Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; June 6, 2019)

While Madhuri Dixit has refuted rumours of a biopic being made on her, we hear that a TV show has been inspired by the diva’s romance with her hubby, Dr Sriram Nene. The show titled Kahaan Hum Kahaan Tum is a love story between two people who come from completely different worlds — one is an actress and the other a surgeon — essayed by Dipika Kakar and Karan V Grover. A source close to the production reveals that the saga is based on Madhuri and Sriram’s courtship period where the former would be busy with her acting schedule and the latter away with his commitments as a surgeon.

The series will depict the struggles it took to keep the romance alive. It’s common knowledge that the Dhak Dhak girl had to give up her successful career and settle in the US with her husband. Now, with the actress’ second innings in the industry, Sriram has put his career in the States to rest and settled in India for his wife. The show will underline how they dealt with the busy lifestyles, yet made time for courtship. In fact, a promo shows the two going on their first date where Dipika is interrupted by her fans for a photo and autograph while later, Karan is called in for surgery! “It’s a first date that never happened, much like in Madhuri and Sriram’s life,” adds the insider.  The show also marks the debut of Saif Ali Khan on the small screen, as the narrator of the story.

The actor has turned sutradhar for Dipika Kakar’s upcoming show that goes on air in the coming weeks
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 8. 2019)

Saif Ali Khan is gearing up to make his small screen debut with the upcoming show Kahaan Hum Kahaan Tum, which features Bigg Boss 12 winner Dipika Kakar Ibrahim (right) and Karan V Grover (left) as leads and will air on Star Plus. The 48-year-old actor started shooting for his portions on Tuesday at Mehboob studio in Bandra, introducing the main characters to the audience.

A source associated with the show informs, “Saif shot a sequence where the leads are deciding where to go on a date. He shot alone for the part which featured a monologue and involved voice modulation as he is also shown giving voiceover for the female protagonist. The shoot went on for four-five hours.”

The show is a love story produced by Sandiip Sikcand. It is expected to go on air sometime in the coming weeks and marks Dipika’s return to fiction two years after her last show, Sasural Simar Ka, went off air. In the show, she plays an actress to Karan’s cardiologist.

On the film front, Saif has been shooting for Ajay Devgn and Kajol’s Tanhaji in which he plays the antagonist and is to start work on Jay Shewakramani’s Jawaani Jaaneman, with Tabu and Pooja Bedi’s debutante daughter Alaia F. The film goes on the floors next month and the first schedule will be shot in London for 45 days.

Incidentally, Shah Rukh Khan had taken over sutradhar duties for Ekta Kapoor’s Kasauti Zindagi Kay reboot last year. 

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; January 1, 2019)

Dipika Kakar Ibrahim joined the list of television ‘bahus’ winning Bigg Boss, by lifting the trophy this season. While she was constantly accused of being fake and resembling her screen character (Simar of Sasural Simar Ka), the actress has always maintained that her reactions were pure and honest. Basking in the winning glory, the actress takes us through her equation with S Sreesanth, taking a stand (or not) during the show and how she wishes to spend the prize money. Excerpts…

People usually take up a show like Bigg Boss at a later stage in their career. What were your reasons for participating in it so early on?
My reason was definitely the money. Besides, it is the biggest reality show, and it could do wonders to my career. However, during the course of the show, I realised that I had to prove myself. A lot of questions were raised on the way I conducted myself inside the house.

I just want to say that whichever way I reacted, I didn’t do it with a wrong intention or to put anyone down. I must have definitely made mistakes, but I had the guts to own up to them. I was confident that the audience would make me win the show if I am right. That was my only focus throughout the show.

At what stage did you realise that you could win the show, despite having a tough competitor in Sreesanth?
I think it was after Shoaib (Ibrahim, husband) visited me inside the house. He held me and said, ‘People tell you things because they cannot reach where you are today or become like you’. That gave me the strength, because his words mean the world to me. I broke down on a many occasions, but I sailed through it all, thinking about Shoaib and my sister-in-law, Saba. I wanted to break the notion that Bigg Boss is all about fighting, putting each other down and abusing each other. That’s not true. It’s about being yourself, being good and honest. That is the only thing that kept me going.

TV bahus are always targeted for being fake or restricting themselves to the kitchen, which is often looked at a strategy to win the show...
I feel other contestants come with the agenda to put celebs down. Also, what’s wrong if I have inculcated some positive traits from a character that I have played? How can I be fake for three-and-a-half months? I can never fake and don’t need anyone’s approval on that. I was also accused of not performing tasks. I had clearly said it that I can’t get physical. I would have gone to Khatron Ke Khiladi if I had to do that. I have done tasks with whatever capabilities I had. The way I was on the show is how I am in real life — I don’t use bad language. Honestly, only bhai (Sreesanth) and I were our real selves on the show.

Many felt that you benefitted from your friendship with Sreesanth on the show...
People are free to say what they feel, because when you are shining, there is more criticism than appreciation. That makes you brighter and stronger. I took all the accusations head on. I have never planned anything in this house, including building a connect with somebody just because he was Sreesanth. It was very clear that bhai and I were very close and were there for each other throughout. I have been consistent in my behaviour on the show. I would always help everyone. Main tailor bhi bann gayi thi, main Surbhi (Rana) ke kapde alter karti thi.

What would you like to tell your detractors, who felt that you have won the trophy because of Sreesanth?
(Laughs!) I would just want to laugh it off and thank them. I feel that I have lived my journey. It has been more beautiful because bhai was there and I have some beautiful memories because I don’t have a biological brother. Itne saare viewers jinhone mujhe support kiya hai and jitaaya hai, it means mujh me hi kuchh khaas tha. Agar main unko (Sreesanth) pakad kar chal rahi hoti, toh viewers ko woh dikhaayi deta aur woh mujhe nahi, unko support karte.

Who is the one contestant you would not want to meet outside the house?
Romil Chaudhary, for sure. He would pretend to be extremely innocent at one point, and then he would show that he knows everything. I could never connect with him or like him. He wants to do things his way and is egoistic. I am allergic to such people.

What’s the plan now?
I would be visiting Ajmer Sharif with Shoaib. Woh meri mannat thi ki if I win... I want to go home and talk at length with ammi and Saba. I want to buy a home for Shoaib's parents, something that I had mentioned while entering the Bigg Boss house. It’s time to pay them back for whatever they have done for us. We have a lot of responsibilities on us and jitni jaldi hum kaafi cheezein settle kar paayenge, utni jaldi hum life mein aagey badh paayenge.

Karanvir Bohra also enters the house without his better half but Bharti Singh and hubby Harsh will appear together
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 5, 2018) 

Actor Karanvir Bohra who was last seen on the small screen as the lead opposite Mouni Roy in Naagin 2 and later hosted the reality show India’s Best Judwaah, is on-board Bigg Boss 12 as one of the first inmates. Joining him is the original ‘Simar’ from the popular daily soap Sasural Simar Ka, Dipika Kakar Ibrahim (right).

Interestingly, both actors are participating in the show without their better halves. Dipika tied the knot with her Sasural… co-star Shoaib Ibrahim on February 26 this year.

A source close to the development reveals, “The makers were looking for a casting coup, getting Dipika and Shoaib on board, but the latter turned down the offer. Now, Dipika will partner someone else.”

Karanvir and his wife, Teejay Sidhu, have been married for 10 years, but couldn’t be a part of the show together as they are parents to twin girls Raya Bella and Vienna, who turn two next month. However, newlyweds, comedienne Bharti Singh and her TV show writer-husband Harsh Limbachiyaa (left), will be in the house together.

The show, which has secured the weekend slot, has the theme of ‘vichitra jodi’ this year. Show host Salman Khan begins shooting immediately after wrapping up the Abu Dhabi schedule of Ali Abbas Zafar’s period drama Bharat.