‘I tried to patch up with Ekta Kapoor, but she snubbed me’

Ekta, former Sujal patch up   At Shabbir Ahluwalia's birthday party last month, Ekta Kapoor and Rajeev Khandelwal (who used to play Sujal Garewal in Kahin Toh Hoga) met and patched up. He messaged her Sources in Balaji insist that Rajeev has been messaging Ekta often, saying he misses being part of the show. "Things finally got sorted out at the birthday party on August 9. Initially, nothing happened, though Rajeev kept smiling at Ekta. She didn't look at him. A few days ago, she had got his message about how he was missing Kahin Toh Hoga and the unit," says the source. "Ekta was busy putting tequila shots down the invitees' throats at the party. Natasha, Chaitanya, Aamna, Shabbir and Rajeev were all sitting next to each other. She gave them to everyone, but ignored Rajeev. He was piqued and messaged her again, asking why she was ignoring him. She replied and they got down to talking and sorting it out." Ekta moves on Ekta doesn't deny the episode. Has she got over everything and decided to forgive and forget? "Of course I have forgotten and moved on. It's not an issue. I wish Rajeev all the best," she smiles. Right now she's gearing up for four new shows on Zee and Sony, for which, "in the next six months, we will be auditioning for 10 new faces from Pune, Kolkata and Kashmir." Rajeev wants good work Rajeev (who is now acting in Zee's Time Bomb), on the other hand, preferred to be noncommittal about the episode. "There was never a problem to begin with. I have never had any problems with Ekta. I don't hold a grudge against anyone for anything. I just want to do good work, that's it. Be it Balaji or any other producer, if they offer me good work, I will do it." Will Gurpreet go? Balaji Telefilms is now teeming with rumours that, because of the patch-up between Rajeev and Ekta, she has decided to replace Gurpreet Singh (the new Sujal) with Rajeev. "No way!" clarifies Ekta. "The TRPs of Kahin Toh Hoga in the last few weeks have been peaking and I am very happy with Gurpreet's performance. I have no intention of replacing him with anybody. In fact, I complimented him on his performance just the other day." Loose talk Rajeev too doesn't want to return to the show. "Such gossip and loose talk mislead people and give rise to speculation. I wish to tell everyone that I never look back in my life - I look ahead. I don't miss anything, but crave for more. I crave for things that can make me evolve better, personally and professionally. Whatever decisions I have taken in the past have been correct as far as I am concerned, and have helped me grow as a person and an actor." Ekta Kapoor: Lies Damn Lies   Contrary to the lies Sony's Sandeep Sickand has been peddling about a reconciliation with Balajee's head honcho, sources very close to Ekta have another startling story to tell. Says an impeccable Balajee source, "Ekta had a closed-door meeting with Sony's head honcho Kunal Dasgupta. They discussed many ideas for soaps and also a reality show. Ekta agreed to be part of Sony in a big way. But on condition that Sandeep Sikcand be no part of her shows. She clearly requested Dasgupta to keep Sikcand out. Dasgupta reassured Ekta that Sikckand might be leaving Sony. Ekta said she had no interest in his departure as long as he stayed out of her shows. " Continues the source, "After the promos of Balajee's Dubai show Khwahish went on air Sandeep Sikcand started calling up Ekta and her associates asking for a meeting with her. Ekta reluctantly ageed. He met her. She heard him out. Sikcand told Ekta he was leaving Sony. Ekta remained non-committal. She's smart enough to see through Sikcand's game plan. He didn't want people to think he was being asked to leave because of Ekta's big-time entry into Sony. He didn't want to look like a loser. " Sans Sandeep Sikcand, Ekta has agreed to do five shows for Sony. According to the above-quoted Balajee source, "By the end of the year Balajee will have as many shows on Sony as they have on Star. Ekta has been roped in to give Star a run for their ratings. " When contacted about the supposed rapprochement with her erstwhile employee Ekta chuckled, "As far as I'm concerned there never was any fight with Sandeep Sickand. So there's no question of a patch-up. "

And the winner is...

To be aired on Sony tonight at 8 pm, there are surprises at the 7th ITA awards. Gauri Kohli profiles some winners

Best Anchor: Shah Rukh Khan (Kaun Banega Crorepati


Best Talent Hunt Show: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge

Best Reality Show: Big Boss

Best dance show: Nach Baliye 2

Best comedy show: Comedy Circus

On screen couple of the year: Sharad Malhotra and Divyanka Tripathy in Dulhan

Fresh face of the year (Male): Jay Bhanushali in Kayamath

Fresh face of the year (Female): Divyanka Tripathy in Dulhan

Best Actor; Critics (Female): Smriti Irani as Vasudha, Virudhh, Sony
For seven years, she proved her mettle as Tulsi in Kyunkii. But after her much-hyped fallout with Ekta Kapoor and her exit from the show consequently, many had thought it would be difficult for her to dissociate from 'Tulsi' and the euphoria thus generated. Smriti Irani proved them wrong, both as an actor as well as producer, and her show Virudhh has carved a niche in the prime time bracket since then. Her transition from an "ideal" bahu to an "ideal" beti Vasudha in the show has grabbed serious attention. She has mastered the art of making the audience laugh and cry with her. As a producer, too, she managed to get in the best of everything -- cast, story, drama, emotion and sets.
Best Actor; Critics (Male): Sharad Malhotra as Sagar, Dulhan, Zee TV
When Sharad Malhotra participated in the reality show Zee Cinestars Ki Khoj a few years ago, he was just like hundreds of other fellow participants who had come from small towns to achieve a name in the entertainment industry. He did not win the contest, but he won a lot of attention with his acting prowess. He worked as a model and later bagged the lead in Dulhan, opposite Divyanka Tripathy, who also participated in the same talent hunt contest incidentally. Sharad's role as a mentally challenged husband came as a breath of fresh air for the audience. It even reminded them of Varun Badola's role in Koshish. But Sharad now continues to be on a roll with the role.
Best Actor; Popular (Female): Prachi Desai as Bani Kasamh Se, Zee TV
From a girl to a woman and back to a girl. That's how Prachi Desai has been living for the last few years, thanks to Kasamh Se. The moment she walks on to the sets of the show, she's a righteous, ideal and loving wife, very typical of Balaji characters. But otherwise, she's busy shaking a leg in Jhalak Dikhla Ja on Sony besides burning the midnight oil taking her Board exams. But all this did not divert her attention from Bani, her first claim to fame and the fact that she has won the best actor award in the popular category highlights the fact.
Best Actor; In a supporting Role (Male): Hiten Tejwani as Karan Virani, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Star Plus
Hiten Tejwani is another Balaji loyalist who has got both rewards and awards in return. This time again, he's won the best actor in a supporting role award at the seventh Indian Television Academy Awards for his role as Karan in Kyunkii. First he was the rebellious son fighting against his father for his mother's rights. Later, his role changed into a jilted lover and gradually into a father. For Hiten, who was best remembered for his role as a college lover boy opposite wife Gauri, surviving generation leaps with perfection and that too in a multi-starrer is no mean feat. He is now comfortably placed among the favourite on-screen sons for millions of mothers in the audience.
Best Actor: Popular (Male): Ram Kapoor as Jai Walia, Kasamh Se, Zee TV
Small screen's Shah Rukh Khan has done it again! He has made a tough nut to crack Jai Walia believable with his acting skills. Not many had imagined Ram Kapoor's 'second coming' would be better than the first. Remember, the shy, boy-next-door and doting brother in Ghar Ek Mandir, the show that launched many others with Ram including wife Gautami and Aman Verma? Once the show ended, Ram lost touch and could hardly be seen on the small screen. But thanks once again to Ekta Kapoor, he was roped in to play the lead in Kasamh Se opposite 18-year-old Prachi Desai. Their chemistry is one of the best on-screen today and winning the best actor in the popular category stresses that he's among the most loved actors on TV today.