Harshad Chopda is enjoying this phase of his career playing Dr Abhimanyu in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. But he has kept a low profile and has his reasons for it. He says, “I am in a happy space; the team has delivered what they promised. Anyway, I have always wanted my work to do the talking.”

Going by Harshad’s work profile, the Left Right Left actor hasn’t been a part of shows which have lasted for many years. But Yeh Rishta... is the longest running show on television having completed 12 years. So, will he continue to do this show for many years and maybe even agree to age on screen if necessary? “Jab tak mazaa aayega toh kyun nahi? Till the time Rajan (Shahi) sir, who is the producer of the show, is happy making it, I am happy doing it,” he says.

Telling us how shows with family values will never go out of fashion on TV, Harshad says, “It is not just in India, TV shows abroad, too, are about family values. Family is family everywhere and that will be a part of shows. Yes, there might be some that do not focus much on this aspect, but they will always be a part of every story.”

The actor, who has been a part of shows like Kis Des Main Hai Mera Dil, Humsafars, Tere Liye and Bepanaah, is not very active on social media. He says, “I actually don’t get enough time for that. But now I feel quite settled in the show, so when I enter the relaxed waala zone soon, I will be more active on that front.”

Meanwhile on the personal front, Harshad says he is single. Prod him further on this and he says, “Right now, I want to concentrate on my work. If I had the time for anything else, I wouldn’t have been single (laughs).”

As Parth Samthaan’s disinterest on the set becomes evident following a reported resignation from the show, producer Ekta Kapoor searching for new Anurag Basu
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 20, 2020)

Ever since Ekta Kapoor’s Kasautii Zindagii Kay returned after a four-month hiatus brought on by the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown, the soap has been in the news. After around two weeks of shoot, Parth Samthaan, who plays Anurag Basu, tested Coronavirus positive and the unit was forced into another shorter break. The actor joined the team from August 4, but soon rumours were rife that he had told producer Ekta that he wanted to opt out.

According to a source close to the development, Parth resigned the same weekend he returned. “His health is his priority right now. Also, he has a Bollywood film coming up and wants to concentrate on that,” says the source, adding that Ekta has been trying to persuade him to stay on, given the TRPs he has been raking in for her. “Recently, she even roped in a third person known to both to help her convince Parth to continue with the show. But he is not keen.”

The source informs that the actor’s lack of interest is evident on the set too. “In the last week alone, he didn’t turn up on two days, Saturday and Monday, and on Tuesday, he shot for just two hours. He isn’t even interacting with the unit much and keeps to himself,” the source shares.

Meanwhile, according to the source, Ekta has approached Zain Imam, Vijayendra Kumeria and Barun Sobti. Talks are also on with Vishal Aditya Singh, Harshad Chopda and Aashim Gulati to replace him. Zain played Yuvraj Luthra in Tashan-E-Ishq, Neil Khanna in Naamkarann and Kabir Mittal in Ek Bhram... Sarvagun Sampanna. Vijayendra became a household name as Suraj Rajvanshi in Udaan and Dev Parikh in Naagin: Bhagya Ka Zehreela Khel. Barun has done TV shows like Dill Mill Gayye, Baat Hamari Pakki Hai and Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? and a couple of films, Main Aur Mr Riight and Tu Hai Mera Sunday. Vishal was the second runner-up on Nach Baliye 9 and was in Bigg Boss last year. Harshad is best remembered as Cadet Ali Baig in Left Right Left, Anurag Ganguly in Tere Liye and Aditya Hooda in Bepannah while Aashim played Rehaan Khanna in Dil Sambhal Jaa Zara and the titular role in Karn Sangini.

The source concludes, saying, “Parth has found a huge following and Anurag is an iconic character. Ekta is clear that if he doesn’t stay and she can’t find a worthy replacement, she will end the show.”

Harshad also recounts their first day of shoot on the sets of the TV show, Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil in 2008
Roshni Olivera (BOMBAY TIMES; August 13, 2020)

Sushant Singh Rajput started his acting career with television and a grand tribute is being planned for him on the small screen on the occasion of Ganeshotsav. For this, the television channel, which is planning the event, has roped in Harshad Chopda, who played the lead on the show, Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil (2008), which was Sushant’s first show as an actor.

Harshad told BT, “Sushant’s death has come as a shock to everyone and now, we are all waiting for the truth to come out. But, his life has to be celebrated, too. The person that I knew, his zest for life, his passion for dancing... he is such an inspiration for all.”

Harshad will perform to Sushant’s dance numbers as part of the tribute. “I remember how much he loved dancing. The first time I met him on the set, he was dressed in a black T-shirt with a black beanie and was full of energy. The first scene we did together was a football scene, for which we actually played the game. In the show, Sushant played my younger brother Preet and for me, he will always remain Preet,” said Harshad.

Over the last few years, the two may not have met often, but whenever they did, it was like they had never lost touch. “We would just pick up from wherever we had left,” Harshad said.

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.

Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; January 8, 2018)

Days after a deadly fire blazed through two restaurants at Kamala Mills Compound in Mumbai, a major fire broke out at Cinevista studio in Kanjurmarg on Saturday night. According to reports, around 150 people were evacuated after flames were spotted erupting from the generator room. The massive fire not only destroyed the set of Bepannaah, an upcoming television show, but has also resulted in the death of audio assistant Gopi Varma, whose body was recovered on Sunday morning.

The Mumbai fire brigade sent out eight fire engines and six water tankers to the spot and the fire,which broke out around 8 pm, was brought under control around 10.30 pm.The studio also houses the set of Aisi Deewangi Dekhi Nahi Kahi and Haasil,which were unaffected by the fire.

Giving a first-person account of the incident, Rajesh Khattar, who stars in Bepannaah along with, Jennifer Winget, Harshad Chopda and Sehban Azim, said, “We were on the set since 9 am in the morning and took a break around 7 pm. Around 7.30 pm we went back on the sets to shoot. Around 7.45 pm, we heard some sparks. We started running out when we saw fire break out between the ground floor and first floor. We also helped the technicians carry out the gas cylinders and the AC duct pipes before the fire brigade staff could come and help. I don’t know how it all happened, but feel sad that the whole set was destroyed in the fire.” Recalling the beauty of the set, he added, “Harshad and I would marvel at the beauty of the set. There were two sets, the one that was supposed to be my house is totally gutted. We don’t know how or when we will be able to start shooting again.”

The actor was also shocked to learn of Gopi’s death. He said, “We were continuously doing the head count, asking everyone if all had been rescued. We thought we had rescued everyone, but didn’t realise that Gopi was trapped inside. I was working with him for a month now and this is really sad. He was a sincere guy helping with the sound recordings.”

There have been fire accidents on the sets of TV shows in the past. A couple of months back, Super Dance 3 set was gutted in a fire that broke out at RK Studios.