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

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.”

Shilpa Shinde calls it “destiny” that she is reprising her role in Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai 2.0, nine years after she had an acrimonious split with the channel, &TV, and left the show. But in the interim, the actor was a regular viewer of the comedy that saw Shubhangi Atre step into her role of Angoori Bhabhi alongside Aasif Sheikh, and Rohitashv Gour.

“I never felt any jealousy or drew any comparisons between her [Atre] and myself. I always thought to myself, ‘Bhabhi ji toh main hi hoon. Chalo, aap kar lo.’ It’s been almost 10 years but wherever I go, I am still called Bhabhi ji,” says Shinde.

Even as she looks forward to replicating the show’s success with the 2.0 version, the actor reflects on the bitterness that had marked her exit in 2016. She had accused the makers of mentally torturing her, while the production house, Edit II Productions, had sent her a legal notice accusing her of breach of contract. 

Shinde recalls that “some people” in the channel tried cashing in on her character’s success. “At that time, every show except ours had flopped. So, these people wanted to exert control on our show. They tried to gain publicity for the channel through me. They sent me to a TV award ceremony in my character’s outfit! Whether from the channel or other authorities, the bottomline was to control me.”

To Shinde, the episode taught her an  important life lesson. She recounts, “Even after giving everything to the show for a year, I was completely sidelined. A lot of misunderstandings were created. I took this experience as a lesson, it showed me the real [nature] of people. I didn’t have any complaints with my co-stars. There were people claiming that I had left Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai for another show. No one knew the reality.”

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 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."

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

Writer Manoj Santoshi, who has penned many popular television shows, including the screenplay and dialogue of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, has been hospitalized after his liver cirrhosis worsened. Actor Kavita Kaushik, who has worked with him in the show FIR, shared a heartfelt Instagram post urging fans to pray for him.

“Writer who’s made the country laugh for decades.. Is fighting for his life (sic)”, she wrote, sharing an old video of Manoj singing at her home.

Kavita tells us, “Manoj has liver cirrhosis, and his state is a bit critical. He is a very big talent — a great writer, a gifted poet and a wonderful person. The team loves him. Bas, duaon ki zaroorat hai as miracles do happen. I believe Ishwar sachche dil se maangi hui prayer sunte hain.”

Talking about Manoj’s dedication to his craft, the actor says, “He is writing episodes from the ICU. He is very strong and financially sound; all he needs is support, treatment and good wishes.”

Kavita says that the television industry is wholeheartedly supporting Manoj during this crucial time. “(Bhabi Ji...actor) Shilpa Shinde has accompanied him to Hyderabad for advance treatment. Producer Binaifer Nakra Kohli flew down to meet him, and many other actors are also helping him out,” she says.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

Lucknow: Actor Mithilesh Chaturvedi, who played key character roles in several films and web series, including the role of lawyer Ram Jethmalani in ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’, passed away in Mumbai on Thursday. He was 67.

The Lucknow-born actor suffered a cardiac arrest 10 days ago and was under treatment at Kokilaben Hospital.

Chaturvedi worked with the UP Registrar Firms and Societies in Lucknow, but quit the job to try his luck in Bollywood in the late 1990s. Starting his career with ‘Bhai Bhai’ in 1997, he made a mark with Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Satya’. He went on to act in hits like ‘Koi Mil Gaya’, ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’, ‘Krrish’ and ‘Bunty Aur Babli’. He was also associated with several theatre groups in Lucknow.

The news about his demise was broken by his son-in-law Ashish who posted a message on Facebook. Soon, condolences poured in from around the country with friends and colleagues describing his death as an “unbearable loss”.

Director Hansal Mehta, who worked with Chaturvedi in ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’, was among the first to mourn Chaturvedi. Actor Delnaaz Irani tweeted, “Sad to hear about the passing of Mithilesh Chaturvedi ji. Such an amazing actor with such great roles he portrayed. My deepest condolences to his family. ”

Writer-director Anees Bazmee said, “Really not able to take this in. Spoke to him a couple of days back and now I see this! Really sad to lose such a gem who was a delight to work and spend time with. My heart goes out to the family. May your soul rest in peace Mithilesh bhai.”

Theatre doyen and Chaturvedi’s friend Surya Kumar Kulshreshtra said, “He was always cheerful, but when it came to theatre, he was quite serious and lived the character given to him.”

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

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.”

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

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

Shilpa Shinde, who was last seen in Bigg Boss 11 and Gangs Of Filmistan, a standup comedy show, says that she prefers being single. The actress, who was engaged to actor Romit Raj years ago, does not miss being in a relationship.

Shilpa says, “Romit and I were engaged a long time ago and I was very young at that point. I didn’t want to settle down at that time, but everyone around me felt it was the right age to get married. Subsequently, things didn’t work out between Romit and me, and the relationship fell apart. After my engagement broke off, I did get into another relationship, but that was a very bad experience. Maine apne kaan pakad liye that I would steer away from relationships. I’ve realised that I am happy being single. I can’t be answerable to anyone. When I am working, and if someone asks me where I am going or what I am doing, I can’t keep answering him.”

Talking further about relationships, she adds, “Today, I see so many relationships falling apart. I don’t understand why decade-long relationships don’t work out and incompatibility is cited as the reason. How can a couple who has been together for 10 years suddenly find themselves incompatible? Even though my parents want me to get married, I am not desperate to find a companion and prefer to be single. And even if I do find someone in the future, I will not want to label the relationship.”

Shilpa, who won Bigg Boss 11, hasn’t worked in a fiction show since 2017 after she quit Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai In the last five years, she’s only done a couple of stand-up comedy shows and web shows, and admits that she hasn’t been offered anything exciting after Bhabi Ji...

She says, “There is money, fame and a lot of good work in television, but people have assumed that I don’t want to act in TV shows. And since I wasn’t offered anything nice, I explored the digital medium and did a couple of web shows. Bhabi Ji. . . was my comeback show and after that, I didn’t want to do something give expressions.”

The actress is known to speak her mind and has been accused of throwing tantrums in the past. Ask her about it and she says, “There have been certain issues, but if those are being projected as throwing tantrums or having an attitude, then I don’t want to say anything. I am clear, forthright and not diplomatic about things, so people feel I am short-tempered and lose my cool. But the truth is the truth.”

Nehha Pendse will no longer play Anita bhabhi in Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! The makers have roped in a new face to portray the part. Vidisha Srivastava, who is currently seen as Shivubai in Kashibai Bajirao Ballal, has been finalised for the character.

The actress says, “It’s a great opportunity and a big challenge at the same time. I strongly feel that I am fit for the part in terms of looks and performance. Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! is definitely a turning point in my career and can be termed as my biggest break so far.”

While she has watched a few episodes that had the other actresses playing the part, Vidisha wants to make the character her own. She shares, “It’s a massive responsibility on my shoulders to take over from my predecessor, but I will play Anita bhabhi my way. Though this is my debut in the comedy genre, I am jumping into it without any pressure. I am excited about this new opportunity. I hope people accept me as the new Anita bhabhi.”

When the show began in 2015, Saumya Tandon was signed to play the part. Nehha replaced her in January 2021. Vidisha is the third actress to play Anita bhabhi.

Nehha Pendse is likely to exit Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai in a couple of months. The makers of the show are currently looking for a new actress to step into Nehha’s shoes, who plays Anita bhabhi. Several actresses have auditioned for the part.

A unit hand tells us, “Yes, we are in the process of bringing a new actress on board for the character of Anita bhabhi and are auditioning actresses. We should be able to lock someone in a few weeks. Nehha’s one-year contract will end in April and she isn’t too keen to renew it. One of the major factors of her exiting the show is the long commute. She spends hours travelling to the set and back home. It has taken a toll on her health. The makers and the actress thought that they would be able to manage it but it is now seeming difficult.”

Both Nehha and producer Benaifer Kohli remained unavailable for comment. The character of Anita bhabhi was originally played by Saumya Tandon, who quit the show in August 2020. Nehha was roped in to step into Saumya’s shoes to play Anita bhabhi in Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! in January 2021.

The surging Coronavirus cases have again started hitting film shoots and releases, with many biggies postponed already. But what happens to TV, our daily source of entertainment?

In the last two years, many TV shows had to go off air, and others shifted their shoots from Mumbai to neighbouring states during the lockdown. Currently, Mumbai and Delhi have night curfews, along with a weekend curfew in Delhi. And the possibility of another lockdown remains a concern. Television industry mostly seems to be in the wait and watch mode right now. And some shows, like Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, and Vidrohi, have a bank of episodes ready.

J D Majethia, producer of Wagle Ki Duniya and chairman of TV and web wing, Indian Film and Television Producers Council, says the situation is manageable currently. “But it may not remain the same if the number of cases doesn’t come down. We will see what impact it has... The best possible option will be to shoot in a bio bubble. We have to see the situation all over right now, not just in Maharashtra. We are still shooting and facing challenges,” he adds.

Actors, on their part, are open to shooting safely. Sanjay Gagnani, who stars in Kundali Bhagya, is certain that shoots will not stop: “I have heard that if shooting stops in Maharashtra, we would go to any other state where cases are not high.”

Meanwhile, Sharad Malhotra, who leads the historical show Vidrohi and is battling Covid-19 currently, says, “Luckily, we have a bank of episodes... We’re following precautions. As far as shifting the shoot to another state is concerned, we hope it doesn’t get that bad.”

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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.”

Actress and former Bigg Boss contestant Nehha Pendse, who got married to Shardul Bayas in January last year, has often been a target of trolls. Shardul is divorced twice and has one kid from each marriage. The trolls have been targeting her husband and mocking her marriage for some time now. We ask Nehha if the trolling has reduced, and the actress says, “No, it hasn’t. I think the trolling can never stop. They find one or the other reason to troll you. But my husband and I have learnt to ignore them. Initially, the trolling used to affect my husband as he is not used to all these things. But now, it doesn’t affect us anymore.”

Nehha has been shooting for Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! as Anita bhabhi, the character played by Saumya Tandon earlier. When asked if it gets to her when people constantly compare her performance with Saumya, even after a month of shooting for the show, she says, “I was mentally prepared that people will draw comparisons; it’s such a popular show and people are attached to the characters. However, the comparison will never affect my performance. It’s been more than a month that I have been shooting for the show and I think people have now realised what I can bring to the table. Initially, I agree that the audience was a bit reluctant in terms of accepting me as the new Anita bhabhi, but now when we look at the TRPs going up, I think things are changing, and slowly people are accepting me.”

Talking about the challenges she had to face in showbiz, she shares, “As a woman, in any workplace, if you are vulnerable, people try to take advantage of you. People have tried to take advantage of me. However, I think that all these incidents make you stronger.”

While highlighting pay disparity in the entertainment industry, she adds, “As a woman, initially, you are not taken seriously. You need to prove yourself time and again. This is a sad reality. But once you have done that and made a space for yourself, you can demand as much money as you want. I think it’s all about how much you deliver, which ultimately determines your worth.”

The wait to see the new Anita bhabhi in Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! is over. After months of deliberations, the makers of the TV show have zeroed in on actress Nehha Pendse to step into Saumya Tandon’s shoes. The latter quit the serial in August last year, after being a part of it for five years, citing monotony and a wish to grow as an artiste as reasons for leaving.

In a chat with BT while talking about her decision to quit the show, Saumya had told us, “You can say that it’s an impractical decision to quit a stable job, that too, in an established show. But I realised that being employed and earning a regular income was not exciting enough anymore. The desire to grow as an artiste was intense — I want to do projects where there is scope for growth.”

Interestingly, the makers — Benaifer Kohli and Sanjay Kohli — had approached Nehha to play the new Anita bhabhi soon after Saumya quit the show. However, things didn’t materialise then and they began approaching other actresses. Four months later, they reconnected and locked the deal. Nehha is expected to start shooting soon. Incidentally, she had earlier worked in the show May I Come In Madam? that was made by the same production house.