Return of the small screen titans

Mona Singh, Amna Shariff, Varun Badola, Mukesh Khanna and Narayani Shastri... 2012 was the year when several stalwarts returned to the small screen, successfully crafting new images in serials they hoped were meaningful and different. And the audiences happily welcomed them back.

Take Mona Singh, who was such a hit as the bespectacled Jassi of "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin". TV audiences loved her in the show. But she managed to break the mould with her role as the strong wife, mother and daughter-in-law Mona in "Kyaa Hua Tera Vaada". The show, which deals with extra-marital affairs, has garnered good viewership since it went on air Jan 30.

Credit the writers for penning refreshing stories and viewers for accepting the changes.

Writers are attempting realistic and mature scripts and actors are going for a subdued look in preference over the made-up characters from the old 'saas-bahu' serials. The trend has given more room for 'old and gold' actors to carve out a new space for themselves. 

Said Varun, who returned to the small screen after two years with "Phir Subah Hogi": "I did not feel like doing television. Moreover, I don't and can't relate myself to the saas-bahu saga. That is the reason I kept myself away." 

But then came along "Phir Subah Hogi", about the Bedia community in the Bundelkhand region, and Varun was tempted to make his comeback.

Narayani, another big name, also returned to the tube with "Phir Subah Hogi". Known for playing varied roles in "Piya Ka Ghar", "Kkusum", "Kyun Ki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" and "Mamta", the 33-year-old didn't mind coming back in the role of a mother of a grown-up girl. 

Narayani is one to choose her projects based on her gut feeling, but she felt her role as a Raai dancer in "Phir Subah Hogi" would be challenging.

"I just could not make myself do a saas-bahu. But I liked my character (in 'Phir Subah Hogi'), the storyline is good and, moreover, the project challenged me in every possible way - the language is different, the character is also very strange, the look is so different," she said. 
The beautiful Aamna, who made her mark as the young Kashish in "Kahiin To Hoga", went to try her luck in Bollywood with films like "Aloo Chat" and "Aao Wish Karein". She made a U-turn to television with the romantic series "Honge Judaa Na Hum" this year. It was a hiatus of five years. Why?

"My last show 'Kahiin To Hoga' was a success and my character was loved by people; so I did not want to do anything that was not of the same level. So I just could not take up anything for the heck of it," says Aamna. 

Rightly so - her youthful character suits her well, and her soft romance with Raqesh Vashisht draws in young viewers, who rarely have options in terms of Hindi fiction shows.

Rakhi Vijan, the crazy Sweety of "Hum Paanch", had bounced back to the small screen in 2007 with reality show "Bigg Boss 2", but she maintained a distance from fiction shows for a while before she was offered to play a film actor named Roma in "Madhubala". That helped open more doors for her and she recently entered another show, "Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein". 

Manav Gohil is another name that can be counted in the comeback list. Last seen in Zee TV's "Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo" in 2010, he was back in Channel V's "The Buddy Project".

And who can forget Mukesh Khanna, the "Shaktimaan" of Indian television? He now plays a grandfather in "Pyaar Ka Dard Hai, Meetha Meetha Pyara Pyara".

The industry is constantly opening doors for freshers. But old is gold, and the small screen welcomed its veterans back too this year.

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Ekta wanted me to be cool mom post leap: Mona Singh

An Ekta Kapoor TV show post a leap would typically age a mother by adding a few streaks of white hair, a pair of spectacles and a dash of conservative dressing. But she has broken her own mould by giving actress Mona Singh a more contemporary and cool look in "Kya Huaa Tera Vaada", which has recently gone ahead by 10 years.

Before the leap, which set in just last week, Mona was seen in traditional suits and saris. Post leap, she is seen in kurtis and pants. It was a conscious decision by Ekta, says the actress, who plays a single, independent mother of three in the show.

"I asked Ekta about it - whether she would want me to wear saris in sober colours or what changes would be made to the look. But she said, 'I want you to look like today's mothers. They are much cooler.' So she wanted to bring in the change we are all seeing in our mothers and wanted to portray me as a cool mom, " Mona told IANS over the phone amid a hectic shooting schedule for the show.

"Of course, she said we could add in the spectacles while my character reads or something, but in the overall get up, there isn't much dramatic change, " she added.

"Kya Huaa Tera Vaada", aired on Sony, started as a simple family show, narrating the ups and downs of a middle class family in Mumbai. It took a crucial turn when the man of the house falls back upon a former flame, and trouble ensues for the family.

The story was pushed ahead by a decade after Mona's on screen husband Pradeep, played by Pawan Shankar, was shown dead. Now, her character is shown as a strong lady, who is happy running a restaurant and bringing up her three children, albeit not as a strict mother.

"I think mothers make great friends. Personally, my mother is my best friend and I share all my secrets with her. Moms are so amazing. I see a lot of children have started treating their moms like their friends. That is what we have tried to reflect through our show, and I hope lots of mothers imbibe this attitude too, " Mona said.

She also hopes the show and its turns manage to inspire women in more than one way.

"Such serials are inspiring. It gives a message that no matter what happens, it is important to get a grip on life and get going, " she said.

The show has worked wonders for Mona, who for years, was caught in the image trap of the geeky Jassi of "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin". Though she took up reality shows, both as a contestant and anchor, it is with "Kya Huaa Tera Vaada" that she has been able to set a new image.

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2012: What a leap year for small screen!

The year 2012 has been a 'leap' year in every which way as far as the Indian small screen is concerned. Popular shows like "Pavitra Rishta", "Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai" and "Kya Hua Tera Vaada" are leaping forward - by months or years to take the story forward and keep viewers engaged. 

Zee TV's "Pavitra Rishta" took a six-month leap Monday as did Star Plus' "Yeh Rishta..." that moved five years ahead; Sony's "Kya Hua Tera Vaada" is also expected to move nine or 15 years ahead this week. 

Zee TV's "Hitler Didi" moved ahead by eight years in September and Life OK's "Dil Se Di Dua. Saubhagyavati Bhava" took a leap of seven years around the same time.

The idea is to keep the audience hooked, says actor Sameer Soni, whose show "Parichay: Nayee Zindagi Kay Sapno Ka" on Colors took a nine-year leap in August. 

"It does take a little time to hook on (to a leap in a show), but then with the continuity of the character, it is just a matter of time before viewers start adjusting to the newer show," Sameer told. 

"If this (change) goes well, then 90 percent time, the show is a success. Ultimately, all you do is take the same characters and put them in a new situation," he added. 

Shows like "Pavitra Rishta" and "Uttaran" have taken multiple leaps to keep the story going and it is often done to revive dipping television rating points (TRPs).

Veteran actress Aruna Irani, who has featured in television shows like "Vaidehi", "Jhansi Ki Rani" and "Main Laxmi Tere Aangan Ki", feels it is important for writers to bring a change in the script as the audience tends to get bored with the same plot over time. 

"For how long can you talk about the same thing? It is definitely very important to take a turn because even the audience will not like the same thing for a long time. The writer has to turn the story around after some time because it has to hold your interest," Aruna told IANS. 

The trend is not new.
Ekta Kapoor's trendsetting shows "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahi Thi", "Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii" and "Kasauti Zindagi Kay", which ruled the roost for a long time, popularised the formula.

At that time, however, a leap meant the addition of a white streak in the hairstyle, or a pair of spectacles, or more conservative blouses, or a walking stick. The leaps are a tad different now.

When the story of "Bade Achche Lagte Hain" moved five years ahead, actress Sakshi Tanwar's character Priya was shown to be more modern in her dressing than before. Same was the case with actress Renuka Israni, who plays Priya's mother in the show.

In "Uttaran", actress Tina Dutta was shown in a double role post the leap. In one role, she played middle-aged Ichcha, clad in simple and dull saris, while in the role of Ichcha's look-alike daughter Meethi, she was seen in bright and colourful fusion wear. 

Also, earlier, the leaps were long - as much as 20 years. But that has reduced to a few years, and sometimes, as less as six months, as in the case of "Pavitra Rishta".

Often, actors leave shows after a leap for the simple reason that they don't want to look older than their own age.

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Kya Huaa Tera Vaada set for time leap?

TV czarina Ekta Kapoor continues her love for time leaps in her shows. Now her soap "Kya Huaa Tera Vaada" is soon set to be going ahead in time.

The show might witness a leap of nine or 15 years, a source told.

"Kya Huaa Tera Vaada", aired on Sony, features actors Mona Singh and Pawan Shankar in the prominent roles of Mona and Pradeep, respectively.

The current track shows Pradeep being framed by Anushka Sarkar (Mouli Ganguly) for the murder of Shaurya Mitra (Chetan Hansraj), while Mona is trying hard to prove her husband Pradeep is innocent.

Who will remain in the show, and who will exit it post the leap is still unknown.

The news of the leap comes just a day after it was officially announced that Ekta's "Pavitra Rishta", aired on Zee TV, will take a six-month leap next week.

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Five celebrities to host 5th Gold Awards

Five small screen celebrities, including Mona Singh and Ali Asghar, will host the fifth edition of the Gold Awards, to be held here Saturday to recognise and celebrate excellence in Indian television.

Karan Wahi, Manish Paul and Nisha Rawal will also take the stage as anchors for the evening.

Karan will co-host the red carpet segment with Nisha, and they would welcome the Who's Who from the TV industry.

Manish is bound to keeps the audiences glued to their seats along with the poised Mona, who has hosted various shows over the years, and Ali is expected to be in his elements, pulling up gags on celebrities in the audience.

The event will be showcased on Zee TV at a later date.

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Mona Singh loves rain!

Actress Mona Singh loves everything about Mumbai's monsoon - be it driving around in her car or eating roadside goodies with a hot cup of tea!

Mona, who is seen on Sony's "Kya Hua Tera Vaada", finds monsoon the most romantic weather. It compels her to go out on a long drive.

For gastronomic delights, she loves to gorge on bhelpuri and chaat, with 'cutting chai'.

Mona also feels the perfect way to spend a monsoon evening at home would be by watching either a horror movie or a romantic film like "Kuch Kuch Hota Hain", said a source.

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