Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 11, 2020)

Ganesh Chaturthi is just 11 days away, but the ongoing pandemic has put a damper on the 10-day revelry this year. With the government banning all public gatherings, the festival will be limited to a family affair. However, TV is doing its bit to give Bappa a rapturous welcome, virtually. Star Plus kickstarted celebrations over the weekend at Film City Studios. Star Parivaar Ganeshotsav 2020 will be aired during the festival week.

Sonu Sood, who has become a real hero during the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown, by helping thousands of migrants from across the country and even abroad get back to their homes, is going to host the show. The actor, who shares a special bond with Ganesh, will welcome him with a puja. “There won’t be many Ganpati pandals this year. So, this is the best way to welcome the Lord,” says Sonu, who celebrated the festival for the first time when he had just moved to Mumbai and didn’t know how to serve Ganesha. “I learnt and now we have developed such a bond that he comes to my home every year. He has answered all my prayers and shown me a new path to follow every year.”

Sonu plans his shoots around the 10-day celebrations in a way that he can spend maximum time with Bappa. “My in-laws come to my place during the festival and these 10 days of family time is something we look forward to every year,” he says, insisting that it was Ganesh who gave him the power to help so many people during this crisis. “I have done many movies, but this is the best role I got to play. I want Bappa to help all the people who have suffered during the pandemic and I am sure he will listen to my prayers and make everything right.”

TV actors Surbhi Jyoti and Siddharth Nigam will perform on “Sukhkarta Dukhharta” on the show while Divyanka Tripathi, who bid goodbye to the channel in December last year when her long-running show Yeh Hai Mohabbatein went off the air, returns with a Lavani performance. Shivangi Joshi from Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Rupali Ganguly from Anupamaa and Aditi Sharma from Yehh Jadu Hai Jinn Ka! will send video messages seeking Bappa’s blessings.

Shilpa Shetty will pay tribute to the frontline workers, with a medley of songs, from Lagaan’s “Chale Chalo” and Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl’s “Jazba” to “Shambhu Sutaya” from ABCD - Any Body Can Dance and “Nainowale Ne” from Padmaavat. Harshad Chopda, who featured with Sushant Singh Rajput in the 2008 show, Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil, will remember the late actor by shaking a leg to his popular songs.

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 17, 2020)

While actors enjoy the highs of being stars in the world of entertainment, it is not just about the glitz and glamour but also a number of pitfalls lurking. There are many factors that are stressful and affect the mental health of actors including professional lows.

Actor Kubbra Sait admits that acting is a business of survival and we should change that. “Everyone is doing all that they can to survive in this industry. I can’t afford to have a bad day at work because I will be called ‘difficult to work with’. People love bitching about others for fun,” she says, advising, having a strong support system helps.

Actor Sumeet Vyas agrees, and shares, “As an actor, we are constantly pitching for jobs or switching them and some work and others don’t, which affects us too.” Movies not working at the box-office or an actor not getting the role they were trying for, weighs on their mind. Sumeet adds, “There’s a lot of money and expectation riding on a person. It is hard to take a defeat and move on. Focusing on one’s craft helps you not be that affected because it does, no matter how good or how successful you are.”

Actor Divya Dutta, calls people in the industry “bravehearts” and says being an actor is a lonely journey. She reveals, “We are smiling always in public, and it is not just glamour but a ton of hard work and mental pressure too, and one has to be sorted to deal with it. When you are successful, there is pressure to maintain it because you don’t know if you will be able to live a life which is not ‘that successful’.”

Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya admits that even while being surrounded by thousands of people, an actors’ struggles and failures are “very intrinsic and personal experiences”. “While their success is celebrated by all, an artiste has to be lucky to have true well wishers who are not affected by the limelight. Family and friends help in a person being grounded,” she says, adding actors should consciously take better care of their finances for rainy days.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 24, 2020)

Following the footsteps of artistes from Bollywood and other film industries, members of the television fraternity have also come together to make a video to cheer people and urge them to stay at home, during the nationwide lockdown following the Coronavirus outbreak.

Curated by Ekta Kapoor, several artistes and creative people from the TV industry have pitched in to create the engaging video from their homes. It features Sidharth Shukla, Mouni Roy, Shailesh Lodha, Anita Hassanandani, Rohitashv Gour, Maniesh Paul, Karishma Tanna, director-choreographer Remo D’Souza, Divyanka Tripathi, Erica Fernandes, Parth Samthaan, Shabir Ahluwalia, Shehnaaz Gill, Sriti Jha, Karan V Grover and Aasif Sheikh, among others.
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Taking a cue from Bollywood's music video, Ekta Kapoor ropes in top television actors for a special video to encourage people to stay indoors
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; April 24, 2020)

Well aware that they enjoy an unparalleled reach across India, Ekta Kapoor has brought together top television stars for a special video to highlight the importance of staying indoors amid the pandemic. Bigg Boss 13 winner Sidharth Shukla, Mouni Roy, Anita Hassanandani, Karishma Tanna and Maniesh Paul are among the many actors who have shot their portions at their respective homes.

"The video is a collective effort by the television producers' association of our country. The current scenario calls for us to be united more than ever, and entertainment is the common language across the country," says Kapoor, the brain behind the initiative. By offering a peek into the daily lives of the actors, the video shows how one can utilise the stay-at-home period productively. "We [roped in] top television stars so that it resonates with people across the country. This is our endeavour to encourage everyone to stay home," adds Kapoor.

Roy, who features in the video that drops online today, believes one must use the time to pause and reflect. "I remember reading that it would be sad if we came out of this experience unchanged. The need of the hour is to stay in, take care of yourself and your families, and maintain social distancing."

Positivity is key to tackling the crisis, says Sonali Jaffar, who conceptualised the feature. "We may not be able to control the events, but we have the power to not get reduced by them. The television fraternity has come together to abide by what is considered the new normal," she says.


Sidharth Shukla, Mouni Roy and Anita Hassanandani
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Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 24, 2020)

Inspired by the Salman Khan-hosted reality show, Bigg Boss, a soon-to-release music video, the brain child of Ekta Kapoor, encourages people to stay indoors during the lockdown. The TV czarina has roped in all the top names from the small screen, including Mouni Roy, Divyanka Tripathi, Anita Hassanandani, Erica Fernandes, Parth Samthaan, Sidharth Shukla, Manish Paul, Shabir Ahluwalia, Shehnaaz Gill, Sriti Jha, Karishma Tanna, Reem Sameer Shaikh, Karan V Grover, Aasif Sheikh and Karan Jotwani.

“An initiative by the TV producers’ association, the video was planned over several conference calls and is a team effort, encouraging people to stay home,” Ekta asserts. Remo D’souza features as the Big Boss, ordering inmates to complete tasks. “It was fun to be a part of this project,” says the choreographer-turned-filmmaker who is working on a few scripts. “There is a lot of reading, brainstorming and writing happening.”

J D Majethia, Chairman, IFTPC (Indian Film and Television Producers Council), is ecstatic to have the industry rally behind the cause. “One message from Ekta on the (TV producers’ texting) group and we have an entertaining multistarrer, titled Quarantined, made without having artistes under one roof,” he gushes.

Rajeev Khandelwal on how his latest offering, Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala, helped him explore a new artistic facet
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; October 8, 2019)

Given his knack for offbeat projects, you would expect Rajeev Khandelwal to steer clear of rom-coms. However, the actor emphasises at the outset that Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala is far from a run-of-the-mill love story. Over to Khandelwal as he talks about the ALTBalaji and Zee5 offering that is making waves online.

Considering You've Attempted Romantic Dramas Before, What Made You Greenlight Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala?
When I first heard the story, I turned it down. However, the makers called me for a narration again, this time around with the writer Jaya [Misra]. Three episodes into the narration, I realised that the writing was excellent, and it was a show I should not skip. I came on board as the character was exciting. The story allows me to play two different characters; that is challenging. Also, I am doing a love story after many years. I consciously stayed away from the genre for long.

The Show Marks Your First Collaboration With Divyanka Tripathi.
Last year, she had been a guest on my chat show, Juzzbaat. That was the only interaction I had had with Divyanka until this show came our way. Working with her was a fantastic experience. When you've been in the industry for long, it brings a sense of discipline to you. Divyanka is a perfect example of that. I seek the quality in my co-stars as I am also a disciplined actor.

Your Crackling Chemistry Has Become A Talking Point.
It took us a while to crack it. She was a bit hesitant. So, as a co-actor, I had to make her comfortable and show her that she could trust me.

How Was Your Experience Of Working With Director Pradeep Sarkar?
When I met him for the first time, I was scared. He is a man of few words. It was his wife who helped us break the ice. He has worked with seniors in the industry, yet he showered me with love and respect. He unravelled a different facet of myself as an artiste. I wasn't sure if I could pull off comedy, but he discovered my flair for the genre. Pradeep da told me that I have good comic timing.

Your Debut Web Series, Haqq Se, Is Gearing Up For A Sequel. Will You Be A Part Of It?
The team has discussed it with me, but my dates may be a problem. We are trying to figure it.

Vinay MR Mishra (DNA; September 14, 2019)

Rajeev Khandelwal, best known for playing the national crush Sujal in Kaahin Toh Hoga (2002),  has returned to the genre with Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala. The 43-year-old can be seen as Vikram, a brooding Michelin Star chef in the digital series that streamed on OTT platforms recently.

“My fans were constantly asking me to do a romantic TV show. I was quite clear that I wasn’t doing a daily soap for sure. This (Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala) was completely my thing. I thought I need to give my fans one romantic show before I become too old to do one,” he says. The romantic drama, which revolves around cooking, has two timelines. In the first part, he is an intense Chef and the other one has him showcasing his lighter side.

While you might think it would have been a task for Rajeev, who comes across as a serious guy, to get the nerve of the character, it wasn’t the case. “It came so easily,” he says about playing the younger version of Vikram, a slightly funny guy. “I knew it... I have got great comic timing since I used to be on stage and have been an emcee,” he adds.

Rajeev shares that he used to be the go-to guy for his friends, to write funny scripts for haldi, sangeet, etc.

The show primarily revolves around an estranged couple — played by him and Divyanka Tripathi — crossing their paths after a certain time. When asked how he would react to a situation when he has to work with his ex, the actor said, “I’m a positive guy. I don’t harbour ill feelings for anyone. So, if I bump into my ex and my presence will bother her life, I won’t cross my path with her. Sometimes, you do fall out of love, but that doesn’t make you my enemy.”

Giving an example, he explained, “If tomorrow my wife comes and tells me ‘Rajeev, I don’t want to live with you anymore’ and I find out that she means it, I’ll respect her and say it’s your life. I’ll do anything to make her life beautiful.”

— Zee Media Newsroom

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 3, 2019)

A R Rahman, the super judge on Star Plus singing reality show The Voice, gave the finale a skip. The team was informed that the maestro was unwell and Asha Bhosle stepped in as special guest. The show’s spokesperson confirmed the news.

The veteran singer not only did the honours, presenting the winner with the trophy, but also performed with Adnan Sami on “Kabhi Toh Nazar Milao” from their music album.

Tabu and Rakul Preet Singh were the other guests. Divyanka Tripathi jointly hosted the episode with Karan Wahi, who had replaced her in a few episodes when she was away for a personal commitment.

From top left: Ekta Kapoor with her guests, Mouni Roy and Divyanka Tripathi catch up with the hostess, Shraddha Kapoor turns up in a Kresha Bajaj outfit; Kriti Sanon stood out in red, Kiara Advani arrives, Nushrat Bharucha struck a pose with Tanuj Garg

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 8, 2018)

This year, Ekta Kapoor ditched her customary Diwali bash and opted for a relatively low-key celebration with only close friends in attendance. The hostess chose a baby pink lehenga for the occasion, while guests Kriti Sanon, Shraddha Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty and Nushrat Bharucha, among others, turned up in their festive finery.

Also joining the lehenga bandwagon was Shabana Azmi, who had lots to chat about with Varun Dhawan’s mother, Karuna. Kriti arrived late and exited early but found time to catch up with her Bareilly Ki Barfi director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari while Ashwiny’s husband Nitesh spent time his Chhichhore heroine Shraddha Kapoor. Singer Neha Kakkar arrived with beau Himansh Kohli, Kiara Advani posed with Karan Johar, while writer Mushtaq Sheikh was seen with Karishma Tanna and her mother.

“Karan discussed his own Diwali bash for Wednesday night, impromptu and informal, with Nitesh,” a guest from the party informed. Raj Nayak, who recently returned from his New York holiday, was also present, along with Ashvini Yardi, Mouni Roy, Rohit Roy, Mansi Joshi, Shilpa Shetty, Krystle D’Souza, Anita Hassanandani and Arslan Goni to name a few.

A heavily pregnant Neha Dhupia who came with husband Angad Bedi announced that she wanted to make the most of all Diwali parties before the baby arrived. Ekta’s Yeh Hai Mohabbatein leading lady Divyanka Tripathi elicited some laughs on her way out, when she mistakenly entered someone else’s car instead of her own.

Actress has joined a TV show that will air during the Ganesh festival
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 31, 2018)

Urmila Matondkar, who took a break from the spotlight after her low-key wedding with actor Mohsin Akhtar Mir in 2016, recently made a comeback with a special song in the Irrfan Khan and Kirti Kulhari-starrer Blackmail. Now, the actress is returning to the small screen as well. A source reveals that Urmila has signed up to be part of a special show titled Adbhut Ganesh Utsav that will premiere during the upcoming festival on Star Plus. Scheduled to air five days a week, it is expected to have many celebrity appearances.

“The Marathi mulgi agreed to be a part of the show considering it is a performance for the Ganpati festival. Among other things, she will be seen shaking a leg with dancer Shakti Mohan on the 'Pinga' song from Bajirao Mastani which was picturised on Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone. She will be seen wearing a nauvari sari. Shooting will take place on September 4 and 5 at Mumbai’s Film City studio in Goregaon,” a source close to the development told Mirror, adding that Urmila is scheduled to begin rehearsals with the team shortly.

The show will be hosted by actress Divyanka Tripathi, who plays the female lead in the hit TV show, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, and Rithvik Dhanjani, who was last seen co-hosting the acting reality show India’s Next Superstars with Karan Wahi.

According to the source, veteran actor Nana Patekar is also in talks to be a part of the show and will inform the team of his decision by the weekend. He has been approached to do the Ganesh Vandana aarti.

Urmila had earlier been on TV as a host of Waar Parriwar, a singing reality show that had families competing against each other and aired in 2008.

BOMBAY TIMES (August 20, 2016)

TV actress Divyanka Tripathi talks about how the city proved her wrong and embraced her
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; August 6, 2016)


First impression
The first time I came to Mumbai from Bhopal was for a holiday with my family when I was a kid. Post that I came to Mumbai in 2004 for a talent hunt show Cinestars Ki Khoj. At that time I didn’t have a place to stay so two friends of mine allowed me to live with them. They not only gave me space, they also fed and took care of me. Those were lessons in kindness and I felt people are good in Mumbai. I went back after the show and kept coming for some reality and fashion shows. At that time I used to travel by bus because I couldn’t afford a flight and train tickets were never available.

Shifting to Mumbai
It was in 2006 when I bagged the daily soap Banoo Main Tumhari Dulhan that I shifted to Mumbai. I rented a one room flat and I had to do everything from cooking to washing my clothes. I really enjoyed that phase. I can proudly say that I have lived in a very basic manner in Mumbai.

Preconceived notions
Before coming here I had heard so many things about Mumbai, that it had a westernised culture, people exploit you, etc. I had a lot of preconceived notions. But imagine my shock when I realised that people here respect all cultures. The important thing is you should be comfortable with yourself. I was this simple, Hindi speaking girl, but I wasn’t criticised. That is the best part about Mumbai. Nobody will show their dislike on your face — in other cities sarcastic remarks will be passed. The sense of professionalism here is admirable. Also, if you are sensible and know what you want and how much you want, nobody can exploit you. Another thing I love about the city is the safety and security for women.

Lasting bonds
I have made some long lasting friends here, but they are all from my earlier shows. After all, earlier bonds last the longest. They are like my school friends because my first acting experience began with them. I have some amazing friends like Maninder Singh, Deepa Bakshi, Vipul Roy, Snehal Sahay, Ismail Umar Khan and Manish Naggdev.

Loving the city
Till recently, I wasn’t very fond of the city because I was just working and struggling. I have started loving the city only after Yeh Hai Mohabbatein. There’s no particular thing that I can pinpoint, but this serial changed my life in many ways. Now, with Vivek (Dahiya, husband), I am exploring, the city. We hang out at various eateries like Yauatcha and Thai Pavilion, which are our favourite haunts. We also drive to Marine Drive and Madh Island. I remember going to these spots only for my shoot and coming back, but now I enjoy these places. I would like the city to be beautified. The flyovers can be painted in vibrant colours. We can do something more artistic because Mumbai is a tourist hub and it will be an eye candy to watch nice colours and beautiful roads when you are stuck somewhere in traffic. If you ask me to describe Mumbai, I would say it’s a city for people who are focussed, ambitious and hard working. It is also the most accommodating city in every way.

Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; March 3, 2015)

It may have taken them seven years to admit that they were in love, but it took television actors Divyanka Tripathi and Ssharad Malhotraa just a month to seal the fate of their relationship. The couple fell in love on the set of their debut show Banoo Main Teri Dulhann in 2006, but admitted to their relationship only last year. And soon, rumours of their wedding started doing the rounds.

However, now there has been a dramatic turn of events, as the two have decided to call it quits. We hear that issues started cropping up between them since Valentine's Day. Close friends blame compatibility issues and Ssharad's non-committal attitude for the split. “Divyanka wanted marriage but Ssharad wasn't ready for it. Also, they failed to spend quality time with each other because of their work commitments,“ says a friend of the couple.

Divyanka and Ssharad confirm the split, but are tightlipped about the reasons behind it. “The decision of calling off the relationship is mutual. We had a beautiful journey and the most lovely memories are helping us part ways cordially. Yet, it's a painful process and speculations only increase the pain. We request the media to be considerate. This is the final word on this subject and we won't be talking about what went wrong in our relationship. We believe it wasn't destined to last,“ they say in a statement issued to Bombay Times.

Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; September 18, 2014)

If sources are to be believed, Karan Patel, the lead actor of the TV show, Yeh Hain Mohabbatein, recently had an altercation with actress Divyanka Tripathi. Turns out Karan was blaming the media for having caused his delay in reaching the sets, which, in turn, led to his part being edited out of a special episode featuring Bollywood actors Deepika Padukone and Arjun Kapoor.

Says a source, “Deepika and Arjun had come to the show's sets since they were shooting a special episode to promote their film, Finding Fanny. They were supposed to shoot with the lead couple, Karan Patel and Divyanka Tripathi. But Karan reached late on the sets, and the makers couldn't keep Deepika and Arjun waiting for long due to their other commitments. As a result, they changed the script at the last minute and the episode was shot without Karan.” The source adds that when Karan turned up, the shoot was nearly over. "Since there was not a single shot featuring Karan, he was very upset. He created a ruckus and blaming the media for his delay, he banned them from coming on the sets of the show," says the source, adding that despite the intervention of the show's publicists, Karan didn't want mediapersons on the sets.

“When he spotted a few reporters on the sets, he told the producer to ask them to leave or else he would walk away. That's when his co-star, Divyanka, stepped in and announced that she’d walk out if the media wasn't allowed in,” says an eyewitness.

When contacted, Karan said that he was not supposed to be a part of the special episode in the first place. “I didn't want mediapersons to hover around during my shoot because I get distracted when there are many people on the sets. They are welcome once my shot is over," he said, whereas Divyanka confirmed that the actor had insulted some mediapersons. "I am not against Karan, but the media was just doing its job. They weren't doing anything wrong and I was supporting them on human grounds,” she said.