After his stint in multiple reality shows with his wife, actor Ankita Lokhande, Vicky Jain is all set to venture into his partner’s profession. The businessman is making his TV acting debut with the show Fauji 2, and he is quite excited about it: “I’m fortunate enough to be acting. By now, I have gained a little experience in facing the camera. So, that was not difficult, but I must say that acting is a serious business. Usually, Ankita helps me out. This is the first time she’s not around, and I had that fear in my mind. But then she told me that it’s my time to just go out and have fun.”

Crediting his wife for her full support, Jain says, “Ankita has been my rock. She boosts my confidence saying, ‘Yes, you can do it and I’m going to be there’.”

Fauji 2 takes the legacy of actor Shah Rukh Khan’s acting debut project (Fauji, 1989) ahead, and Jain says that they have the superstar’s approval: “Sandeep (Singh, producer) informed him, and he was quite happy about it. We might visit him soon and take his blessings.”

Ask Jain why the show chose to air on Doordarshan and not on any General Entertainment Channels (GEC) or OTT platforms and he says, “The TRP of Doordarshan is much bigger than any other GEC because it is widely watched in remote areas, where cables and dishes are still non-existent. Secondly, Doordarshan is planning to reinvent themselves. They are planning to come with their OTT channel as well.”

Confusion around India’s official submission to the Oscars started on Tuesday morning, when the makers of Swantantrya Veer Savarkar announced that their film had been “officially submitted” to the Oscars, thanking the FFI for “this remarkable appreciation.” This came a day after the FFI (Film Federation Of India) announced Laapataa Ladies as this year’s submission.

When HT City reached out to FFI president Ravi Kottakara, he laughed at the claim, saying, “They (the makers) have given some wrong communication... Only Laapataa Ladies has been sent for Oscars from India officially.”

The announcement was a collab Instagram post by co-producer Sandeep Singh, and the film’s production houses and actor Ankita Lokhande. However, director and lead actor Randeep Hooda did not share any updates on his social media. A source close to the situation told us, “This is very shady. Even a quote attributed to Randeep was given out in press releases when he has not given a quote.”

We tried to reach out to Hooda, but he was unavailable for comment. There was no response from Singh and Lokhande either.

--------------------------------------------------

I didn’t know when the film was submitted; I was told about it on Monday. Going to the Oscars is a big milestone. I am, of course, very happy.

- ANAND PANDIT, CO-PRODUCER OF THE FILM

Pick up any season of Bigg Boss, and there is much happening on camera—from tasks to controversies, from flirtations to feuds. But things are equally dramatic off camera too. Do you know what happened after Bigg Boss season 2 contestants Rahul Mahajan and Raja Chaudhary breached the rules and jumped off the set’s outer wall? Or when Imam Siddiqui demanded to walk out of the sixth season? While we’ve seen the on-camera action for many years, this time, we zoom in on the people behind the camera who join forces every year to give us the reality show. From identifying interesting contestants to watching endless hours of footage, from running dummy episodes to setting up more than 100 cameras, they tell us what it takes to orchestrate one of the biggest reality shows.

Deepak Dhar, Founder and Group CEO, Banijay Asia & EndemolShine India, remembers that he watched the original Big Brother, a Dutch show, on DVD way back in 2005. The international team (of Banijay) had a simple ask—would it be possible to adapt the show in India?

“I was shocked when I watched it because a show like this is highly volatile and risqué. I couldn’t have watched the DVD with my family in the room. It was difficult to even fathom something like this could work in India, but I took it up as a challenge,” shares Dhar.

He pitched the adaptation to several broadcasters until Sony TV first picked it up. To date, Dhar remembers that the first contestant to enter the Bigg Boss house in 2006 was Salil Ankola, after which no one entered the house for over an hour due to a technical glitch. In the meantime, Ankola grew anxious, wondering if he was the only contestant on the show. Dhar laughs, “Salil thought it was a con job!”

Early on, the makers figured out that the show was more about emotions than showcasing risqué things. “The minute we see a person with an agenda, we strike him off the list,” asserts Dhar, adding that the idea has always been to rope in people who have stories to tell.

“The fourth season was a standout, where we had Shweta Tiwari, Dolly Bindra, Khali, and Pamela Anderson. That was the turning point of Bigg Boss in the country. It was also the year we got Salman Khan as the host. We even cooperated with the authorities when they wanted to come and monitor if Monica Bedi dropped some evidence,” he shares.

The show’s detractors often speculate that Bigg Boss is scripted. But Tushar Joshi, Editor in Chief (Creative Director), rubbishes the speculation. He notes that often, the contestants provide the drama, while the creative improvises at times, but the makers have never intervened in the proceedings.

“We have never briefed any contestant, or gone in the house,” asserts Joshi, who has been associated with the show from the fifth season. He says the show relies largely on contestants’ personalities and their inter-dynamics.

“If a contestant is my biggest character, I can’t suddenly change my creative. For example, Ankita Lokhande was one of the most talked-about characters in the house. I couldn’t sideline her unless the house decided to sideline her. It’s a chess game between them and us. Whenever we make a move, they will also react.”

The makers also got a few seasons wrong in terms of casting. Abhishek Mukherjee, Head of Project, points to the ninth and 12th seasons. “In the ninth season, 10 out of 16 contestants were failures. So, we pumped up [the show] through various tasks and situations.”

The crew consists of over 700 people, who are then divided into weekday and weekend teams. “One is the reality team, which handles the episode from Monday to Friday, and the other is the weekend team. Despite being the weekend team, they are expected to watch the entire footage during the week. Then there is another team that takes care of my 24/7 live channel interactivity and the Unseen Undekha section,” explains Joshi.

Which brings us to the most important part: the execution of Bigg Boss. It’s known that the show is shot 24x7 with over 100 cameras. While there are cameras stationed inside the house, there are also cameras placed near all the windows, with cameramen trying to capture the tiniest of actions and conversations. Did you know that when the contestants wash dishes at the sink, smoke in the smoking room, and sleep in the bedrooms, they have cameras directed at them from behind the tinted windows? If the cameraman takes a break, there is always someone to take their place.

Taking us around the set, Sarvesh Singh, Head of Production, says, “Everyone who enters the shooting alley around the house is expected to wear an all-black uniform to avoid reflections in the glass doors and windows. Every window is numbered. That way, when instructions are received from the control room, a cameraman can reach the right window to capture the required content. We have three rotational shifts for every crew member.”

Over 62,000 wires are laid down for every connection inside the house, which is later concealed to avoid monkeys disrupting the shoot. Mukherjee says that the pressure in the PCR (production control room) is tremendous. Ahead of a season, the crew has to undergo mandatory 15-day training, where they produce dummy episodes.

“In the first couple of days, my PCR team is taken through the old episodes, where we tell them how to divide streams, what to follow, and where the story lies,” explains Joshi.

“The next day, [a few crew members] go into the house, and start recording their own stories. In the next stage, we get dummy contestants and produce a few 12-hour episodes; we also do one 24-hour episode. It is not only for the crew, [but to ensure smooth functioning of everything]. Once the contestant enters, everything from plumbing to the smallest light needs to work for 105 days, or 45 days if it’s for the OTT. So, everything needs to be checked, including the pipes, flush, and gas. Sarvesh even instructs them to cook, just so that we can see if the stove is working.”

Everything a contestant carries inside the house is scrutinized by the team. Participants are not allowed to carry medications inside the house. If a person has a prescription for anti-anxiety, diabetes, or any other illness, it is delivered on a daily basis. “Senior journalist Deepak Chaurasia is in the house. He is diabetic and unable to walk, so we put inclines in the house for the wheelchair. Every day, his medicines and insulin shots are delivered,” explains Mukherjee.

With a show of this magnitude, the challenges are bound to be tenfold. Singh remembers the behind-the-scenes drama that unfolded when Mahajan and Chaudhary, in the second season, breached the boundary walls, leading the creative team to consider having an early finale.

“They had made a sexist remark, stating that there were no women in the house to cook for them. Bigg Boss told them that they had to make their own food. Rahul removed the mic, and said, ‘I’m not doing anything. If you don’t provide us food, we will jump off the wall.’ We thought he was [bluffing], but they jumped off the wall and started walking towards the main gate. People started capturing them on phone cameras, so we grabbed them, put them in the car, and brought them back.”

Joshi recalls another instance when Siddiqui wanted to leave the show at 3 am. “He said he has a friend in Lonavala and he wants to go to her house. It turned out to be an old bungalow of Smita Patil, which was later bought by Imam’s friend,” shares Joshi.

Shifting from their Lonavala set after season 12 was another challenge. He highlights that despite having a medical team on standby 24x7, they have dealt with problems from “non-declared miscarriages. There were people taking 30 to 40 milligrams of anti-depressants in anger.”

With the world embracing AI, it’s only a matter of time before we have a Bigg-Boss-meets-AI version. Dhar says, “We have started moving in that direction; maybe by the end of the year or early next year, the process will be in place.”

Did you know?

- A season of the Chinese version of Big Brother was shot in India.

- India is the only market globally where Bigg Boss plays out across two platforms (TV and OTT) within the same year.

- The production relocated from Lonavala’s 17-acre set to three acres in Film City.

- Every year, the crucial members of the Bigg Boss team meet their international counterparts worldwide to discuss the previous season.

Two years ago, Ankita Lokhande and her husband, Vicky Jain, won the reality show Smart Jodi. Everyone felt that they shared the perfect partnership. Cut to Bigg Boss 17 recently, their constant fights, heated arguments and even talk of a possible separation became one of the highlights of the show. Whether it was for real or something planned just for the cameras is what left the viewers curious.

In an exclusive chat with BT, Ankita revealed that the fights were real, but now that’s all behind them.

She said, “We are the same people on and off the camera. There was no hidden agenda. Whatever you saw was real…we fought a lot inside the house, but deep down, we both knew that we loved each other, so if there was a mention of separation, it is untrue. We will never separate, and BB issues are behind us now.”

She added, “Vicky may have emerged as the dominant one in our relationship, but we both believe in putting forth our point of view. However, I am the first to say sorry and finish an argument and maybe unki taraf se thodi der ho gayi arguments ko khatam karne mein, therefore, people felt that our fights were not ending. We may have had clashes, and there may have been strong statements from my mother-in-law because she was getting emotional seeing her son inside the house, but all is well now. My family and relationships are more important than what happened inside the house!”

During her stint in Bigg Boss, Ankita shared some stories about her ex-boyfriend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who passed away in June 2020. The actress was trolled for it on social media, and many questioned whether it was her strategy for BB.

Ask her about it, and she says, “People forget that I was in the BB house for almost three months. It was like home for me. I spoke about Sushant with Abhishek (Kumar) and Munawar (Faruqui). They look up to Sushant and so I was talking to them about the kind of person he was and the work he did. I may have stopped talking about Sushant publicly, but at home or with family members, I still have heartfelt discussions about him. Just like my fights with Vicky were real, my discussions on Sushant, too, were real and not a planned strategy. As his ex-girlfriend, I feel proud to talk about him because I lived with him, and I will always have many things to share about him.”

Businessman Vicky Jain expresses his elation over the overwhelming love he received for his recent appearance on a reality show. Grateful for the positive response, he shares, “People said, ‘Vicky bhaiya, aapne show ko chalaya’, since I was featured in nearly every segment. It feels fantastic.”

Addressing the aired aspects of his marriage with actor Ankita Lokhande, including their conflicts and tensions, Jain shares, “Men and women can have equal but differing feelings. I don’t know how people (the audience) missed this track. It’s crucial to express your viewpoint on the show; otherwise, people might assume you’re just echoing your partner’s thoughts. I can hold my position in an argument with Ankita, but it doesn’t affect my relationship with her; it will always be the same.”

Jain reflects on the public perception when the media visited the show and expressed concerns about the situation. “They said it’s looking out of hand. Relationships are not the only priority there, as you are also thinking about the game. But yes, a little time and attention could have been given; I should have been a little more polite to Ankita’s emotional needs. I couldn’t understand that there,” he shares.

Addressing the involvement of their families, Jain admits that their mums’ inclusion may have escalated issues. He notes that his “family, not part of the industry,” may not fully comprehend their dynamics. 

Regarding his mum’s stance, he says, “My family doesn’t know how we are because they don’t live with us. Ankita’s mother has seen us having differences. I don’t support what happened. But a mother’s emotions just come out; sometimes they are reasonable, sometimes they aren’t.”

Post-exit from the show, Jain sat down with his family to have a chat and emphasizes that all’s well: “I don’t know why people missed out on the good side. Because my relationship with Ankita is so strong, we could let it happen to each other.”

The friction between actor Ankita Lokhande and her husband, businessman Vicky Jain, who are currently participants on a reality show is making news, again. And this time it is Vicky’s mother, Ranjana Jain’s strong statements against her daughter-in-law that are creating a stir.

When asked about Ankita regularly mentioning her ex, late actor Sushant Singh Rajput on the show, Ranjana told ABP News, “Sympathy jata rahi hai lagta hai, apne liye. Sushant ko kya pada, woh toh chala hi gaya. Woh tha tabhi [payaar] bator ke le gaya. Kitne acche acche kaam kiye usne.”

Ranjana revealed that her family was hurt after they saw Ankita kick Vicky. “Hum Bharat mein rehte hain. Yahan toh pati ko devta samjha jaata hai aur tumhara toh pati sach much devta hai,” she said.

In an interview with Zoom, she revealed they weren’t in favour of Vicky marrying Ankita: “Hum log toh support mein the nahi. Ab woh nibhaane tyaar hai, hum ko kuch lena dena nahi hai. Woh khud apna grihasti sudhaarega. Hume vishwas hai ki Vicky sab kuch kar lega.”

Ankita Lokhande is often asked about why she chooses to do such few roles and remains picky in her career. The actor, who was last seen in the web film, The Last Coffee, isn’t too worried about it, she says, adding, “I want to work more than I do, (but) no one comes to me with good work!”

The Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi (2019) actor is not looking for something particular, she shares. “Every script has a different demand. I can’t say ‘This is what I want’. When I read scripts, I look at how my character has been written. I would love to do something romantic. I want passionate roles maybe. I feel, through my performance I have the ability to make people cry. That’s why I did Manikarnika, where my character was bindaas, outspoken and loveable, and at the same time, uske dil mein dard tha,” says Lokhande.

But there are certain roles and characters that she has decided would never work for her — the bold and steamy ones.

“I choose my characters wisely. I feel, I am not somebody who can do bold characters. Especially ones which have a lot of skin show, and are very sexual or cheesy. (There are) people who are good and convincing in such roles. I feel an actor needs to convince oneself before one convinces the audience,” she gets candid.

With no censorship on OTT, what’s her take on abusive language and bold content on the medium? Will the Pavitra Rishta 2.0 actor take up a role if it is meaty, considering she has a girl-next-door image?

“I will not do intimate scenes on screen. I am not even giving the impression that I want to do these kind of roles. I have seen actors get selected via their social media accounts now. Aap waaaan kaise dikhte ho, woh dekh kar roles milte hain. I am not giving the impression there (on social media), that I want to do bold roles. I can look hot, mere chehre pe hotness aur sensuality dikh sakti hai. I don’t need my body to look hot, it is in one’s attitude,” feels the actor.

It’s their first Gudi Padwa in their new, swanky house in Mumbai. And actor Ankita Lokhande Jain is ready on time, while her businessman-husband, Vicky Jain, takes some more. Marathi songs are playing on the home entertainment system, and she greets us in total festive mode, dancing and singing.

“For me, this day is very important. Jabse Vicky meri life mein aaye hain, we celebrate it together every year; and after our marriage, this is the second time,” she says, with Vicky chiming in, “For me, it’s more like being introduced to Gudi Padwa. The first year we celebrated it in our Malad house; this time it’s in our new Andheri house!”

According to Ankita, the best part about the Maharashtrian New Year is that the entire family comes together. “I have seen it since I was a child — my mum, my nani... Sab log milte hain, khaane ki cheezein banti hain. There are rituals; we do the gudi’s pooja. I am fascinated by all this. I like putting haldi and kumkum for the festival,” she smiles.

Vicky points out that it marks a new beginning: “December 31 is entirely spent in a party mood; this new year is traditional. Iske maayne zyaada hain.”

Ankita believes that whatever work is started on this day, you are bound to be successful in it. When asked what they are embarking on this time, Vicky answers first: “We are working on ourselves very seriously. We have set major fitness goals, and we are trying to meet them.” 

What’s a conversation about a festival without bringing up sweets? He quips, “I have asked Ankita for imarti; maine kabhi khayi nahin, toh I asked, ki yeh arrange kar ke dein!” And pat comes her reply: “Aam ras bana hai, Gudi Padwa ka special. Par inhone bola hai toh main apne pati ki aagya ka paalan karungi!”

Be it Makar Sankranti, Halloween, Diwali or Holi, actor Ankita Lokhande loves to celebrate every festival. She indulges in merrymaking not just with her family, but friends too.

“Vicky (Jain; businessman, her husband) and I are planning a big bash on Holi tomorrow. Like our last year’s Holi party, Anky ki raas leela, we will be calling friends and family for some dhamaal. Vicky and I both love to celebrate Holi and we love the festival. We will celebrate with people who love Holi. Aur jinko Holi pasand nahin hai, unko bhi bula kar unke saath Holi khelenge. Wahi mazaa hai is festival ka. I am super excited,” she tells us.

Last year was her first Holi after her wedding. “We called people over as it was our first as a married couple. And this year, humein phir sabke saath Holi manani hai. Pandemic mein, I remember, I celebrated Holi in my house with pichkaris. Everything was wet and colourful once we were done,” the Baaghi 3 (2020) actor laughs.

In Maharashtra, Holi will be celebrated on March 7, while other states will play Holi on March 8. Lokhande, too, was confused about the day. But ultimately, she went by the Maharashtrian calendar and planned the bash on March 7 (tomorrow). “Some people are playing on March 7 and some on March 8, but we locked March 7,” she shares.

Talking about throwing parties for festivals and special days, the actor says, “For me, life is all about celebrating every occasion. That’s my funda in life. Main chahoon bhi toh chote functions nahin ho paate. I know so many people and I am so connected to my friends that I can’t miss inviting even one of them.”

Actor Ankita Lokhande and her businessman husband Vicky Jain are celebrating their first wedding anniversary, today, by going on their long-pending honeymoon. The two have jetted off to Europe for a vacation, and admit that they will make the most of the holiday.

“We have completed one year as husband-wife, but we usually don’t get time to travel. Our honeymoon had been pending since last year, so we are celebrating our first anniversary this way,” Lokhande says.

Jain chimes in, “Both of us love winter, so we thought it would be better to explore Europe in this weather.”

Jain also talks about their other plans: “Agar possible hua toh har teen saal mein shaadi karenge hum.”

Lokhande reiterates, saying, “I want to renew our vows, especially after having kids. I would want them to see how their mummy and papa got married,” she says.

In the one year, the couple managed to rack up many milestones — from starring in a reality show to buying a new abode. Lokhande reveals that she has been collecting all these memories on a hard drive, for viewing later. “I didn’t cry at my wedding because I was very excited. Today, when I look at the footage I cry because it was so beautiful. I make it a point to show it to everyone who comes to our house,” she says.

According to them, they got on this journey “pretty late”, and are now in a rush to do many things together. “Do good work, have a family… We are ready for any moment to come in our life,” they say as while wrapping up the chat with us.

After a two-year lull, the quintessential big-fat Bollywood Diwali parties are back! With social distancing being the norm during the pandemic, such gatherings had come to a halt everywhere. But, like for everyone else, 2022 marks the return of the festive fervour for Bollywood celebs, too.

While actor Ayushmann Khurrana started the roster with a party at his home recently, which was attended by actors Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Varun Dhawan and Ananya Panday, and filmmaker Karan Johar, among others, here’s a look at all the upcoming Diwali parties in Mumbai, starting today.

Actor Taapsee Pannu’s interestingly titled Diwali party, The Outsiders Party, has garnered a lot of attention. A source close to Pannu says that people working in her productions such as actors Sanjana Sanghi and Ratna Pathak Shah, and her friends, actors Rajkummar Rao, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, are on the guest list.

Actor Anil Kapoor’s party is known for having a great turnout every year. But a source tells us that there’s a change of plan: “Every time, his kids — Sonam, Rhea and Harsh Varrdhan — organise it at his place. But, this time around, the party will be at Sonam’s new home in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) on the Diwali day. It’s extra special for Sonam and her husband, Anand Ahuja, as they have just become parents.”

Producer Ekta Kapoor will throw a party on Saturday. An insider tells us that her gang, including actors Mouni Roy, Karishma Tanna Bangera and Anita H Reddy, among others, will all be present at the do.

Actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra’s friends will be attending an intimate gathering at her home. We are told that it will be a card party.

Producer Ramesh Taurani says, “I am happy about getting to throw a party. I can’t reveal the names of the guests. I always invite my friend Salman Khan.”

Actor Ankita Lokhande and her husband, businessman Vicky Jain, will be hosting a party at their new home.

Actor Shah Rukh Khan and his wife, producer Gauri Khan’s Diwali party at their home, Mannat, is always an attraction. But, this year, the couple is not hosting one, as confirmed by his manager, Pooja Dadlani.

On September 28, Randeep Hooda kicked off his maiden directorial venture, SwatantryaVeer Savarkar, in a town near Nashik. While the actor-director has taken the responsibility of stepping into the shoes of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, he will need dependable co-actors to bring to screen an authentic retelling of the national hero’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle.

His search has ended with Ankita Lokhande and Amit Sial. Sources say that Lokhande has been brought on board to play Savarkar’s wife Yamunabai. She was a member of the Atmanishtha Yuvati Samaj, a body that aimed to make women politically aware.

The project marks producer Sandeep Ssingh’s first collaboration with long-time friend Lokhande. “Ankita and I have laughed, cried and travelled together. I want to cast her in all my films, and I would be happy if she [is so successful] that she doesn’t have dates for my project. She is a bundle of talent,” he says. The actors have joined Hooda in the ongoing first schedule. Even as he refuses to divulge details about her role, Ssingh says, “Ankita performs so well that people are left teary-eyed.”

Sial will apparently bring alive the character of Ganesh Savarkar aka Babarao, the eldest of the Savarkar brothers. He had helped set up the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Ssingh heaps praise on Sial, saying, “His knowledge and passion for the art is commendable.”

Producer Anand Pandit adds that the actors “bring intensity” to the biopic.

Ankita Lokhande Jain is all set to celebrate her first Dussehra post marriage with Vicky Jain. On the occasion, the actress and her businessman husband are hosting their respective families at their new home in Mumbai.

Ankita says, “Vicky and I are extremely excited to celebrate our first Dussehra after marriage at our new home where we are hosting our families for the celebration. We love celebrating festivals and are gung-ho about having our loved ones at home. The best thing about us is the exchange of customs and traditions that happens during these festivities. At my home, hum chawal se Ravan ka shape banate hai, and the man of the house, taking on the role of Ram, destroys that Ravan with his gold ring. This year, it is Vicky who will do the ritual, while I will get to learn how his side of the family celebrates the festival.”

The actress says she loves the small rituals associated with the festival. Sharing a childhood memory, she says, “As kids, I remember my friends and I would exchange sona (gold), which are basically (Apta) leaves. There used to be a competition among us to see who collects the maximum number of sona.”

Ankita and Vicky have recently moved into their new home in Oshiwara, which adds to the excitement of celebrating this festive season in the sprawling apartment. Ankita says, “I already had a house here, but it was Vicky’s dream to have his own house in Mumbai. So, I have only helped him to accomplish his dream.”

Speaking about why he decided to buy this particular house, Vicky shares, “When we were house hunting and got to know about this flat, which was located in the A wing and on the 19th floor, I thought of just grabbing it as A stands for Ankita and 19 is her birth date. It’s a spacious 5000 sq ft apartment. We call our home the White House as the interiors include the colour in every corner.”

The couple has been married for 10 months now. While work keeps Ankita in Mumbai, Vicky’s business is based in Bilaspur and requires him to spend a lot of time there. When asked how they manage not to let the long distance affect their equation, Ankita says, “I feel jahan par aapko relations chalane nahi hote hain, wahan par reasons aa jaate hain like long distance, etc. Vicky and I want this (marriage) to work, so we give it the importance it needs. It’s our priority. When it comes to a relationship, aapko kuch na kuch naya karna hi padega for its betterment. Also, we have been very good friends for the past many years and continue to be so, and that is what has worked for us.”

Vicky firmly believes that distance makes the heart grow fonder. “As work keeps me away from Mumbai for weeks, I long to spend time with Ankita,” he says, adding, “I look forward to coming back to her as soon as possible. When you don’t see somebody every day, you miss that person. In our relationship, we miss each other every month. I think it is very important that you get your space in a relationship, so that you miss your special one and long to meet them.”

Considering the fact that they have moved into a spacious house now, any plans to expand the family? Vicky says, “The time we spent as a couple after our marriage has been extremely pleasant. We have lived our life with each other very well. I am very positive and ready to take the next step.”

Ankita signs off saying, “Vicky will be a very good father; I truly believe that.”

Actor Ankita Lokhande has come a long way after making her TV debut in 2009 — from the girl who wasn’t confident in her own acting chops, to being a popular celebrity today. She remarks that she is more confident now than ever. She admits there was a lack of preparedness on the acting front. “I was never a good actress; I was a good dancer. I have worked hard to reach this stage in my career.”

Ask her what’s the difference between her today and when she started off and the actor replies, “Sure, I have become more confident about everything. But that’s the only difference I feel. Now, I can manage things on my own, while earlier it was like ‘Mumma, main yeh kar loon kya?’. I would ask my mother everything. Today, I know what’s right and wrong and I am capable of taking my own decisions,” says the actor.

The 37-year-old, last seen in the OTT reboot of her popular show Pavitra Rishta, went on to star in films such as Manikarnika (2019) and Baaghi 3 (2020).

But she shares that she wasn’t planning a career as an actor. In fact, such was her self-doubt that even her mother began doubting her choices. “My mother wasn’t confident when I decided to become an actor. She repeatedly asked me ‘Tu kar legi na?’ I said ‘Mumma! Please be quiet, I will’. She couldn’t understand, but then I went to the sets of Pavitra Rishta and saw all the senior actors including, Sushant (Singh Rajput, late co-star) It was something else,” gushes Lokhande.

Today, the scale of the film doesn’t matter to her. “I am reading scripts and I will grab the role which offers me a meaty part,” she ends.

Ankita Lokhande and her husband, businessman Vicky Jain, have won Smart Jodi, a reality show that revolved around celeb couples. Ankita and Vicky, who got married in December 2021, are thrilled about their victory, especially because through the show, they also learned new things about each other. In an exclusive chat with BT, the actress shares how it was all about spending quality time with her husband on the show, and how Vicky has been her constant strength through life’s ups and downs. Excerpts:

We were offered this show when we just got married in December. Initially, I wasn’t keen because I wanted to spend time at home, but Vicky motivated me by saying, ‘Let’s do it, it will be fun.’ More than participating in the show, for me, it was all about spending time with him since he is in Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) most of the time and I am in Mumbai. Other couples on the show have been living together for many years, but this was a new beginning for us, and we discovered many things about each other while being a part of the show.

I also learnt that Vicky shares the same competitive spirit like me, and in fact, he is better than me. What helped us win the show is the good communication that we have between us, our physical fitness and the fact that we were honest about what we like and don’t like about each other. I thought Vicky would be camera-shy, but he was a perfect entertainer, lovable and could even outshine me in many ways. He is lucky for me even though I keep telling him that I am lucky for him.

Bhagyashree madam and Himalay sir. They have been married for so many years, but they communicated well and had that competitive spirit to win the trophy. Neil Bhatt-Aishwarya Sharma and Arjun Bijlani-Neha Swami were also good.

Sushant and I broke up in 2016 and I started dating Vicky in 2018. Vicky knew Sushant and I got to know Vicky through our common friend Arjun Bijlani. While I knew Vicky, we were never friends, and it is only in 2018 that we grew close. One day I had called him for some work and the conversation led to discussing each other’s lives and that’s how it all began. In June 2020, Sushant passed away and people started trolling Vicky. They started saying, ‘Ankita was best for Sushant and she should always be with Sushant’. Social media turned abusive towards Vicky telling him to leave me because I was good for Sushant. It is not easy for a man to watch his to-be wife giving interviews on her ex-boyfriend on television and talking about her past. There were different stories emerging everyday and I was right there talking about Sushant all the time. Vicky comes from a very respectable family. I remember they called me and supported me saying, ‘Don’t worry, all will be well’. It was not only tough for Vicky, but my parents, too. Had it been some other guy, he would have quit, but Vicky stood by me and became my strength and told me, ‘Do whatever you think is best for Sushant’ and that’s why I could do my best for Sushant.

Shocking! We were both living in a state of shock and trolls made life even more difficult for us. When Sushant died and I started talking about him, I was in a constant state of confusion whether I was doing the right thing, and Vicky was the one who supported me. Now it looks easy because it is in the past, but at that point, it was not easy. For six months, there were constant stories of my past with Sushant emerging. If I was in Vicky’s position, I would not have been able to see him talking about his past with a woman. I had taken a stand for Sushant and I could do that because Vicky was on my side.

Vicky and I are shifting to a new home in Andheri and I am very excited about it. The apartment is big, so sometimes I wonder what I will do in such a big place. We will soon do a pooja in our new home. After marriage I have realized that life is not just about work, it’s about balancing your personal life with work. Vicky and I are in a long-distance marriage, so it becomes tough especially when you are moving into a new home. Not now, but in the future we will have kids and I want him to be around during that phase of our life. Video calling has made things easier, of course. As of now, his work is in Bilaspur and mine is in Mumbai, so we both can’t relocate. I have stopped going to parties because it’s mostly couples who are there at parties and they keep asking me how it feels with Vicky being away. Now, for every party he can’t travel to Mumbai! I understand his work and I am glad that he understands my profession.

I never said I don’t want to do TV, but I was continuously working for six years when I did Pavitra Rishta. In acting or any profession, I feel there is a level and you have to grow to another level after you do something. I can’t be doing something that I did for six years again and in TV, it seldom happens that you get to do something totally different. However, I feel I am young, talented, energetic and want to explore different roles. I have the patience and I have all the time, so I have turned selective. And now people have just seen me on TV in Smart Jodi. They saw that I could entertain crowds and therefore, I want to explore different things as an actor.

Not now. Currently, my stars are looking good and I am hoping to land more interesting projects. I will also go on my honeymoon soon. Hopefully, we will fly to some beautiful destination in July or August, I think Vicky will surprise me.

It’s their first Holi post marriage, and Ankita Lokhande Jain and Vicky Jain are going all out to celebrate it in a big way. Not that they haven’t celebrated the festival together before, but after marriage, it is even more exciting says Ankita. In a conversation with BT, the couple talks about the one phone call that changed the equation between them, life after marriage, of course, their Holi plans. Read On…

Ankita: Vicky was away for some work, but I am glad that he has returned in time to celebrate Holi together. Last year, owing to Coronavirus restrictions, we played with colours within the confines of our home. Vicky and I have been playing Holi from the time we became friends. But, shaadi ke baad wali Holi ka mazaa kuch alag hi hota hai.

Vicky: It is our first Holi since we got married, so how on earth would I miss it? We have planned a get-together with our friends and many other things to make the day special.

Vicky: This was something my family was worried about. They said that the two of you are young and can travel to be with each other between work, but what happens when you grow a little older? I don’t know how, but with Ankita around, I know everything is possible. She is just so positive and knows how to balance things.

Ankita: I try to make the most of it when he comes to Mumbai or when I go to his hometown. Everybody lives a busy life these days where one is constantly travelling due to work. So, the best is to focus on each other whenever you get this precious time and make these moments special. I am a very family-oriented person. You don’t have to put in any extra effort when you love someone. Just like Vicky, even his entire family is dear to me. Family comes first for both of us.

Ankita: There was no point of realization as such. Vicky and I have been friends, and from the time we started dating, we were clear that we wanted to get married.

Vicky: Initially, we were not even friends. We knew each other (through common friends), but we hadn’t really spoken to each other. Then at one point, she wanted to talk to me and understand something about life. The conversation lasted for two hours. Believe me, jiss wajah se usne phone kiya tha, that topic we discussed for five minutes, but we spoke about each other for the rest of the time. After that call, we thought we connected strongly, and then it led to many such telephonic conversations, after which there was no looking back.

Ankita: This is selfless love. I don’t have a fear of losing him. With Vicky, I feel very secure about everything. And the best thing is the comfort that you share when you are with your partner. You need to have that comfort, and he makes sure that we have it. He shows that he loves me in every way possible. Woh jitna bolta hai, usse kai zyaada mere liye karta hai. That’s very special. He is very possessive about me, and I like it. I see his love for me in his possessiveness. Vicky feels very proud that I am his wife and vice versa.

Veteran actor Usha Nadkarni was last seen in the digital redux of the popular TV show Pavitra Rishta. However, she has been away from the TV screen for a while. Ask her why and without mincing her words, the 75-year-old says, “Bhikari log badh gaye hain.”

Explaining her sentiment, Nadkarni adds, “Everybody wants people to work for cheap (amounts), which I don’t agree to. I tell them to find someone else. Every actor is different and has their style. I know what I bring to the table. I have my style. If I am not getting the money, I might as well rest at my place. So, I call these people bhikari, who offer me work, but no money.”

Nadkarni, a renowned face in the Marathi industry, reveals she often gets called to slam her price: “There are so many people who come to me and ask me to work at a lesser price. When I tell them my budget, unko dhadak-dhadak hota hai. I am not somebody who entertains drama. And if somebody disrespects me, I leave the conversation. Yes, I do want to work, I cannot live without acting. But only if I get good work and money, otherwise I’m happy at home.”

On a parting note, Nadkarni also opens up on why she didn’t visit her co-star Ankita Lokhande’s wedding in December last year. “I was shooting on both the days till late night. Kab jaun shaadi mein? Jabse hum Pavitra Rishta kar rahe the, she would ask, ‘Aai, aayegi na? Main boli, ‘Kuch nahin hoga toh aaungi.’ Lekin nahin ho paaya,” she ends.

The wedding of actor Ankita Lokhande and businessman Vicky Jain on December 14 was nothing short of a fairytale. Lokhande’s exquisite gold bridal gown by Manish Malhotra, her walk towards the stage with Ganga aarti playing in the background, the groom’s unique entrance on a vintage car drew a lot of attention and admiration from her fans and well-wishers.

Speaking to us for the first time since her marriage, Lokhande says, “You need [to get] goosebumps when you’re getting married, and I had goosebumps.”

She goes on, “I had fun at my wedding. It was beautiful. People had tears in their eyes. Vicky cried when he saw me [in the bridal attire]. And I’m happy that I did that (made him feel that way) to him (laughs).” About her own emotional moment, she shares, “The minute I saw my dad crying, I started tearing up.”

Talking further about the three-day long affair, the actor shares, “Everyone has their own wedding plans. Vicky and I planned a few things too. Jo socha tha usse kahin zyada achchi ho gayi cheezein. We were excited and super nervous since it was a one-take thing. I always wanted my wedding to be different. My wedding was not too much tadak bhadak. It was very classy, just the way I wanted it.”

Lokhande adds that she was not a “finicky bride” and “knew exactly what she wanted”. She explains, “Being an actor, I visualise things quickly. I’m not a confused girl. My outfits were also classy. I wanted to wear minimal jewellery as I wanted to show the glow on my face. I was even particular that I wanted a red garland so that it stands out.”

Lokhande and Jain will celebrate their first Makar Sankranti as a married couple on January 14, which will also be their one-month anniversary. She says, “In Marathi culture, Makar Sankranti is very important. It’s my first post marriage. So, it’s a big deal. My mum has already prepared and bought all the jewels made out of grains. There’s going to be a haldi and kumkum ceremony. The newlyweds are supposed to be in black outfits. I’m going to be all dolled up.”