Abhay Kapoor is killed and Raj Kumar has regained his memory, but the show has taken a turn for the worse

In yesterday’s episode of Madhubala Ek Ishq Ek Junoon we witnessed the bizarre death of Abhay Kapoor (Gunjan Utreja) and saw the new avatar of Raj Kumar (Vivian DSena). The whole episode was a disaster in terms of storyline. Why we say so? You’ll soon find out…

RK comes home from the hospital to claim his wife, Madhu (Drashti Dhami) and to take revenge from Abhay for ill-treating him. He points a gun to Abhay’s forehead, makes him fall on Madhu’s feet, counts all his sins, forces AK to drink alcohol, then finally drags him to the bedroom and hangs him to the fan. All this while, we do not see Abhay react, reciprocate or even retaliate – guess the cat got his tongue or should we say his brains. It was bizarre to see the superstar not fighting for his life, what a contrast to the real Abhay, no? Even after his death, his family reacts like nothing happened, except for a few tears here and there.

The episode ends with Abhay dying hanging from the ceiling, RK claiming that he is Raja and not Raju and Madhu wailing over the fact that her husband is an unabashed killer. So how will the story go ahead from here?

According to what we’ve heard, it will be revealed that Raja actually belongs to a family of goons. While he loves Madhu, he doesn’t respect women. Madhu’s next agenda will be to make Raja a better man in life. Frankly, we are not impressed with the new turn of events on the daily soap and hope the makers simply draw the curtains ‘coz we’ve had enough. What do you think BollywoodLifers?

The model-turned-actor is now daddy to a baby boy

Rajeev Singh plays a doting but strict father on Rajan Shahi’s popular daily soap Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya. And looks like, he is all set to don a similar character in his real life too.

Former actor and VJ Sanober Kabir and Rajeev welcomed a new family member on May 1 and christened the bundle of joy, Fateh Singh. The party for the newborn is still on hold as the actor is waiting for the baby settle in. Rajeev said, “Once the baby settles in, I would like to have a small celebration at home and invite family and friends.”

On being asked about the response to his performance in the show he says, “My character Suket Khandelwal has shaped up well. Producer Rajan Shahi is the person who convinced me to take up the role for my debut. I am happy with my decision.” Well so are we.

BollywoodLife congratulates the new parents and wishes them all the luck for their future.

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Madhubala Ek Ishq Ek Junoon: Abhay Kapoor aka Gunjan Utreja’s not so convincing exit from the show!

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Beintehaa: Will Zain and Aaliya reveal Barkat’s real identity?

The seventh season JDJ will go on-air very soon and the 13 people who will battle it out have been revealed

The wait is finally over. The seventh season India’s most loved celebrity dance reality show, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (JDJ) is all set to hit the television screens very soon. Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Karan Johar and Remo D’souza will be on the judges panel. And as for the contestants, many names have been doing the rounds from quite sometime now. However, we have the final contestant list of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa here. So want to know, who all will battle it out this season to win the coveted title. Well, here is a dekho…

Ashish Sharma – He made his TV debut in Gunahon Ka Devta on NDTV Imagine. Sharma is currently appearing in Colors TV’s Rangrasiya, which also has Sanaya Irani as the female lead.

Mouni Roy – Mouni came into the limelight when she played Krishna Tulsi in Ekta Kapoor’s Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She was last seen in Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev, in which she portrayed the character of Goddess Sati.

Kiku Sharda – Kiku plays the character of Constable Mulayam Singh Gulgule in F.I.R. However, he has shot into the limelight with his stint in Kapil Sharma’s Comedy Nights with Kapil.

Karan Tacker – Known for his killer looks, Karan has had roles in Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai, Rang Badalti Odhani and Love Ne Mila Di Jodi.

Shakti Mohan – Shakti was the winner of Zee TV’s Dance India Dance 2. And she is totally going to give other contestants a really tough fight as she talks, walks, eats and sleeps dance. Her sister Mukti Mohan was one of the contestants in the previous edition of JDJ.

Pooja Bose – She got immense fame and popularity as Goddess Parvati as well as Goddess Adi-Shakti and Goddess Kali in Devon Ke Dev – Mahadev. Pooja was also featured in Govinda’s music album Gori Tere Naina.

Kritika Kamra – Kritika is well known for her popular roles in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge and Kitani Mohabbat Hai.

Sophie Choudry – A former VJ, singer, actor, occasional model and television presenter. Need we say more?

Purab Kohli – He started his career as an actor with the television show Hip Hip Hurray on Zee TV and later earned recognition through video jockeying. He has acted in many Bollywood films including Rock On, which also starred Farhan Akhtar and Arjun Rampal.

Sukhwinder Singh – Famous for singing Chaiyya Chaiyya, Sukhwinder is a brilliant playback singer.

VJ Andy – Also known as Anand Vijay Kumar, Andy was the host Get Gorgeous 3 and Dare 2 Date on Channel V. However, he gained popularity for his stint in Bigg Boss 7, which was hosted by Salman Khan.

S. Sreesanth – A former Indian cricketer, Sreesanth was a right-arm fast-medium-pace bowler and a right-handed tail-ender batsman. He created quite a strom when he was arrested on charges of spot-fixing during Indian Premiere League 6, after which he was banned from playing cricket.

Akshat Singh – Akshat enthralled everyone by dancing to Salman Khan‘s hit song from Wanted, Mera hi jalwa on India’s Got Talent 5. This 8-year old boy became such a rage on YouTube with his video The Fat Indian Kid Dance that he was invited all the way to US to be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Currently he is seen playing various characters in Comedy Nights with Kapil.

Confident about his craft, TV actor Saurabh Raj Jain, who plays Lord Krishna in mythological drama Mahabharat, says he didn’t find the role challenging because he was focused and didn’t get distracted by comparisons

“People were fixated to certain characters they played. What matters to me is the role I am given and how convincingly I portray the character on the screen. I don’t think about being compared to the actors who portrayed Krishna before. Playing Krishna was not a challenge,” said Saurabh on the sets of the show.

Decked up in heavy jewellery and his costume, the tall actor sat down for the group interview on the Hastinapur Darbar set after giving a shot with his co-star Pooja Sharma (Draupadi). Although the sets are erected near the beach here, it was quite hot and the actor quenched his thirst before he started fielding questions.

The 32-year-old said that the new Mahabharat is different from the one directed by BR Chopra 20 years ago in which Nitish Bhardwaj had played Krishna. “It was a different time and age. The technology is much more advanced now with cutting edge computer graphics. The scripts are also more detailed. Our team has made an effort to tell the story in a different manner,” he said.

This is the third time Saurabh is seen in a mythological drama, following his role as Vishnu in Jai Shri Krishna and Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev. Talking about his character, he said: “The element that describes Krishna best is water. Just like water everything about Krishna is calm and serene… Whatever he says has a rhythm to it. This was something I had to work on. While, I got into the practice of talking like Krishna after a certain period of time and also perfected the gestures and movements with practice.”

Why a mythological show? ”Why not? I have done fictional shows in the past. When the character is well written and has substance, it does not matter whether the show is fictional or not,” said the actor seen in shows like Parichay and Uttaran.

He is not afraid of being stereotyped. “There is no stereotyping now. It used to happen years ago when there weren’t many channels and people would get stereotyped in one particular look. Nowadays, we have a lot of channels and hence a lot of opportunities for everyone to broaden their horizons.”

Saurabh along with his co-stars shoots in the humid climate fully loaded with costume, jewellery and sometimes weapons. Although they dress up in an air-conditioned room, they have to shoot in the hot and humid weather. But weather conditions have not taken a toll on the actor. “It’s very hot here in Umargaon, but this is part of work. Our job is to entertain our viewers and we enjoy doing it. We have shot a sequence where the war is about to begin but Krishna is making efforts to stop the war and approaches the Kauravas and Pandavaas with a peace proposal,” said the actor.

He is contented with the audience’s response. ”People are liking my work and have appreciated it. They love getting photographs clicked with Krishna.” Saurabh said he attended actor-director Rajat Kapoor’s workshops to hone his acting skills and even read a lot of books. ”Rajat Kapoor had conducted workshops, which I had attended whenever I had the time. I also read a lot of books by different authors with different interpretations and points of view like Palaces Of Illusion, Jaya and Difficulty Of Being Good.”

When asked about his bonding with co-stars, the actor said, “We are all united like a family. It is our second home.” Of course, there is a spiritual side to his personality. ”I do not worship any one deity in particular. I don’t know whether I am religious or not but I know I’m somewhere connected to god,” said Saurabh.

Sohum has lost his memory and believes that Rajji is Parmeet’s wife, but in reality he is Rajji’s husband

In Bani Ishq Da Kalma, everyone is walking on egg shells around Sohum (Adhvik Mahajan), afraid that something they say or do might trigger a headache. Sohum, who believes that he is married to Bani (Shefali Sharma), cannot understand Rajji’s (Neha Bagga) presence in his house and is constantly trying to send her back home.

In the forthcoming episode, Balbeer (Nimai Bali) prepares property papers for Sohum to sign. He approaches his son, but Rajji and other family members stop him from misusing Sohum’s present condition and manipulate him. Balbeer threatens Rajji to get Sohum’s signatures on the papers or he will tell her husband everything. With fear of worsening Sohum’s condition, Rajji gets Sohum to sign the papers.

When Parmeet (Gaurav Chaudhary) comes to know that Sohum has signed the papers, he comes to the Maan house and questions Rajji. Sohum overhears the conversation but misunderstands the context. He asks Rajji why she cannot solve her issues with her husband and go back home. To know how Rajji will dodge Sohum’s interrogation, watch the episode tonight only on Colors at 10:30 pm.

EXCLUSIVE:The actor-comedian-dancer talks about his new show, his equation with Anu Malik and Mona Singh, upcoming movie with Akshay Kumar and more…

Krushna Abhishek shows off his broad grin the moment he steps in front of the camera. In his excitement he doesn’t even wait for us to ask questions and starts talking about the show and his role in it. With abundance of talent, we thought Krushna takes pride in being called an actor but he surprised us when he said that he is a dancer first and the rest just follows. Read excerpts from the exclusive interview.

How different will Krushna Abhishek be in Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (EKLKBK) from what he was on Comedy Circus?

When I do comedy on Comedy Circus, I am playing a character but in Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega I am being myself. When I come on stage, Krushna comes on stage not a character, which will be different and fun. I am discovering myself in the process. In addition to that, the audience will get to see my equation with Anu Malik, Farah Khan and Mona Singh, which will add a lot of tadka to the show. I have a personal relationship with Anuji and Farah. I have known them since I was eight. So that chemistry will be seen onscreen and that will be a surprise element.

Have you worked with Mona Singh before?

We have done Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa together. She was hosting and I was a participant then. I have not worked with her as such, but I know her since years. I always thought she was normal and sane, but in reality she is crazy on a whole different tangent. I am enjoying hosting with Mona.

So what have you been doing after Comedy Circus went off air?

See Comedy Circus has gone for a revamp for two months, so I got busy with Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega. Post which, I am doing a film called It’s Entertainment with Akshay Kumar. We have been shooting for this film in Bangkok.

So will you promote It’s Entertainment on EKLKBK?

Yes, why not! We have planned to invite Akshay on the show to promote the movie. In fact, Akshay and I have done a song in the film, so we will be performing on that too.

You are an actor, comedian, dancer – what attribute do you think describes you best?

I never thought in my life that I will do comedy, ‘coz I am a dancer. My first show on television was Nach Baliye. So I never imagined my comedy shows would become such a hit. While I enjoy doing comedy, I do not like doing stand up. A lot of people ask me why I am not doing a show like Kapil Sharma. I do not want to do that ‘coz he is the best at it and no one can beat him at that. I am a fan of Kapil. But as an entertainer, I dance and do ten different things to keep my audiences engaged and entertained and I love it.

So in what avatar does your fiancée, Kashmeera Shah like you the best?

Kashmeera likes it when I sweep the house or when I cook.

Wow, you to cook too?

Yes I love cooking.

Coming back to EKLKBK, What should we as viewers expect in this season of the show?

Anuji and I went mad looking at the talent on the show. The level of dancing, acrobats and the weird talent is totally commendable. There was a dude who ate a cell phone on the show. I have seen people eating bulbs, tube lights but a cell phone is something new. You will also enjoy watching Anuji and my chemistry. He will narrate his shayaris and I will throw comic punches at them. So don’t miss the show.

Mighty Raju pays surprise visit on ‘Taarak Mehta…’ set

Beloved character of kids Mighty Raju paid a surprise visit to the residents of Gokuldham society of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah TV serial.

The character, on whom a film titled Mighty Raju: Rio Calling is gearing for release, decided to surprise Gokuldham and Taarak Mehta as he was informed the society is his big fan.

“The entire society was excited, kids were seen smiling away to glory seeing their favourite toon hero with them. Daya breaks into her garba with Mighty Raju … the day is filled with fun and frolic, lots of dancing and singing,” said a source.

The episode will feature on SAB TV Tuesday.

The wrestling champion has decided to leave the show. Read on to find out

Life OK’s Shapath is said to be undergoing changes where old characters will be replaced with new ones. Earlier we saw an end to Meera Alis’ character and now the same thing will happen to Sangram Singh’s. While talking to a portal, Sangram said “My contract was for the Super cop series only. And now with that coming to end, they will soon focus on the normal cops’ series which does not blend with my persona. Thus I had to quit the show but it was definitely a good experience. Also I will start working on my wresting show that we plan to launch soon on TV.”

However, we wonder whether Sangram quit the show for his upcoming role. The Bigg Boss 7 contestant is reportedly cast to portray the role of the late wrestler Dara Singh in a biopic which is said to be released soon. Payal Rohatgi’s beau will be seen reliving the legendary actor’s heroism and valor.

The young Girls bonding on Maharana Pratap set

Girls can talk nineteen to the dozen. The same is happening on the set of TV show Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap with Jannat Rahmani and Roshni Walia.

They hit off well as Phool Kanwar and Ajabde, respectively, on screen, but even off the screen, they share a great chemistry.

A source from the set says that the two princesses have been close friends since a long time and spend most of their time being together on the sets. They love playing pranks on each other and enjoy laughing and joking as well.

Jannat, who plays Phool Kunwar, said: “I was really excited when I got this role as I always wanted to be part of historical shows. When I came to know that Roshni will be sharing the screen space with me, I was extremely glad.

“I have known Roshni since two years and now she is more like a sister to me. We both have a gala time on sets as it’s always fun to work with your friends.”

The show airs on Sony Entertainment Television.

The makers are bringing back an old character in the serial, but the story around him seems rather unconvincing

Zohaib Siddiqui aka Rajeev Agarwal is all set make a comeback in Zee TV’s Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke, but in a negative role this time.

If you remember, Rajeev was the sports coach in Rachna (Mahima Makwana) and Gunjan’s (Roopal Tyagi) college. And he was deeply in love with the bold and daring Gunjan. Well clearly the love-shuv did not work out ‘coz Gunjan went back to Mayank (Ankit Gera) and married him; post which, Rajeev’s character vanished from the show.

Now we hear that Rajeev will return and this time fall in love with Rachna. Considering Kabir (Piyush SAhdev) and Rachna are in love now, this will surely create a problem in their paradise. However we wonder why the makers are bringing an old flame back on the show… There is no dearth of actors in the industry, hai na? Moreover, how is the dishy dude now in love with Gunjan’s younger sister? If he loved Gunjan before, then when did Rajeev develop feelings for Rachna? Seems rather convoluted, don’t you think so BollywoodLifers?

Guess we will have to patiently wait and watch to see how this bizarre story unfolds.

Barkat continues to create a uproar in the Abdullah family, but this time Aaliya will put a stop to her evil plans

Aaliya (Preetika Rao) and Barkat (Dimple Jhangiani) absolutely hate each other is a known fact. But what you don’t know is that these two ladies are going to have a major showdown in the upcoming episode of Beintehaa.

From what we hear, Barkat will create trouble in the Abdullah pariwaar by brainwashing Shazia (Namrata Pathak) and Nafisa (Gunjan Vijaya), who will demand for a divide in the property. This will obviously upset the family members, but the two bahus would be adamant on their words. Aaliya will see Barkat having a chat Shazia and Nafisa, as a brainwashing tactic. This is when Zain’s (Harshad Arora) wifey will lash out at Barkat, which will lead to a hungama in the Abdullah family.

Aaliya’s sentiments will not shared by her husband who refuses to see anything wrong in Barkat and instead scold her for being harsh towards her little sister.

Will this tamashaa lead to another misunderstanding between the couple who are just discovering love for each other. How will Aaliya put a stop to Barkat’s evil plans? Well, all we can do is just wait and watch. Keep watching this space for all the updates on Beintehaa.

The Sasural Simar Ka actor had reportedly quit the show due to creative issues

On hearing about Samson’s exit, many aspiring actors certainly got their hopes up high to be the next Simar in T-town, as auditions were held to cast the same. However the hunt soon ended, with reconciliation between Samson and the production team.

So what brought the actor back? An inside source from Sasural Simar Ka said “Dipika did bid her final adieu to the actors and unit members last Friday (May 9). And of the many known names short-listed, the channel and maker did finalise on Sonali Nikam to step into the shoes of Dipika as Simar. But Dipika apparently developed cold feet, and got very emotional to move on from the Simar family. Everyone on the set was shocked and amused to see the lady report on set yet again today. It is heard that she had got into talks with the channel and makers, post which the actor decided to stay put. And of course, Dipika is happy with the creative changes that have been promised. Also, Dipika has got a monetary hike by deciding to stay on.”

Kumud and Saras are back from London with Kabir and there is more good news awaiting them

Saraswatichandra, which will apparently end soon, is showcasing a lot of drama. Like you, we too are also glued to our idiot box waiting to see what will happen next.

Last we saw that Kumud (Jennifer Winget) and Saras (Gautam Rode) rescue Kabir (Ashish Kapoor) and come back to India. When they reach home, the Desai family tells them about Kallika (Soni Singh) accusing Danny (Karan Kapoor) of raping her by Gumaan’s (Monica Bedi) orders. They narrate the entire incident and tell them how Kusum saved the day by tricking Kallika into exposing Gumaan. Danny, who is obviously hurt knowing his mother’s true nature, is unable to assimilate the fact that Gumaan tried to ruin his marriage. Poor boy!

In the upcoming episodes, Saras, Danny and Kabir’s father Laxminandan Vyas (Chetan Pandit) wakes up from his coma. While everyone is aware of Gumaan’s true nature, Laxminandan still thinks his wife is a saint. Seeing the delicate situation, everyone decides to stay mum about Gumaan. Mortified by Gumaan’s actions, Danny will break his silence, go against his mother and tell the truth to Laxminandan.

Will this shock worsen Laxminandan’s condition? Will both the families put Gumaan behind bars under the charge of attempt to murder? Or will they all just forgive and forget? Guess all our queries will soon be answered. Stay glued to BollywoodLife to know what happens next…

Harshad, might be playing a very intense Zain in Beintehaa, but the dude is quite mischievous in real life, we hear

Many of you might know this, but Preetika Rao, who portrays the character of Aaliya in Beintehaa holds a special interest in palmistry and astrology. Yes, you read that right! In fact, she prefers to take some time out from her busy schedule to pursue her passion.

A source from the sets said, “Whenever Preetika is on the sets, cast and crew members often go up to her and ask her to read their palms while making predictions about their lives and future. Preetika’s instincts have worked in favor of many people and her predictions have come true in many cases earning her some credibility. In fact, everyone looks forward to having her on the sets. She is truly gifted!”

Preetika’s unique passion has even caught the show’s male lead Harshad Arora’s attention who always insists on getting his palm read by her. Harshad at his mischievous best also takes fun-filled jibes at Amrita Rao’s sister and tries to imitate her serious avatar as she predicts everyone’s future. That’s not all. She has even been nicknamed Baba Aaliya by Mr Arora.

Well, all said and done, Preetika’s astrology fever is catching up and has got the entire cast and production team waiting with bated breath about what she will predict for them next. Well, maybe the success of Beintehaa has something to do with Preetika’s palmistry skills to? One does wonder…

Recently we heard stories about the chocolate boy irking Ms Sheikh on the sets of Ek Haseena Thi, but apparently there was no truth in the story, claims the actor

Just yesterday, we reported about how Vatsal Seth aka Shaurya Goenka’s overzealous nature irritated Sanjeeda Sheikh (Durga Thakur) and she walked off. But the actor says that no such thing ever happened on the sets of Ek Haseena Thi. Vatsal said, “All is good between Sanjeeda and me. We have a good equation on the sets. In fact, we are all chilling together now.”

So was the story about Sanjeeda walking off from the sets in anger not true at all? “There is no truth in the story. I was shocked that something like that was even written. And no, I have never changed my own dialogues either.” Well we believe you!

The actor says that he has no issues with his co-stars. And that they are all hang out in his makeup room most of the time. He shares a great bond with everyone on the sets including Ayub Khan, Simone Singh and Sanjeeda. When asked about his co-star Sanjeeda, Vatsal said, “I think she is a great person. I believe she is one of the most chilled out actors I have worked with. Someone with no ego hassles; we are like buddies. It is great that I get to work with likeminded people like her.”

The creative producer of Ek Haseena Thi, Siddharth P Malhotra was apparently upset and pissed off when the story came out that Vatsal had irked Sanjeeda. He tweeted, “All I can say is if the company doesn’t sponsor the website they turn to cheap antics for write ups on untrue event…both these actors are personal friends and extreme professionals and every word of that article which is news created by only them is totally untrue.”

Guess the next time people get in touch with them to verify facts, they will hopefully respond immediately to avoid further controversies.

Telly actor Vishal Karwal, popular for reality shows like Roadies and Bigg Boss, will be seen in a forthcoming episode of crime-based show Encounter

The show, hosted by actor Manoj Bajpayee, features stories about events that have happened in Mumbai between police and gangsters.

In the episode to be aired on Friday, Vishal Karwal essays the role of police officer Vikas Sawant. ”I prefer doing action and adventure. I chose to do Encounter because it had some work for me to do unlike in TV soaps where a female is in the limelight as a lead, and men are not given much preference,” said Vishal.

The actor started off his career with reality TV show MTV Roadies Season 4 in 2006 and was later seen in a few more shows like Spitsvilla and Big Boss 6. He made his debut in fiction shows with Bhagyavidhata as Vinay Sinha. Later, he was seen playing Lord Krishna in Dwarkadheesh – Bhagwaan Shree Krishna, which aired on Imagine TV.

Varun Dhawan rightly said, ‘it’s not charity, it’s more like helping a friend’ and we couldn’t agree more

Colors’ new reality show Mission Sapne brings ten celebrities from Bollywood, television and cricket to step into the shoes of the common man and help change the story of their family. Presented by Sonali Bendre, Mission Sapne handpicked ten families who are in dire need of financial aid and decided to help them out. The show approached celebrities like Ranbir Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Mika Singh to help solve a little of their issue by earning their living for a day.

Three episodes later, we are humbled and emotional seeing the strength to survive of the lesser fortunate. What took our hearts is the willingness of these celebrities to sweat it out for them without any tantrums.

Rabir Kapoor as a Vada pav vendor

He walked hoping to achieve great heights but his first attempt did seem too fruitful at the DY Pail College in Pune. After shifting his location, Ranbir sold vada pavs, danced, sang, hugged and kissed for money. While we are sure the Rockstar dude will never consider this as his secondary profession, he seemed to put in a lot of effort into it. After collecting almost Rs 7000, Ranbir helped ten-year old Sunita Ingle to pay for her cancer treatment. Very touching!

Mika Singh as a Chaiwala

The star singer decided to do his thing in Delhi where he grew up since childhood. It was a pity we could not taste the tea to rate him on his chai making skills. While a few ladies complained that the tea did not taste so good, there were many who were happy to sit around Mika, sip his bad chai and listen to some of his best songs. After a hard day’s work, Mika managed to earn about Rs 4000 for the 60-year old chaiwala, Lakhindra Paswan. But what truly stole our hearts was when Mika decided to take the onus of the paying for Lakhindra’s mother’s medical finances and sponsor his grandson’s education for the ten years.

Varun Dhawan as Paatiwala

The newbie took up the responsibility to help 57-year-old Prabhakar Karale clear his debts. For a day he walked in the shoes (literally) of a paatiwala. It was not an easy task and it is very hard to make any sort of income in this field, but luckily the starlet met some dildaar fans. At the end of the day, Varun managed to earn about Rs 4000 and Mr Karale breathed a sigh of relief, that now his troubles were indeed over.

The Good: The AV shot showcasing the story of each person was a piece of art. The music and the tone of frame were in sync with the story. Each case seemed genuine and heartbreaking; of course we shed a few tears too. The show never promises to make someone rich; just to help solve their financial crisis by a little. The ease with which the celebrities handled every situation that came in front of them- be it the over whelmed crowd, other abusive vendors or even people who unabashedly criticised their honest effort. We liked the fact that the profit is counted after deducting all calculating all the costs

The Bad: We are aware that the stars already know who they were going to help, then why the sudden reaction of surprise or shock. Is it really necessary to make everything so melodramatic? The actors are supposed to truly work as a common man. It would be interesting to know how many vada pavs Ranbir really sold or how many cup chais did Mika actually make. Some of the people who approached the actors didn’t seem genuine. We could be wrong but some did look like they were planted to get the ball rolling. Sonali Bendre felt was a li’l bland as the host, especially in the first episode.

All in all it seemed like a genuine effort, which often brought us close to tears. Let’s hope the message is loud and clear that everyone can truly help someone. The thought begins in the heart and then leads to actions. Mission Sapne is a beautiful concept which has the power to create a difference.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Reviewed by Letty Mariam Abraham

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Many shoots abruptly halted as a production head beat up a union member. Read on to find out more…

Film City is a prime hub for shooting films and TV serials, located in Mumbai, but recently all shootings were put on a standstill because of a strike caused by the Allied Mazdoor Union. This union consists of lightmen and spot boys. Grapevine has it that a union member was apparently manhandled by a staff from a leading production house. It was because of this incident that the union members decided to go on a strike and teach the leading production houses a lesson.

Talking to a leading daily a producer tells, “The union has differences even with Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), the parent body. They informed us a month ago that they have disarmed the wing and have nothing to do with the union. And that we can take legal action if they trouble us. They have made many unreasonable demands, including `50,000 for a show per month as hafta. They also threaten us saying they won’t shoot beyond a particular time and want their dues to be cleared immediately. No producer would want the telecast to suffer and so, we often give in to their demands. However, yesterday, they reached the set of a show and started protesting, which brought the shoot to a halt. When things came to a head, a production member beat one of them and the union decided to go on strike. The shoot at Film City has come to a halt and it’s spreading to other locations too. It would be a loss of 5 lakh per show.”

The TV shows that have been affected are Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Uttaran, Chidiya Ghar, Har Har Mahadev, Haatim, Saraswatichandra, Baani, Lapataganj, Ye Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and many other films.

Although Sanjay Shrivastav, the general secretary of the Allied Mazdoor Union has not given his take on the story, it is still a sad incident. No producer/director will want losses for their shows or films. We just hope this incident is resolved amicably and shootings of our favourite TV shows and movies can resume at Film City.

The wrestler-turned-actor, turned down Rs 2.5 crore ad; implores all celebrities to not promote unhealthy foods and drinks

RC Cola, the century-old American beverage has just lost an Indian ambassador. Known to be an iconic cola in the USA, it failed to impress Indian wrestler Sangram Singh enough to agree to endorse it in India.

It is learnt that the company was willing to offer Sangram Rs 2.5 crore to be the Indian face of the cola. But he declined the offer. “I don’t touch alcohol, cigarettes and colas. I’ve never tasted them. Why should I endorse something that I’ve never tried personally? Yes, I said no to RC Cola’s offer although the money was very good,” admits Sangram.

He feels celebrities, especially sports persons, need to be very careful about the products which they endorse. “Whole generations look up to us. We have to set the right example. Otherwise, what kind of a society are we going to build for future generations?”

Sangram feels pained when he sees actors and sportspersons selling colas . “They are known to be harmful to health. It is wrong to sell harmful goods. We, from the entertainment and sports world, have voices that people listen to. We must use it to promote the right values and that includes that things that we eat, drink, wear and use.”

The prime characters of the mythological saga leave us awestruck with their dumdaar presence each time they appear on our television screens

Be it the mighty warrior Arjuna, the fierce Karna or the evil devious Shakuni Mama , the actors of the Mahabharat on Star Plus, never fail to do justice to their epic roles. While their mouths do the talking, their biceps do the rest. Here’s a look at their journey from real to reel life…

Rohit Bhardwaj as Yudhishtir

Playing the eldest son of Pandu and Kunti, Rohit Bhardwaj doesn’t disappoint as Yudhishtir in Mahabharat. Known for his role in Tumhaari Paaki , Bhardwaj gets under the skin of his character effortlessly and is successful in playing the level headed and responsible elder brother to the rest of the Pandavas. A theatre actor from Delhi, the actor shifted to Mumbai to pursue his dreams. The Punjabi lad surely doesn’t fail in impressing us with those toned muscles as well. The Punjabiness had to come in somewhere eh?

Shaheer Sheikh as Arjuna

An LLB graduate from New Law College, best known for his roles as Veer Mehra in Kya Mast Hai Life, Shaheer Sheikh surely knows how to flaunt what he has, bringing out the best of Arjuna, with his dashing looks and bulging biceps. From playing the boyish lad Veer in Kya Mast Hai Life to mighty Arjuna, Sheikh has worked hard to work it all. With a vigorous workout regime and a strict diet, Sheikh has managed to pull off the strong look and one can never be disappointed with what Sheikh has to offer on the show.

Saurav Gurjar as Bheem

If only he was green all over, he might as well be called the ‘Mighty Hulk’ of the Indian television industry. Broad, big and bulky, the wrestler turned actor works it all effortlessly and delivers with perfection, his role of Bheem in Star Plus’s mythological drama. Surely, his former wrestling career helped him a great deal in making him fit for the role in the first place.

Vin Rana as Nakul

A charming face with a knockout body, what more does anyone want from Rana? Playing Nakul in Mahabharat, one is certain about Rana’s motivation and dedication in the gym, to get that perfect look. Known as a fitness freak, Rana never misses his workout sessions. Apart from life lessons and values, this lad certainly teaches us to keep those chocolate cravings under control.

Lavanya Bhardwaj as Sahadeva

After seeing him from Hamari Devrani, one could be pleasantly surprised seeing Lavanya play Sahadeva in Mahabharat. A lean and toned face with a body to die for, Bhardwaj certainly has come a long way and manages to always impress the ladies, both on and off-screen.

Saurabh Raaj Jain as Krishna

Saurav Raj Jain has certainly come a long way. Starting out his career with the Star One show Remix, he now plays the character of Krishna in Star Plus’s Mahabharat and Vishnu in Devon ka Dev..Mahadev. Fearless, charming and the ladies’ man, Jain pulls off the character with ease, especially when it comes to making all the Gopis happy. From playing the tall and lean Amandeep Chaddha in Remix to the macho Krishna in Mahabharat, Jain can certainly be applauded for his hard work and zeal, specifically when it comes to building that body. Jain believes in the combination of a healthy mind and body.

Arav Chaudhary as Bhishma Pitamah

Known for playing small roles in films like Right Yaa Wrong, The Perfect Husband, Family, No Smoking, The Deadly Disciple and 88 Antop Hill, Arav Chaudhary has without a doubt made it big in the television world. Critically acclaimed for his role as Bhishma Pitamah in Mahabharat, Chaudhary has not only delivered in his performance, but has managed to sweep the ladies off their feet with his raw and appealing vibe. Playing the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu, Chaudhray has pleased his audience with his charm and humility.

Praneet Bhatt as Shakuni Mama

Intelligent yet devious, Shakuni Mama is described as the mastermind in Mahabharat. Who would have thought that the character would be played so brilliantly by the once boy next door lad Praneet Bhatt? Known for his roles as Adi in Star One’s Geet Hui Sabse Parayi and Jolly in Suvreen Guggal, Bhatt impresses us all with his wit, sharpness and that evil grin. Bhatt could probably be termed as one of the most popular characters on the show, with his macho build and confidence.

Aham Sharma as Karna

It doesn’t hurt to see a pretty face, especially when it is Aham Sharma’s. A tall and lean body, with handsome look nonetheless, Sharma brings out the many shades of the Karna and makes it easy for the audience to relate to him. From playing Angad in Asman Se Aagey to Karna in Mahabharat, one can be certain that Sharma has said goodbye to those carbs out there.

Arpit Ranka as Duryodhana

A Gladrags winner of the ‘best body’ title and a model turned actor, does one need to say more? The creators of the show clearly knew what they were up for when they signed Arpit Ranka to play the role of Duryodhana in Mahabharat. One of the most powerful characters in the show as well as in the Mythological books, Ranka impresses all with his power packed performance and strong screen presence.