EKTA KAPOOR |
She has launched dozens of shows on Star Plus and Zee TV,captivating the hearts of millions of television viewers across the country. Now, it seems the queen of soaps Ekta Kapoor has her eyes set on Sony TV.
Of late, especially after Sandeep Sickand left Sony, the television tycoon has been taking keen interest in making shows for the channel. While Balaji serial "Khwaish" is already on air, sources say about three more shows are in the pipeline.
Buzz is that the sudden shift in focus is because Ekta's top actors like Prachi Desai, Ronit Roy and Jai Bhanushali are participating in "Jhalak Dikhla Ja", in which papa Jeetendra is also a judge.
"With her involvement in the channel's programming, Ekta has already occupied the hot seat, " said a source. But then, why not? Her serial has already pushed up the TRPs of the channel.
Another speculation is that the reason behind her tilt towards Sony is because her serials on Star Plus and Zee are not doing too well these days.
However, a source differs: "Ekta is the queen of soaps. Whatever be the matter, she is enjoying very good TRP for all her shows. It is just that she is spreading her wings and not limiting herself to a few channels."
Ekta finds supporters in her actors and crew as well. Jai Bhanushali, one of the participants in "Jhalak Dikhla Ja" and the lead of "Kayamath", says: "Ekta never stops us from doing anything we want. She told us that if we can manage it then we could go ahead and work with other channels and media houses.
She said we should just see to it that our work does not get affected. Ekta wants her work to be perfect and that's it."
A few months back, when Ekta launched Dhoop, she was asked if it were an alternative to her serials just in case they flop. Her reply was much in the face."Yes, may be you all can consider this as an alternative as my serials are not doing well." Quite a clever businesswoman this. -Anju Gupta
Soni ke Nakhre dedicted to ekta kapoor |
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Sony jiving to reality music contest beat
TV channels should do themselves a favour. They should stop the me-too syndrome right now. Every channel has its USP and it should remain within the given ambit of functioning.
 I must admit that though it's a deviation for the channel, I immensely like Star One's Nach Baliye, their first big shot at winning over a sizeable audience. The programme is done with a great deal of panache . We don't get bored for even a split second watching these together couples whooping it up on stage with all they've got. And it isn't as if these well-known TV couples are great dancers. They just project that joie de vivre which makes their dancing skills or lack of it, so endearing and real.
I do feel Saroj Khan judges them too harshly at times. In the brilliantly done comedy episode, a couple was called 'crude.'
Arrey baba, funny dancing would by its very nature have to be a bit risqué! Why pick on these cute people who seem so much in love?
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 Sony's Celebrity Fame Gurukul also projects tremendous gusto for life. Hell, these 'celebrities' are no singers. They aren't even celebrities in the true sense (some of the guys in the guise of stardom wouldn't be recognized if they step out on the road). But they've a will to sound right.
I loved what the totally atonal Tisca Arora told the tolerant judges Javed Akhtar and Alka Yagnik. "I know I sing badly. But I want to sing. So what's wrong with doing it?" And then on a lighter note she added, "When I think of the songs in my head they sound so right. It's only when the words come out of my mouth that they come out so wrong."
Attagirl! I love that spirit. And Tisca is truly a proud product of television. I love her work in Zee's stumbling-doddering political soap Sarkarr… almost as much as I like Divya Dutta as the sweet angelic Punjabi kudi in Star's Shanno Ki Shaadi. |
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| ‘SONY’ KUDI: Aamna Shariff at the Indian Telly Awards |
The Indian Telly Awards was held at the Chitrakut
Grounds on Friday, while the Hero Honda Indian Television Awards (HHITA) was held on Saturday at Bhavan’s College over the weekend. As usual, there was the round of applause and a fair share of hiccups. Here’s the dope on what happened.
Aamna: No thanks!
Sony’s chief creative director Sandiip Sikcand, who has been allegedly poaching actors from the Balaji fold, sent the audience home grinning. He escorted Aamna Shariff hand-in-hand as the curtains came down at the Indian Telly Awards.
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| THERE GOES MY AWARD: Smriti with hubby Zubin Iraani at the HHITA event |
This should come as no surprise, since Aamna has been in talks with Sikcand for a new show on Sony. It is now clear that Aamna’s deal with Sony has been locked, sealed and delivered. And hey, what did Aamna mean by saying ‘Thank you, Sony’ when she got the Best Actress award? Doesn’t she know that KTH airs on Star Plus, not Sony? We wonder what Star honchos Sameer Nair and Deepak Sehgal have to say about this faux pas (or was it a deliberate attempt to snub Star?).
Ekta ke kapde!
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| THAT’S MINE! Ekta Kapoor at the Indian Telly Awards |
The Balaji czarina turned up at the Indian Telly Awards in black alright, but several eyebrows were raised over her choice of outfit: a flouncy black skirt and a seriously casual top that would look best over PJs.
Some bitchy actresses were overheard saying they were shocked at how Kapoor came dressed so casually to the awards ceremony!
No Balaji brigade
There was a buzz doing the rounds at the Indian Telly Awards on Friday that Balaji actors had been given instructions not to attend the HHITA event the following day.
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| Am only ‘SARI’NADING: Kunika at the HHITA awards |
Apparently, Madam Kapoor and HHITA’s Anu Ranjan had a tu-tu-main-main, hence the directives from the boss. But a few Balaji actors did turn up, nevertheless (read: winners performers and the rebels).
Special treatment
Though there were several producers present, Ekta Kapoor, Rajeev Shukla and wife Anuradha Prasad were given special treatment at the Indian Telly Awards. Now you know who matters and who doesn’t!
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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. “ss |
