Bipasha Basu posted these pictures on a photo-sharing site with a message saying, “Started my day of shoot with multiple burns on my face and hands by a so called senior hair stylist. She did not even flinch after dropping the tong. Inhuman. Think she came drunk to work. Unbelievable! (sic)“ This happened during the shoot of her horror TV show, Darr Sabko Lagta Hai. A unit member tells us that the shoot was delayed and a doctor was called to attend to her immediately.

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Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 27, 2015)

Sarika, who made her TV debut in Anurag Kashyap's thriller featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Yudh, last year, is up for round two. The actress will be seen in an episode of the horror series Darr Sabko Lagta Hai, hosted by Bipasha Basu. Gulaab Gang director Soumik Sen, who has directed two episodes of the show already­ one featuring Vidya Malvade and Rajshri Deshpande and the other with actor Zakir Hussain­ will be directing this episode as well.

“Sarikaji hasn't done much in the horror space in quite a while so when we shared the script with her she was extremely excited,“ confirms Soumik, adding that the actress will be playing a cruel, obsessive mother. Sarika has previously featured in horror films like Shyam and Tulsi Ramsay's Dahshat (1981) and Abhigyan Jha's Sacred Evil (2006). “The role has shades of grey and is set in Goa where she lives by herself. Later, a bunch of people come over for a home-stay. What happens next is the whole story,“ says the filmmaker, who has given the actress a traditional look.

“We start shooting this weekend in Mumbai. But before that we will have a few reading sessions,“ Soumik reveals, adding that the show's format appealed to him. “There is a new story every episode. I haven't done much in the horror genre before, so I am havin a good time.“ Soumik admires Sarika's work in films like Vidhaata, Manorama Six Feet Under, Parzania and an unreleased Shoojit Sircar film titled Shoebite co-starring Amitabh Bachchan. “She is such a powerful and graceful actress, I am really looking forward to working with her,“ he says.

Sarika, who shares a great bond with producer Priti Sinha, was roped in for the TV show by chance. “Sarikaji was supposed to do a film with us titled Gauri Ma, to be directed by Sandeep Chowta. The script of Soumik's episode for Darr Sabko Lagta Hai strangely reminded me of that film. So I immediately called her up and she was on board,“ says Priti.

Soumik is currently writing his next movie script. “You'll hear more of it soon,“ he promises.

Talk about your small screen debut with Darr Sabko Lagta Hai (DSLH).
I had plenty of offers in the last five years to foray into television. Most of them were to judge and participate in reality shows that dealt with singing, dancing and what-have-you. I love reality shows and enjoy watching them too. However, when it came to making a television debut, I wanted it to be unique. The money offered to me was big but I didn't wish to give in to temptation. I wanted to take on a show that is in sync with what I stand for. I was focussed on making a fitness show because that is what I'm known for. But when we studied the viability factor, we realised that reaching out to the masses through such a show on a general entertainment channel (GEC) wouldn't yield big results. However, when &TV reached out to me with this idea, I was bowled over. These are short episodic films made by different directors who are creating really good content. The slick production values and the actors in the films are fantastic. I'm not a stereotypical host in the show. In DSLH they (Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, better known as Raj and DK) have integrated me beautifully with the short films in every episode. They have retained the element of my being Bipasha Basu. I'm not reading from a teleprompter or being a typical host. I find it very boring. I'm definitely a crusader of horror. I believed in horror as a genre and I gave it a fillip on the big screen, so why not on the small screen?

Incidentally, there is a huge audience for horror on TV, but the horror on our show is going to be nothing like Indian television has ever seen before. It is slick and Indian television is evolving, so there are many different ideas. From the way Raj and DK have projected me, to the way the show is packaged, everything is contemporary. It is definitely going to scare you.

Do you agree that there was a time when television actors moved to Bollywood, but now it is vice versa?
Television is growing as a medium. The divide between TV and cinema is slowly diminishing. Superstars and the biggest actors from Bollywood are moving to the small screen because it is an intelligent move. Not only in terms of the money it pays but also because you, as a celebrity, get to reach out to a much bigger viewer base. The audience reach is so wide that this will, in some way, help you with the work that you do in cinema. Also, the content has improved by leaps and bounds. TV shows allow you to speak of things that matter to you and get it out there in front of a huge audience. There are so many perks of working on television.

What is your reaction to be being called Queen of Fear?
Oh, I just love it. Since the time Hindi cinema was conceived; from that zamaana until now, no one has been conferred with such a title. It is a space that I have created for myself. It is so unique. By getting horror into the television medium, I think I have conquered the space. It is my zone. Horror is a genre that needs a lot of push. I did a lot of horror films in recent years (Raaz 3, Aatma, Creature 3D, Alone) and the equity that I earned out of their success is what has added up and now I'm here with good horror content on TV. I did those films because I liked the scripts. I didn't think in terms of them being 'horror' or anything like that. And when they did well, I was happy that the genre was working. It is a good time for the horror genre to get respectability and be accepted like comedies, drama, etc. It is not looked down upon. Worldwide, fear is such a big emotion. In the West, horror films are huge hits. Horror TV shows internationally are the biggest hits. Whether it is supernatural or simple scary, dare or aliens, they work in a big way. We are trying to touch that level. We are moving away from gimmicky stuff. Our show is going to be a step ahead.

Is there anything that you are afraid of?
I'm scared of everything. My parents keep saying, 'Darpok ko bana diya queen of fear' (Laughs). From the time I was a child until now, nothing has changed. Every day someone at the gym startles me. If you tap me on my shoulder from the back, I get startled. I'm afraid of lizards and heights. I'm scared of all those things that cannot be explained. I dread sleeping alone. If I have to, I always leave a lamp on. I have a lot of fears, I have not combated or figured them out yet.

How did you prepare for this show?
I didn't have to do anything. They already had fabulous films ready. However, not all of them are fully ready. But the stories are there and the directors are in place. There are individual directors for each film. All of them are getting a chance to showcase their talent in a limited time slot. Everyone is gung-ho because our attempt is to take TV content several notches higher. I love the way Raj and DK have integrated my presence in the series.

How was it being directed by Suparn (Verma)?
He is superb. Shooting with him is always a breeze. Both of us are mad and like doing a lot of crazy things on set. In the name of fear we do the most grotesque things. He is a nice man and I love his energy on set. He has a heart of gold. When you have a good director who is upbeat, the entire unit wants to work. He is a director who is pushing the boundaries in the contemporary zone of fear in India. He is not so traditional. Both Vikram Bhatt and Suparn are very dear to me. While the former has a traditional approach, the latter follows the modern route. Right from their shot-taking, to their vision and idea of fear, everything is different. It is the same genre but I have worked with two directors whose approach to it is different. There are going to be 26 directors and all of them will be giving their take on the horror genre. So, it is all very exciting.

Darr Sabko Lagta Hai starts tonight, every Saturday and Sunday at 10 pm on &TV.

Shweta Basu Prasad, who won National Award for her role in Makdee, has put the the past behind her. The actress, who was arrested in connection with a sex racket last year in September, was given a clean chit by a Hyderabad court in December. And now, the youngster is back with her first project after the controversy. She will be seen in the horror series, titled Darr Sabko Lagta Hai. The show will see her in a tricky situation. She will play a girl who is on the lookout for a hostel accommodation and lands up in a haunted building. The actress is no stranger to the horror genre. She was earlier seen in the film Darna Zaroori Hai (2006). Producer Priti Sinha says, “We needed a good actress to play the part and Shweta suited the role perfectly.“

Shweta adds, “I haven't done television in 14 years since Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii. I have done a couple of short films and this episode was a lot like them. I am happy to associate with this series. “