Showing posts with label Achint Kaur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Achint Kaur. Show all posts
Achint Kaur asks for work on Instagram: "Life as an actor is full of peaks and pauses"
8:56 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (May 20, 2025)
On Monday, actor Achint Kaur — best remembered for her roles in popular shows such as Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Jamai Raja — shared a video message on Instagram, candidly reaching out for new work opportunities and leaving netizens in surprise.
In the video titled “On the lookout for new work”, the 54-year-old said: “I am an actor and voice artiste with years of experience across platforms. And right now I am looking for exciting new opportunities both in India and internationally.”
She added that she’s open to short films, series, voice work, and collaborations, and provided contact details for her team. “Basically anything creative, and I’m ready to give it my all,” she said.
Alongside the video, she wrote in the caption: “Life as an actor is full of peaks and pauses… and I’m ready for what’s next. If my work resonates with your vision, I’d love to collaborate. Let’s create something powerful together.”
On the personal front, Achint was in a long-term relationship with actor Mohan Kapur for nearly 19 years before they parted ways. She’s also a single mother to a son in his 30s and has spoken in past interviews about the early challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding career. Reportedly, in recent years, she has divided her time between India and abroad.
Daily soaps were started by soap companies because they wanted to promote their soaps-Manasi Joshi Roy
8:18 AM
Manasi Joshi Roy discusses why the shows in the ’90s achieved cult status as she explores a daily soap with Kyunki… Saas Maa Bahu Beti Hoti Hai
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; September 26, 2023)
Our fondest memory of Manasi Joshi Roy’s work dates back to 1998, when she headlined Saaya with Achint Kaur. “It’s one of my most memorable shows too,” smiles the actor, who has since been selective about her projects, featuring on-and-off in television shows. Now, a year after Yeh Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar, she is returning to the tube with Kyunki… Saas Maa Bahu Beti Hoti Hai, which happens to be only the eighth show in her career.
This time around, Joshi is in no mood to slow down, following up this show with three more projects. In a candid chat with mid-day, Joshi talks about the ’90s, why the new show had her hooked, and more.
Edited excerpts from the interview.
Kyunki… Saas Maa Bahu Beti Hoti Hai (KSMBBHH) revolves around a mother adopting a girl and then announcing that she will be her daughter-in-law when she grows up. That’s presumptuous. What if the kid wanted to change her mind later?
Though my character Ambika Rajgaur [says] this, she adds that it will be a possibility after the family’s batwara [property split]. She thinks she will raise the girl as her daughter-in-law and show people that [it is possible]. She also insists that the girl will have the freedom to choose whether she wants to become her daughter-in-law or not. She also gives the choice to her son and her joint family; otherwise, it would be unfair. The minute I got the brief about the show and the character, I loved it. Rohit [Roy, husband] and I have known producer Guroudev Bhalla for many years, so I knew that his production house will keep me at ease.
The title plays on Ektaa Kapoor’s Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Was that a deliberate move?
The word ‘Kyunki’ gives that feel. Though our show’s title is a mouthful, it tells you in a single line what it is all about.
What is your take on the daily soaps and supernatural shows on television these days?
If you trace back the history of daily soaps, [you would assume] they were meant to entertain homemakers and people sitting at home. That isn’t how it started. It was started by soap companies because they wanted to promote their soaps through afternoon shows. Then primetime shows began. If you see the larger population in India, not everybody has individual TV sets or access to OTT platforms. In such cases, we are catering to an entire family. So, I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. As long as the content is entertaining, it is good.
Many ’90s shows achieved cult status. Why are we unable to repeat the success?
I believe it is because that was an era of weeklies, where people waited [a week] to figure out what happened next. The anticipation of viewing a show has gone away today because now we binge-watch everything. Another reason we did well back then was because television was not ruled purely by TRPs and advertising. There were fantastic filmmakers who were making [shows] at that point in time.
Do you prefer finite shows or long-running soaps?
KSMBBHH has the potential to be a long-running show, primarily because you will want to see what happens in Amrika’s life, especially when she [Kesar Rajgaur] grows up.
Are you trying your hand at OTT entertainment?
After Hansal Mehta’s short in Modern Love Mumbai [2022], I recently finished a film directed by Samit Tiwari, and an OTT show with Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub. Then I have a film with Sanjay Gupta. I am back after a long hiatus, and it is exciting to explore the [different] mediums.
Would you consider revisiting Saaya (1998), your popular show with Achint Kaur?
I consider it one of my most memorable shows, wherein I portrayed a role that I loved. It would be nice if [the makers] could figure out how the characters [have evolved] 15 years after Saaya. Maybe we should talk to UTV and [director] Sanjay Upadhyay. Achint and I would love to do it.
A still from Saaya (1998)
Are television actors losing out on plum roles due to their social media following?
8:21 AM
While actors are upset and feel this emerging trend is unfair, senior producers and casting directors have a different take on this issue
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; October 6, 2021)
Social media earlier was a tool for actors to reveal their real personality and stay connected with fans. But now, in many ways, the fan following dictates if an actor will land interesting projects. While this trend began for web shows, lately, it seems to have percolated into the world of television, too.
‘THE PERCEPTION THAT A HUGE FAN FOLLOWING CAN GET RATINGS FOR A TV SHOW IS BIZARRE’
A few months ago Mouli Ganguly shared how she had lost out on a show because of less followers on social media. Balika Vadhu actress Aasiya Kazi also vented how it was frustrating to lose a project when the makers liked her audition, but she was not selected finally, due to lack of followers on social media. Like these two, many have voiced their unhappiness over this emerging trend. Nia Sharma may not have experienced this herself, but she spoke out against this saying, “It is disrespectful and hurtful for a senior actor like Mouli to lose out on a show because she doesn’t have followers. When I did Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna, there was no social media, but the show did well. The perception that a huge fan following can get ratings for a TV show is bizarre.”
SENIOR PRODUCERS SAY SUCH A THING DOESN’T EXIST
Many senior producers do not agree that such a trend has begun in the TV industry. Producer of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, Benaifer Kohli says, “Even if Katrina Kaif auditions for the role of Bhabi Ji, but doesn’t suit the part, I will not be able to cast her in my show. Every day, there are so many actors who come to us saying we have millions of followers, but TV audiences are not your social media followers. While you might be well-known on social media, people might not connect with you in a TV show if you don’t act well or don’t suit the role.”
She gives the example of TV show Saath Nibhaana Saathiya. “How do you explain the popularity of actresses who played the lead in Saath Nibhaana Saathiya? When Giaa Manek quit the show, Devoleena Bhattacharjee took over. Both the actresses then were not popular on social media, but they got popular because of the character and the script.” Many established producers share a similar thought as Binaifer.
CASTING DIRECTORS ARE DIVIDED ON THIS ISSUE
While some casting directors agree that such a trend is slowly setting in, others feel it’s a wrong perception that actors have. Casting director Amano Dhyan, who has cast actors for many TV and web shows, says, “I admit this is a trend currently, but not as rampant as TV actors feel. There are new producers in the market, who are not confident about their product and want to cast actors with a big fan following. They don’t want to take a risk, so they check actors’ reels and Insta stories. But experienced senior producers cast actors on the basis of auditions and talent.”
However, casting director Abhishek Singh, who has cast actors in shows like Anupamaa, Pratigyaa, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlataa Hai and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, does not agree with this and says, “I don’t feel any TV actor is cast in a show for his fan following. Just because you have not agreed on certain terms with the makers and are not doing a show, does not give you the excuse to blame it on social media. I don’t see any lead actor on TV right now, who is there because he has a million followers and no experience of working in a TV show.”
IS SOCIAL MEDIA FAN FOLLOWING REAL?
Achint Kaur feels times are changing and one has to accept it. She says, “The fact is that social media is here to stay. If some makers want traction online for their TV shows, why not? If they want a popular face who has a good fan following, it is a reality and we all have to accept it.”
However, the general feeling among actors who do not have a huge following on social media is that it’s unfair. Mayank Gandhi, who has worked in TV shows like Kaala Teeka, says, “I have actually been auditioned for projects and selected for a role, but at the last minute, someone else got selected for it. I was told that his social media fan following was better, but everyone knows that followers can be bought. Does it mean you have to pay money to be cast in a show? Also, social media fan following is a big hoax because you could be a star on social media and yet people would not recognise you in real life. Sometimes, I feel that it is not about social media, but an excuse to cast actors who are new and will work in lower budgets for them.”
After 2 States, Achint Kaur back on TV
7:50 AM
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; May 21, 2014)
Anyone who’s seen 2 States will remember Shipra masi, Amrita Singh’s loud but loving sister. Achint Kaur, who has played the Punjabi character, has been getting an overwhelming response for her small but substantial role. “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing. It’s amazing the kind of feedback this role has got. I have done quite a few films earlier but Shipra masi has registered. I got lucky as the casting director thought of me in a different look, not the typical sari-clad one,” gushes Achint. For the actress who is a Punjabi, playing the role was cakewalk, yet she had her apprehensions. “I was scared of going overboard. I had to be loud but natural and the director helped me along the way,” she says modestly.
For an actress, who started out with bold serials like Banegi Apni Baat and Swabhimaan, it must have been a step down to play conventional roles in serials like Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Karam Apna Apna among others. “I had to change my mindset. I had played hep contemporary characters, so essaying traditional ones needed a bit of getting used to. However, I could relate to them because I am a small-town girl from Meerut. Also, earlier we used to cater to niche audience but when middle-class boomed, the viewership changed and we had to cater to that. I think we should be able to do everything,” says Achint happy that characters are no longer black and white on TV, but grey.
Ask her what kept her away from the small-screen (she was last seen in Jhansi Ki Rani) and Achint says after working for over 15 years she just wanted a break. “I got busy with two plays Dinner With Friends and Two To Tango, Three To Jive, which took all my time. I am doing another play Big Fat City. I was also doing films. It was only a few months ago that I felt the urge to go back to TV but it took a while because once you are away you take time to reconnect,” says Achint who will be back on TV with Jamai Raja, a serial based on the Anil Kapoor-Madhuri Dixit-Hema Malini starrer. “I have given an experimental look test but I can’t tell you anything more about the role or the serial because we are yet to start shooting,” says the actress.
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