Showing posts with label Aasif Sheikh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aasif Sheikh. Show all posts
I have done 125 films. All of them together don’t match up to Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai-Aasif Sheikh
9:02 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 28, 2025)
All it took was a year of working with Shilpa Shinde — before she quit Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai — for co-star Aasif Sheikh to miss her through the next nine years. Naturally, he is elated that the actor has returned to the show. “I used to wish at times for this to happen because we have done some amazing work. I always missed my chemistry with her,” he smiles.
Shinde became a household name playing Angoori Bhabhi on the comedy show. She was later replaced by Shubhangi Atre. However, when the show rebranded as Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai 2.0, Shinde made a comeback. For Sheikh, it has been a bittersweet experience — welcoming an old friend while bidding farewell to a co-star of nine years.
“When Shubhangi came, I took time to adjust to her because she hadn’t done comedy before. [Eventually], things settled, but Shilpa was missed throughout. She had created a benchmark in one year. When she left, people shared their [disappointment]. Shubhangi worked very hard and fixed herself in Shilpa’s shoes. We were told, ‘There is a new show now. So, Shubhangi wasn’t being replaced. She just backed off. Shilpa has taken over.’ That’s how I approached it,” claims Sheikh.
The actor’s attachment to the show supersedes every other professional opportunity. Even though he believes there is a “stigma” attached to television actors, he has chosen loyalty over ambition.
“There is a demarcation [between] TV actors, film actors, and OTT actors. It takes time for an actor on TV to get into OTT or films because [makers] don’t trust [us],” he says, adding, “I can’t give time to cinema. I recently left a massive film because the makers wanted 25 days in two months. My producer said she couldn’t shoot the show without me. This show is my priority. It gave me everything. I have done 125 films. All of them together don’t match up to this show.”
Film version of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai shot in 20 days; Ravi Kishan, Mukesh Tiwari join cast
9:14 AM
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 26, 2025)
Popular sitcom Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! is making its way to the big screen. HT City has exclusively learnt that while the main cast — Shubhangi Atre, Rohitashv Gour and Aasif Sheikh — will return, new faces like Ravi Kishan, Mukesh Tiwari, and Brijendra Kala will also be part of the film.
The film was shot entirely in Mussoorie and Dehradun — in 20 days! We reached out to Shubhangi, who plays the role of Angoori Bhabhi confirmed the quick shoot and joked, “We should be in the Guinness Records!”
She further shared, “Bohot thand mein shooting ki humne. It was exciting, and the shoot was completed in March. It’s a complete laughter ride!”
Will there be any change in the treatment of her character in the film? “Angoori kuch alag karti hui dikhegi. It is a surprise for the fans. The love they have given to the show, I hope they give to the film as well! Bohot dil se banayi hui film hai!” Shubhangi says.
She has announced her exit from the TV show after 10 years, saying, “I have lived and loved this character with all my heart, but now it is time to move on.” Her final appearance will be next week.
The news of my health has been blown out of proportion-Aasif Sheikh
8:44 AM
Akash Wadhwa (BOMBAY TIMES; March 26, 2025)
The news of Aasif Sheikh collapsing on the sets of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, in Dehradun and being rushed to the hospital spread like wildfire on Monday. And even though Aasif has been unwell for the past one week, he says the news was blown out of proportion.
"The news of my health has been blown out of proportion. I was definitely very unwell, but the news of me being hospitalized and rushed to Mumbai is not true. I was shooting for an action sequence in Dehradun where the whole cast of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain! was shooting for the film, which is being made on the show. We have been shooting for around a month now there," he says, adding, "There was a lot of physical stress, and my back was paining a lot. So, I went to the vanity to give my back a little rest. After relaxing for a few minutes, I got up to shoot for my sequence, and while I was walking, I had a major muscle spasm and was in a lot of pain. It was basically a sciatica pain but I couldn't stand or walk."
However, Aasif shot for his part with heavy medication. "It was the second last day of the shoot. I took heavy painkillers and shot for the last few scenes. Since I couldn't stand and walk, I came back to Mumbai in a wheelchair. I am on painkillers and steroids and now I am due for an MRI today. I have been on bed rest ever since I returned to Mumbai. I am slowly recovering. I am not able to put my foot on the floor and I am still limping."
Talking about the time spent in Dehradun, he says, "I started shooting for the film in Dehradun on February 26 and finished on March 17. The city is beautiful. We had a great time and the weather to shoot and since the weather was so comfortable, the potential to shoot becomes better for actors. We also went to Mussoorie, and it was bitterly cold and also experienced a hailstorm there. I have been to Dehradun several times before as well. I went to Ellora bakery to buy some stuff for myself and although I was heavily disguised and had my face covered, the lady at the counter recognized me."
Apart from physical discomfort, Aasif has also suffered an emotional blow. He has lost his close friend writer Manoj Santoshi on Monday, who was also the writer of the show Bhabhiji... "I lost a very good friend," says an emotional Aasif, adding, "My relationship with Manoj Santoshi goes back several years back. He was a great talent — a great writer. Not many people know that he was a great singer too. Hamari bahot gaane-bajane ki mehefilein bhi hoti thi. We first met each other during the show Yes Boss. For this character of Vibhuti Narayan Mishra he told me that he wrote it keeping me in mind. For the past six months he had been struggling with his health issues. And when I went to meet him in Hyderabad, I knew something majorly was wrong with him seeing his drastic weight loss. But he has left a big void in my life. More than me, Shilpa Shinde, who has been with Manoj in his fight with his liver ailment, is in a state of shock. When she called me to tell me about Manoj's demise she was crying bitterly. She was all alone with Manoj and I have a deep respect for Shilpa — aaj ke time pe koi apna itna nahi karta jitna Shilpa ne Manoj ke liye kiya."
------------------------------------------
Actor Aasif Sheikh, who was hospitalized after collapsing at the shoot of his film recently, says that his “body just gave up due to exertion”
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 26, 2025)
Actor Aasif Sheikh left his family, friends and family deeply worried when he recently collapsed during the shoot of his upcoming film in Dehradun. The actor was filming an action sequence on March 16, when he fainted after complaining of a searing pain on the left side of his body.
Aasif, who was rushed to a hospital nearby, has since returned to Mumbai. Sharing his health update with us, he says, “I am okay now, but full recovery will take a few more days. I am being administered injections every alternate day and have been advised complete bed rest.”
Talking about what went wrong, he says, “I think my body just gave up due to exertion. I already had slip-disc issues, and that, along with sciatic nerve pain, made my left leg totally numb. On that day, I couldn’t take the pain anymore and phir kya hua, I don’t know.”
Aasif, who is under observation, adds that he will also undergo an MRI scan. “Hopefully, I will be back in another couple of days,” he says. His upcoming film is based on his ongoing TV comedy show, Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai.
Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai to be a film soon
11:12 PM
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 13, 2025)
One of the longest-running TV comedy dailies, Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! is set to be made into a feature film.
Actor Rohitashv Gour (who portrays Manmohan Tiwari) confirms the news, saying, “Ji, wakayi yeh sach hai! We are super excited, as actors we all dream to see ourselves back on the silver screen and it’s happening. It’s like a dream come true.”
“It’s because of our fans’ love that we are getting to be part of such a huge leap. I joined the show much later but today it’s my family,” says actor Vidisha Srivastava (who portrays Anita Mishra) adding, “The essence of the show will remain, and we promise bahut saara dhamaal for the audience.”
A source from the production unit shares that the star cast will include Rohitashv and Vidisha, Aasif Sheikh (who plays Vibhuti Narayan Mishra), and Shubhangi Atre (Angoori Tiwari) alongside other characters who have been part of the show’s success. The film, which will be directed by Shashank Bali, will be released this year. Shooting will commence from March 15 in Dehradun (Uttarakhand) in a start-to-finish schedule.
The show has been running for 10 years in the prime-time slot, having aired over 2,500 episodes.
I was quite frustrated when I was doing films-Aasif Sheikh
8:28 AM
Akash Wadhwa (BOMBAY TIMES; January 20, 2024)
In Lucknow recently, actor Aasif Sheikh better known as Vibhuti Narayan Mishra from Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! made the most of his visit to the city. "I usually do not eat a full meal but when I came to Lucknow and went to eat the famous delicacies at a local restaurant, after a long time I ate pett bhar ke," shared the actor, adding, "I have been to Lucknow so many times. I came here when my first film, Rama O Rama was released in 1989. Lucknow has a lot of heritage value. Also, I have shared a special bond with UP as both my parents are from Banaras. And since my father was a Kaamil in Urdu, which is a degree in the language, my tallafuz (diction) in Urdu is so clear to date. He always stressed on the 'aap' while addressing each other at home. We, as children, were not allowed to go casual in our language despite living in Delhi, which helped me a lot later in life, especially in my profession."
'I have been updating my comedy'
Starting as a villain in the industry, Aasif is now tagged as a comedian because of his long association with the show Bhabi Ji... "I do not want to break the mold of a comedian that I am tagged as now. I enjoy comedy and it is my comfort zone. As a break from comedy, I do serious roles now and then in theatre. I am not desperate to do a non-comic role as I have got a lot of variation in Bhabi Ji. I have played more than 350 characters on that show. I have been updating my comedy also over the years and do not let the fatigue come into my work. Today for an actor, the fight is to stay relevant," he says.
'I would like to take a break once Bhabhi Ji ends'
Being part of the show Bhabi Ji for almost a decade now, Aasif has a lot of plans in store when the show ends. "I would like to take a break once Bhabi Ji ends, at least for six months. I would like to do new plays which I have been wanting to do for a long time. I believe theatre gives you a lot of confidence as an actor, a lot of poise, good body language, and an outlook as it is a live medium," he says.
Reason for a shift from cinema to TV
When I used to do cinema, I always complained that I was not getting good roles. My main reason for doing television was to get that due respect for my work. Whatever I have right now is because of the medium. I did cinema for about seven years, but I earned the respect on TV. I was quite frustrated when I was doing films and when I was out of work for sometime.
39 Years of Hum Log: "The show had a soul, it connected with everyone"
9:02 AM
Divya Kaushik (BOMBAY TIMES; August 9, 2023)
Known for its relatable content and simplistic approach, India’s first soap opera, Hum Log, completed 39 years recently. The actors who were part of the series reflect on how the show connected with Indian families and made them household names.
HUM LOG WAS A GAME-CHANGER FOR ME: AASIF SHEIKH
Aasif Sheikh fondly recalls the day when he went for the audition for a small part in Hum Log. The actor, who made his acting debut as Prince Ajay Singh in the show, recalls, “I had just finished school and joined theatre when I got to know about this show. Back then, the concept of a TV soap was like a dream for every actor. I was so nervous during the audition that I thought there was no way I could get it, but in the evening, I got a call that I had to go for rehearsals at Himachal Bhawan, and my character will be in the show for three episodes. And those three episodes extended to 60-70! As an actor, Hum Log was a great learning experience, I would say that it was a game-changer for me.
THE SHOW TOUCHED PEOPLE’S HEARTS: KAMIYA MULHOTRA
Hum Log was Kamiya Mulhotra’s first acting assignment and it was offered to her by the show’s writer Manohar Shyam Joshi, who also wrote Buniyaad. She says, “I had completed my schooling and expressed my desire to pursue an acting course to my parents. One day, my mother was going to meet a writer at a coffee house in CP and asked me to come along. The writer was Manohar Shyam Joshi. He asked me what I was doing, and I told him that I wanted to be an actor. He just looked at me and asked me, ‘main Indian TV ka pehla soap opera likh raha hu, tum kaam karogi?’ I was overjoyed. That’s how I started my acting career.”
IT WAS A REFLECTION OF SOCIETY AND ITS ISSUES BACK THEN: SEEMA PAHWA
Seema Pahwa, who played the character of Badki in Hum Log, says that she had her first taste of fame after the show. “The best part of that show was its honest and simplistic approach. It was a reflection of society and its issues back then, aur jis sachchai aur imaandaari se woh dikhaya gaya tha woh logo ko aaj bhi yaad hai. Hum uss show se pehli baar star bane thay. For the first time, people wanted to get clicked with us, take our autographs wherever we went. The kind of popularity we got was no less than what any film star would get in that era.”
She adds, “Those two years were a turning point in my life, behatareen din thay woh. Even today, for everyone who has watched Hum Log, I am still Badki. My kids asked me one day ki aapka naam Badki tha kya.”
NO ONE COULD MATCH HUM LOG’S CONTENT TILL TODAY: ABHINAV CHATURVEDI
Abhinav Chaturvedi, who played Nanhe in the show, says, “The best part of the show was its content, which no one could match till today. The show appealed to people of all age groups. It was everyone’s story and that is why people cancelled appointments, and parties were not hosted at that time just because they wanted to watch Hum Log. In fact, the cinema business was affected a great deal because people refused to go to 6 pm and 9 pm shows on Tuesdays and Saturdays as they wanted to watch Hum Log,” he adds.
Did You Know?
- Hum Log was created on the lines of a Mexican TV series, Ven Conmigo (1975), using the education-entertainment methodology.
- It was shot in Delhi and Gurgaon.
- Special cars were arranged for Sushma Seth and Vinod Nagpal, who were senior actors on the show, while the rest of the cast used to travel in a van to the shooting location in Gurgaon.
- Each episode concluded with a message from Ashok Kumar (below), who reportedly received more than 400,000 letters from young viewers requesting him to convince their parents to let them marry the partner of their choice.
- As per reports, Ashok Kumar would wear sunglasses while shooting the epilogue, because he didn’t want the audience to know that he was reading from the teleprompter.
I regret not being able to dub with Satish Kaushik for our last film together-Aasif Sheikh
8:31 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; March 26, 2023)
Veteran actor-filmmaker Satish Kaushik’s untimely demise on March 9 left everyone in shock. Amongst many mourning his loss is Aasif Sheikh, who is popularly known as Vibhuti Narayan Mishra from Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! The actor also feels fortunate that he got an opportunity to reunite with him for the upcoming film, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan 26 years after sharing screen space in Banarasi Babu (1997).
He says, “I was deeply saddened when I learnt of Satish ji’s demise. He was a lovely, easy-going and hassle-free person. He was also knowledgeable and had an impeccable understanding of cinema. I have immense love and respect for him.”
What made coming to terms with his passing even more difficult was that Aasif had to dub his lines for scenes in which he acted with the late actor-filmmaker. He recalls, “All my scenes are with him. While he completed his part of the dubbing, I had to delay my portion because of a tight schedule. I had to dub a few days after his passing, but I couldn’t muster the courage to dub my lines while watching Satish ji on screen. I finally completed it last week. I regret not being able to dub with him.”
He adds, “Satish ji was a warm person, never petty. He would talk only about good things and had a positive outlook on life. We were always together during the shoot, and he would share stories, anecdotes, and his experience. Bada mazaa aata tha unke kisse aur kahaniyaan sunne mein. He had an uncanny and unusual sense of humour, which became his signature style. But what struck me the most was his humility as a person. His simplicity was his most endearing quality. ”
Long working hours, last-minute script changes: Is this still the reality of the TV industry?
8:09 AM
After Radhika Madan’s recent statement on the working hours in the television industry, we take a look at how the functioning in telly land has changed over the years
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; February 3, 2023)
Radhika Madan, who made a transition from television to films, recently spoke about the work culture in the TV industry. In an interview, Radhika, who started her career with the TV show Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi, which was on air from 2014-16, said that she did 48 hour-shifts and the scripts, too, were never written in advance. She said that a director had once told her that if she wanted to understand a character well, that can be done in a film, but on TV, owing to telecast issues, one can’t focus on the script.
Radhika was slammed by actress Sayantani Ghosh and producer Ekta Kapoor for not being grateful to the TV industry that gave her a break in showbiz. However, the truth is, the working hours in the TV industry have always been hectic. In fact, 10 years ago, they were far more erratic, but in recent times, the conditions have improved considerably. We take a look at how things have changed in the tellyindustry over the past four decades...
‘WORKING IN THE 80S WAS MORE RELAXED BECAUSE THERE WAS JUST ONE CHANNEL’
In the 80s, there was only Doordarshan and shows aired just once a week. The actors got ample time to prepare for their scenes and so did the technicians. Veteran actress Sushmita Mukherjee, who became popular as Kitty in Karamchand, which aired in 1985, shares her experience of working at that time.
Sushmita says, “In those days, the work environment was far more relaxed and since it was a weekly show, we used to get a lot of time to rehearse. There were no issues with telecast because we had only one channel — Doordarshan. Later, with more channels and daily soaps taking over, the scenario changed.”
‘THINGS CHANGED WITH SATELLITE CHANNELS COMING IN. RATINGS BECAME MORE IMPORTANT’
The early 90s saw the advent of satellite channels, and gradually with more channels coming in, things began to change. Sushmita, who continued to work on TV, recounts, “When satellite channels came in, TV shows became market-driven products. I worked in shows like Kavvyanjali, Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo, Kabhi Saas Kabhi Bahu and Balika Vadhu. We did have long working hours — 12-16 hour shifts — but that was the nature of the beast. I have seen days when we used to sleep on the sets due to long working hours. But it was a question of our bread and butter and we also got to play interesting roles.”
‘SCRIPTS WERE CHANGED LAST MINUTE BECAUSE OF THE TRP PRESSURE’
Television Rating Point (TRP) became the buzzword in the millennium and hence scripts of shows were constantly altered to boost ratings. This happens to date. Nausheen Ali Sardar, who played the title role in Kkusum (2001), says, “I remember in those days, sometimes we used to wait till midnight for final approvals on the script because it was undergoing changes. Script taaza aa rahi hai is a sentence that has been used since those days, it’s not new.”
However, the actress does not blame anyone for this. She says, “I don’t think anyone can be blamed for it because that is the nature of the medium.”
‘IF ACTORS ARE NOT HAPPY, THEY SHOULD CHANGE THEIR PROFESSION’
Echoing the general sentiment of makers, producer Benaifer Kohli says, “We did have long working hours in the past, but no one put a gun on anyone’s head even then. We don’t work beyond 12 hours now. Things are definitely more organized and better today. If one is still not happy with things, then they should change their profession. But after doing TV and climbing the ladder, you can’t say TV had long working hours... there is no need to demean the profession. Everyone knows how TV actors have earned and bought multiple houses, luxurious cars and prospered.”
‘ACTORS SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRAVELLING’
Aasif Sheikh, who has been a part of the telly industry for more than three decades and is currently seen in Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, says, “Long working hours are a part of the business. Sets are situated in Naigaon and far-off areas, as a result, actors spend a lot of time travelling and don’t have much of a social life. Of course, you earn a lot of money, fame and adulation, which you wouldn’t get in any other medium, but a proper system needs to be in place.”
Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai actor Deepesh Bhan passes away at 41
8:31 AM
The actor was playing cricket on Saturday morning when he collapsed
Hasti Doshi (BOMBAY TIMES; July 24, 2022)
The sudden death of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai actor, Deepesh Bhan, has shocked the television industry. The 41-year-old actor breathed his last yesterday. He was playing cricket near his home when he collapsed and was rushed to a hospital. His co-actors from the show, who were supposed to shoot with him later in the day, say that they are unable to come to terms with his sudden demise.
His co-actor Charrul Malik said, “I had met him on Friday, and he was fine. We even made a few reels together. I have known him for the last eight years, and he was closest to me on the sets. We used to eat our food together. I just can’t believe this. Apart from being a talented actor, he was a great human being too. We have lost an amazing human and an actor.” Deepesh played the role of Malkhan on the show and was known for his comic timing.
Rohitashv Gour, who was among the cast members scheduled to shoot with Deepesh yesterday, said, “Our call time for the show was a little late yesterday. So, I think after his gym, he went to a ground to play cricket. It was a part of his fitness routine. But while playing the sport, he suddenly collapsed and fell. This is a big shock for all of us. He led a healthy lifestyle and was a fitness enthusiast. I don’t know how to express what I am feeling right now.”
The actor was also seen in shows like May I Come in Madam? and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
The producers of the show, Benaifer Kohli and Sanjay Kohli shared, “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden demise of our beloved Deepesh Bhan. He was one of the most dedicated actors in Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai and like our family. He will be deeply missed by all. Our heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
-------------------------------------
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 24, 2022)
Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai actor Deepesh Bhan passed away on Saturday morning while playing cricket at 43. His co-star, veteran actor Aasif Sheikh revealed to us that Bhan suffered a brain haemorrhage.
As per Sheikh, Bhan went to the gym at 7 am and stopped to play cricket in his building’s compound in Mumbai “He bowled an over, got down to get the ball, got up, swayed for while and fell down. He never got up,” Sheikh shares. He was announced dead on arrival at the hospital. “There was blood coming out of his eyes, it’s a clear sign of brain haemorrhage, the doctor said,” Sheikh adds.
Talking about her bond with Bhan, showrunner Benaifer Kohli says, “He was sensitive. I was like a mother (to him). He was my favourite and was with us for the last 17 years. I still cannot believe he’s gone.”
Bhan is survived by his wife and an eighteen-month-old son.
For 5 1/2 years I was with Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai and there was absolutely no time to do anything-Saumya Tandon
8:20 AM
Divya Kaushik (BOMBAY TIMES; July 23, 2022)
It has been almost two years since Saumya Tandon aka Anita Vibhuti Narayan Sharma of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! quit the show and the actress says that since then, she has got a chance to do things she missed doing while being a part of a daily soap. “I am pretty relaxed right now. After doing 15-16 years of work in this industry, I have worked in long formats, done shows back-to-back, and gone through this grind. Now there is no desire to be seen every day on screen, but there’s a desire to up my game. I am quite liking this phase right now because for five-and-a-half-years I was with Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai and there was absolutely no time to do anything. It was very exhausting. Then the pandemic happened and I decided to concentrate on my health, and I travelled. Right now, I am travelling, anchoring for various events and chat shows, and trying out different formats. These short formats are a nice break for me because I was not doing it as much,” says the actress, who was recently in Delhi for two days for a shoot.
‘I DON’T MISS DOING BHABI JI...’
The actress says that she was warned about quitting the show, which was one of the most successful TV shows at that time, and her character was widely popular. However, she doesn’t regret her decision. “I don’t miss that show. I keep in touch with everybody from the show because we are like family now. ”
Saumya says, “Aasif Sheikh ji, the director and writer of Bhabi Ji.., we still meet once a month or so and have those mehfils of song and poetry over which we all bonded. But I don’t miss doing Bhabi Ji... because I think I had done my bit.”
She adds, “It is a better strategy to take risks and leave the tried and tested, and try new things. If you are ambitious and restless for good work, it becomes a little stifling after a bit to keep repeating yourself. There was a point when I realised that I had done everything I could have done in that show. I thought that if I continue, I would be doing it for money and fame, and that is not right for an artiste. I have come here to improve and explore. When I decided to quit the show, everyone told me that this was going to be very risky – because what I am trying to get, that may or may not happen, and then I would lose what I have now. I was in a successful position as the show was a hit, and the character was very popular. But I thought it is risky to not take risks. I have never been scared or insecure. If you have to stay in this game for long, you need to adapt and reinvent yourself.”
‘MIGHT START SHOOTING FOR A PROJECT SOON’
Saumya has been travelling for events and anchoring projects and she says she is up for signing a new project, most likely on an OTT platform. “I will sign up for something soon, maybe in the OTT space. There are a lot of offers, but nothing has really excited me much. When the role is good, the platform is not great, and when the platform is great then they are giving me a small part. I am just waiting for the right project. I also have been wanting to get into content production. It is still in its initial stages,” she shares.
Saumya played a small role in Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met in the initial days of her career, but she says that is not the kind of role she would take up now. “I think if I would get a role like Roop (in Jab We Met) now, I would not take it up. These small roles keep coming to me and I keep saying no. I really liked the director and the film, so I said yes and it is one of my favourite films, but right now, it is important for me to do a part which suits me as an actor. I can’t do a blink-and-miss role only because it is a superstar film. Now that I am experienced, I am way more assertive and confident,” says Saumya.
‘I WOULD LIKE TO DO A STREET FOOD TOUR IN DELHI’
Not many would know that Saumya studied in Delhi, and used to stay with her sister in Alaknanda and now her in-laws are in Delhi, too. Coming to Delhi every time brings back a lot of memories for her. This time, she was shooting in Gurgaon for two days.
She couldn’t take out enough time to spend in Delhi, but she says she is looking forward to doing a street food trail in Delhi, the next time she is here. “I had so much fun shooting in Gurgaon, even though it was so hot and shooting in such extreme weather conditions was quite a challenge. I was working with a team from Delhi and they were so warm,” she says.
Reminiscing about her college days in Delhi, the actress says that the city will always be special to her because she met her life partner here. “I met my life partner (Saurabh Devendra Singh) in Delhi. He was from IIT Delhi, his IIT Delhi roommate was dating my best friend, and he had come to meet us in our campus, and that was the first time I met him. Later, he left Delhi and went to IIM Ahmedabad. When my mother fell sick he came to see her, and we went to Dilli Haat for dinner and had momos and fruit beer – that was the first time I had a dating experience.”
Saumya adds, “I would love to go on a street food trail in Delhi. I think you get the best Indian food here. In college, we hardly used to have money to go to restaurants, so whenever someone would get good grades, we would get a treat at Tanku Ka Dhaba (in Qutub Institutional Area). Also, Delhi is the best place to shop – be it for home decor, clothes or silver jewellery, which is one of my favourite things to shop whenever I am here.”
Recreating Mehmood’s magic wasn’t easy-Aasif Sheikh
8:05 AM
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 11, 2019)
The song from the 1968 cult comedy, Padosan, “Ek Chatur Naar”, in which a lovestruck Mehmood challenges moony-eyed Sunil Dutt to a musical duel to impress Saira Banu, is being recreated for the TV show, Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai. Angoori bhabhi wants to learn classical Carnatic music but her usually brusque and stingy husband, Manmohan Tiwari, refuses to let her hire a teacher. Their neighbour, Vibhuti Narayan Mishra, overhears their conversation and transforms into Master Pillai, complete with a bald pate, dhoti and kurta, and offers his services.Speaking about his transformation, Aasif Sheikh, who plays Vibhuti, shared, “Recreating Mehmood’s magic wasn’t easy, I had to closely follow his mannerisms and comic timing to bring the character to life.”
Shubhangi Atre Poorey, as Angoori Bhabi, revealed that she has watched the film over 20 times. “Recreating this cinematic classic has been an amazing experience,” she gushed.
Aasif Sheikh reunites with Salman Khan after 12 years, for Bharat
8:02 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 29, 2018)
After ace comedian Sunil Grover, the makers of Ali Abbas Zafar’s Salman Khan-starrer Bharat have roped in Aasif Sheikh, popularly known as Vibhuti Narayan Mishra from the TV show Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai for a pivotal role. Aasif has earlier worked with Salman in Karan Arjun, Bandhan, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa, Auzaar and Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar.
“I have only three friends, and Atul (Agnihotri, Bharat producer) is one
of them, so I was more than happy to be a part of this film. Also, I
really like Ali Abbas Zafar as a director and I can’t wait to
collaborate with Salman again. I am playing his sister’s husband in the
film who always delivers these one-liners and there is a big time span
that we cover together. I have known Salman since his Maine Pyar Kiya
days. He is a very special person,” says Aasif, adding that he has been
discussing his character with Ali to make it more interesting. “I will
not disappoint you,” he promises.Aasif was last seen in Kader Kashmiri’s 2016 film Aman Ke Farishtey. Prod him on why he hasn’t been taking up more films and he says, “I have been getting offers, but something should interest me, and my focus presently is on my TV show. It caters to people from ages 4 to 80. In fact, just a few days ago, while I was waiting in my car for the signal to turn green, a young boy of about four from the car next to mine called out to me by my character’s name — Vibhu. The show has given me fame, name and money too and I don’t want to lose out on it for just anything. However, Bharat is special, and I can’t wait to start work on it,” smiles Aasif, sharing one of the memorable incidents while working with Salman on a previous film.
“Whenever I shoot with him, I invariably end up in his vanity van for a chat. I remember one day, a big star had come to meet Salman, so I told him I’ll go out, but he insisted that I stay put as I am his friend too. He is a great human being and hasn’t changed at all over the years,” says Aasif.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)