Film Industry

For three years, Abha (Suhashi Dami) has ruled the Zee TV roost as its most favourite bahu from the popular series Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli. And so has her hubby, Karan Prasad (Karan Grover) as the adorable beta. That they look good together just adds to their popularity, and keeps the audience glued to the drama that keeps unfolding around them. From overcoming family enemity to scheming family members, the most recent being an imposter, gypsy Albeli posing as Abha, the couple have been through it all — never veering from Rajshri’s signature: of good overcoming evil, and a hum saath saath hain joint family. However, the latest drama with the entry of Dr Viren Roy (Iqbal Khan) seems to be the biggest challenge that Abha may be facing. An accident leads to several deaths in Abha’s family, but she’s unaware that her bestie Nilu too has died in the same accident. Nilu’s husband, Dr Roy now seeks to avenge her death. When Karan’s on deathbed, Abha’s forced to seek Dr Roy’s help, who puts forward a condition — to marry him and fulfill the role of a mother to his kids. Abha, after much protests, agrees to the condition to save her husband’s life. This development is enough to baulk you at first, but the allusion of ‘Savitri/Sita’ for Abha and ‘Yamdhoot/Ravan’ for Dr Roy makes you forget at the logic behind the scene. It also helps that Iqbal as a formidable adversary heightens the dramatic face-off between him and Suhasi, who’s an engaging actor. It seems this track is actually what the series needed in a long time — an unpredictable turn to the story and a star presence that Iqbal provides. Yahan Main… as a family bonder wins hands down, after all remember it’s a Rajshri production.

Having been a part of the show since the inception of both — Zee TV’s Dance India Dance and also DID Li’l Masters, for dance guru and one of the judges of the show, Geeta Kapoor judging kids is a bigger task than judging youngsters. So what is the reason that Geeta calls it a tough job to judge kids? “It is very difficult judging kids as they are a mixed bag of talent. And these kids are very cute. They do not bother about what anyone feels. They just go up on stage and dance their hearts out. And if in between the show if they feel like visiting the loo they’ll just stop and say, ‘I want to go to the loo!’ These innocent kids do what they like, but are so brilliantly talented. This time I am not going to use the word ‘stupendo-fantabulously-fantastic’. My new word is a secret and to find what it is, you’ll have to watch the show,” she says.
She made actor Katrina Kaif a dancing star with her killer moves in Sheila ki Jawaani. And now it is learnt that most kids at the auditions were dancing to tracks like Sheila Ki Jawaani, and also Chikni Chameli. Ask Geeta about it and she says, “It is owing to the popularity of these songs. They are played and replayed on television so many times, that kids memorise them within days. Television is a huge medium to influence kids. As long as the performances retain their innocence and do not cross over to the vulgar zone, I don’t see any harm in them performing to these songs.”
Ask her about her rapport with actor and dance master Mithun Chakraborthy and she quips, “Oh it is all in good humour. Mithunda is a legend, yet so down to earth. I love flirting with him.”
Calling Dance India Dance a turning point her life, she adds, “Before the show I had earned a name, but the name had no face to it. DID gave me a chance to showcase my creativity.” And how does she feel when participants address her as maa? “When parents hand over their children to me, it becomes a huge responsibility. So I feel humbled and it makes me feel that I dare not go wrong.”

Zee TV and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organised a seminar in Mumbai on ‘The New Indian Woman’, where a series of topics were discussed by eminent woman achievers like Shabana Azmi, Kiran Rao, Nandita Das, and Zoya Akhtar among others. Also present to lend support was lyricist Javed Akhtar, who said, “Society should be just and fair and people should get equal respect without regard for their caste, gender or religion. If that makes a feminist, then I guess I am one.” Filmmaker Kiran Rao said that professionalism has helped women in cinema. “Women are attracted to spaces that are professional and safe and where they would be judged not as a woman, but by their skills.” The speakers also lauded Zee for its shows which is a strong reflection of India's changing story and is progressive, yet has always had a strong connect to families across. What's more popular Zee TV characters like Archana from Pavitra Rishta, Radhika from Choti Bahu, Krishna from Afsar Bitiya, Indira from Hitler Didi, Aarti from Punarvivaah are all role models on Indian television.

Globally renowned DJ and Dutch producer of trance music, Ferry Corsten was in the city last week as part of his India tour concert to promote his latest album WKND. “I have been to India quite a few times now, and played in several cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Goa etc. It’s always a refreshing experience!” This time around, Corsten played in Delhi and Mumbai. And apart from just the gig and the album promotion, he revealed, there was something more that had him engaged here. “I feel like I’m in a paradise, a foodie’s paradise,” says Corsten. “I am a big fan of Indian food! The masalas, the aromas, the spicy food…I love it all. Especially the masala paneer tikkas…they’re just amazing,” he adds. Talking about his performance in the city, where he also played tracks from his new 14-track album, he says that it was fun to perform to the Indian audience. “It’s good to see people sing along and be so familiar with my work. Though I kind of plan my gig in my head before taking to the stage, I like to go with what the audience enjoy the most,” he said.