister Vineeta Malik is also part of the show. She plays the grandmother of Hina Khan. When we asked Nath about the possibility of the two siblings sharing screen space, he said, “I will start shooting from October 14, so I don’t know whether we will come together on screen.”

Kamya enjoys her comic stint: After playing a negative character in Doli Armaanon Ki, Kamya Punjabi has been roped in to play a mother-in-law in comedy show 'Pyaar Marriage Ssshhhhh' (PMS). “The role is of a person who is a masterni. She is charming and full of life but agar woh kisi ka band bajaana chahti hai, toh woh bhi kar sakti hai. She is someone who’s affectionate, yet strict,” Kamya told us. For the actress, the role has come after playing a series of negative roles. “This is like a breath of fresh air. Not that I don’t like paying negative characters, but this is very comical. Yeh waisa waala comedy nahi hai jis mein log shaklein banaate hain. It’s a situational comedy. I don’t like comedy where people make faces,” she added.

TV’s baddie Chetan turns psycho in his next outing : Chetan Hansraj, known for his mean act in several TV shows, will be seen in a different avatar — that of an eccentric guy in 'Bhagyalakshmi', in which he will be paired opposite antagonist Sara Khan. The actor says, “Contrary to my bad guy image, this is a grey character. It switches between normalcy and insanity on the spur of the moment. But there is a justification for all his actions.” Doesn’t he ever feel like breaking away from his villain image? “I’m happy playing any role, though I prefer negative ones as it’s more fun and adds an edge to the character and the show. In fact, positive roles on TV are also stereotypical and unrealistically positive. Moreover, someone’s got to portray the flip side of things and I am happy doing that,” he replies.

Gautami in season two of a parenting show: After Sangeeta Ghosh, the other actress to join the cast of season two of the TV show 'Parvarrish' is Gautami Kapoor. The two will take on the mantle from Shweta Tiwari and Rupali Ganguly, who played mothers in the first season. The show will also feature Sandeep Baswana and Vinay Jain as the two fathers. Gautami says, “The show is about parenting and dealing with issues faced by children. In today’s time, parents have to be two steps ahead of their children before being hit by a problem.” Ask her about her other show 'Tere Sheher Mein', and she replies, “Since the show was progressing in a certain way, I was hardly seen in it. Producer Rajan Shahi was understanding enough to allow me to take up a new show. I will shoot with them if they require me in the future. For now, I will be seen in Parvarrish.”

Ronit Roy's cameo in TV show: Actor Ronit Roy will reportedly be seen doing a cameo in popular TV show 'Mere Angne Mein'. According to a source from the set, the makers have approached Ronit for an important role in the show, but since the actor has already given out his dates and cannot be the part of the show for long, he decided to do a cameo. "They wanted him to be a part of the new family. Since he doesn't have dates and is very tight on his schedule, he agreed to do a cameo in the show," the source said. 'Mere Angne Mein' stars Kruttika Desai Khan, Ekta Kaul, Karam Rajpal and Varun Badola.

Kritika Kamra in 'Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum'?: Actress Kritika Kamra has been approached to star alongside her former boyfriend and actor Karan Kundra in forthcoming TV show 'Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum'. According to a source, Kritika will be seen as the second lead Anvita and will have an important role to play in the show. Karan and Kritika became a hit couple after starring in two seasons of "Kitani Mohabbat Hai". They also worked together as co-hosts in 'Webbed'. "The makers are trying hard to get the hit television pair Karan and Kritika together again on the small screen. Kritika, who is currently seen in 'Reporters', which will go off air in upcoming days, has been approached for the role of Anvita," the source said. Actress Saanvi Talwar will play the lead role of Maanvi in 'Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum', which will be aired on &TV starting October 26.

Mouli says no to playing grown-up Karn’s mother, quits TV show: TV show 'Suryaputra Karn' has been in the news for its casting as much as for its content. After Gautam Rode being roped in to play the grown-up Karn (Aditya Redij was almost finalised for the part), it is time for yet another development in casting. Actress Mouli Ganguly, who essays Karn’s mother, has decided to quit the show. Reason? She doesn’t want to play Gautam’s mother. She has so far played mother to the youngest Karn, aged eight and then an 18-year-old.
Says the actress, “Originally, the focus of the show was on the teenage Karn and the grown-up one was supposed to come in for just about a month. However, the project underwent a lot of creative changes after I signed up, which I understand is for the show’s betterment. But I am not too comfortable with the idea of playing mother to someone my age and in this case, my contemporary. I was not prepared for it mentally. Had I been playing the central character and if the show had gone in for a time leap with my kids growing up, I would have continued. But I am not even the lead. My producer Siddharth Kumar Tewary understood my bone of contention and we parted amicably. I should be shooting my last episode in the next few days.”

Anjali Abrol joins Aamir Dalvi in 'Badii Devrani': Following our newsbreak on Aamir Dalvi being roped in as the mentally challenged new male lead in 'Badii Devrani', we have now been informed that actress Anjali Abrol will join him as his sister on the show. The actress, best remembered as Rani in 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat', will play Siddhi, a positive character that eventually takes a negative turn. Her identity of a divorcee will be revealed later in it. Anjali confirms, “My character is that of a caring and loving sister, who takes care of her mentally challenged brother.” As reported by us, 'Badii Devrani' is set to go in for a revamp, which will mark the exit of Mudit Nayar — the original male lead. Along with him, several other actors from the original cast will bid adieu to the show. Only Reeti (Megha Chakraborty) and a few members of the Poddar family will be retained. Kamalika Guha Thakurta has also been roped in to play a pivotal role post the revamp.