Star Cast/Story/Photos/Videos/Episodes: Star Plus's Pratigya

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'The trick lies in telling the same story differently' - Gautam Hegde


Gautam Hegde, the writer of many popular shows in a conversation with TellyBuzz..


Gautam Hegde is a writer has penned shows like Santaan, Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat, Miley Jab Hum Tum and Love Ne Milla Di Jodi. Today he is part of the writing team of Star Plus' #1 show, Saathiya Saath Nibhana.

In an exclusive conversation with TellyBuzz, Gautam talks of his eventful journey as a writer, on the progressive changes in television today, his future plans and much more..

Take us thro' your journey as a writer in the Indian Television industry.
I always desired to work for TV and I planned my post graduation studies that way. After a mass comm. course, I joined ZEE. I was with ZEE for three years. After that, I wanted to do something new. I was not sure of turning a writer but my ex-boss Vivek Bahl knew I had it in me to write. He offered me to write Santaan and that's how my journey began. From Santaan, I moved on to write Raja Ki Ayegi Baarat and then Miley Jab Hum Tum, Love Ne Milla Di Jodi...

Will you agree to the point that your forte seems to be developing youth based shows? Explain.
I disagree since apart from Miley Jab Hum Tum and Love Ne Milla Di Jodi, I have also written Santaan, Raja Ki Alayegi Baraat and Saathiya also. I have a saas and a bahu as much as I have a teenybopper hero and a dreamy heroine in me (Smiles).

What according to you are the pros and cons of being a writer?
It gives you a high that a thought you have penned down actually comes to life on air. The thought of developing a character, seeing it grow, seeing it become popular is a high. It's like when you all go gaga about the characters of say a Miley Jab, a writer feels proud because he has contributed to it. Like a parent cheering his kid on the annual day, 'wo wali feeling aati hai'. I haven't faced any cons so far.

Which is the one show you loved to write? Why?
All shows have helped me grow but I would say Santaan, because of two reasons. It was my first show and it was a show any child and parent could relate to. Kartik, played by Sudeep Sahir was a lot like me and how I am with my parents. I come from a middle class family myself and I've seen my parents struggle to see me happy. So there used to be times when I would get emotional writing a scene.

As a writer will you aim to get recognized for the TRP your show is getting, or will you choose to get critical acclaim?
I aim to do honest and hard work with good teams. The success of a show depends on team work and not an individual.

After writing shows like MJHT and LNMJ, you are presently writing for Saathiya Saath Nibhana which is a typical saas bahu drama. How did you make this transition?
Saathiya is not a typical saas bahu drama. For starters, I think it is gutsy for a channel that had a saas bahu show as its flagship show once to reinvent the formula and again make another hit show. As for my transition, like I said, I started writing with a drama (Santaan) and a fairy tale romance (Raja ki Ayegi) and then I did youth shows for sometime. I was itching to do a drama again and gladly SNS happened.

What were the changes you had to make in your writing style to suit the saas bahu genre?
Like I said, it was about doing a show with a saas and a bahu, but with a difference. What makes it different is that the drama has an element of fun attached, and I and my co-writer Jyoti Tandon keep it alive on the screenplay level. Even the scheming doesn't really involve something you wouldn't be able to relate to. Pressure cooker phatega ki nahi, ghee aur tel ki chori kaise pakdi jayegi- it has drama, but an essence of fun and thrill to it.

Saathiya is raking very high TRPs and also is the #1 show. Did you expect this huge success and popularity?
Honestly, I didn't expect it to be SO big. It's the team effort- the channel, the production house, the creative team and the synchronization within. I think once a show shows potential of being a hit, the team gets positively motivated. With the show, at every stage, it goes one notch up. When I see the telecast myself I am astonished- its like- is it the same scene that we wrote? It's awesome!

Which part of the country do you think gets you the maximum viewership for Saathiya?
That's best answered by the channel as they get detailed reports.

Many in the industry feel there is no novelty in Saathiya, and are today amazed that the show can get so big. How do you silence such people?
Hahaha! You make me sound like I'm a bureaucrat to silence them. See, a show needs to have a novelty factor. If its not there and if it's just the same, then the audience wont lap it up. Take Pavitra Rishta, Geet Hui Sabse Parayi, Baat Hamari Pakki Hai, Uttaran. Somewhere, all are about love stories with elements of drama, but its how differently they are told that makes them the top show on the channel. At the end of the day, the trick lies in telling the same story differently.

There was a time when makers would only want their show to be slotted at the prime time. This trend has changed today, and your show Saathiya is leading the early evening slots. What do you think of this change in trend? What is the reason for this change?
The audience wants entertainment, when they are with the family. With pre-prime time, we want to entertain them during their evening tea time sessions as they are chopping vegetables for dinner time. I think it's a welcome trend. The channel makes numbers, the industry gets employed, and viewer gets entertained. Good for all, isn't it?

You have been associated with Rashmi Sharma's shows from the days of Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat? How is it working with her?
Rashmi and I go a long way back when we worked on Piya ka Ghar when she was a Creative Head and I was in the channel. So, it's been around 5 years now. She is very passionate about her work and has a go-getter attitude. At a recent party thrown for the success of the show, she told me that I shouldn't feel like a guest, but more like a host. That was sweet.

Your next big association is with Shakuntalam Telefilms where you have written shows like Santaan, Love Ne Milla Di Jodi. How is it to work with them?
Shakuntalam is like my home. Aptly I did a show called Santaan. They are such nice people to work with that I don't even ask what the show is about. I know I have to work with them. Shyam ji and Neelima are genuinely nice people and it's not just me, anyone who has worked with them once, wants to work again. With an upcoming show, I would be completing a hat trick with them and it feels great.

What are your future plans? What are you working on?
A show for Star Plus with Shakuntalam Telefilms, and Saathiya is what I have on my platter right now. Miley Jab has just gotten over so I'm in talks for some new shows.
Your journey as writer of MJHT is over. But the fans want more of the show.

What is your take on it? Do you think a Season 3 is a possibility?
Miley Jab has been a very successful milestone for me. It was a well received show with a superb team of cast and crew. All good things come to an end. Now, if there is a season 3, its only up to the channel and producers to take a call.

What is the different kind of genre that you would want to experiment in future?
I would like to write an urban comedy.

Television today is different from what it was few years back. What are the changes you see as a writer?
It keeps evolving and reinventing. What is interesting is that the top shows today are different from each other and are yet successful. There is a Sasural Genda Phool which is just as popular as a Pratigya. For an Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo, there is a Ye Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, and both become hits. You never know what can click with the audience.

Which is your favorite show on TV today and why?
These days I'm glued to Star World afternoons. How I met your mother, Friends, Modern family back to back. I am looking forward to Jhalak Dikhlaja. I am a big Madhuri Dixit fan.

How is Gautam Hegde as a person?
I feel like it's a slam book now! Hahaha! I am a God loving middle class boy who feels nothing can beat the pav bhaji that his mother makes. I love my friends and I like to entertain and being entertained.

Is there anyone who inspires you to write different? Where do you get your inspiration from?
Observing people. There is so much drama around you. You attend one wedding and you come back home with so many ideas! I like overhearing conversations at public places, social functions, coffee houses. Whoever calls it bad manners can take a long walk! (laughs)

Do you think the TRP system needs a bit of change, now that we have got into the internet age?
Interesting question!. But lets face it, those who can access and surf internet are not a majority of TV viewing junta. We are still a country where people have one TV homes and probably no computer, forget alone internet.

As a writer, have you experienced a rough phase in your career? How did you overcome it?
Nahi hua hai.

What is the message that you would pass on to youngsters who want to make writing as their profession?
Make it a profession, only if it's a passion.

Who is your best friend/friends in the industry?
With every phase, every show, every experience, you meet people. Some colleagues become friends, some friends become best friends. I value my team from my ZEE days the most. Today they are spread out but they still treat me the same and that touches me the most.

We see a lot many writers turning into Producers today. Would you want to take that giant stride ahead?
Arey bhai, there are so many stories to tell. If all writers turn producers, they will need writers na! (Smiles)

Where would you want to see yourself in say, the next five years?
I don't know where I see myself five hours from now. But whatever I make of myself, I hope I live a content and happy life and stay humble to my craft.

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Piyush Sahdev jumps from Pratigya to Geet Hui Sabse Parayi..


With Aman's character getting over in Pratigya, Piyush Sahdev finds himself yet another prominent role, this time in Star One's Geet Hui Sabse Parayi..



Star One's Geet Hui Sabse Parayi saw the entry of Nikunj Malik of Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jaayega fame yesterday!! She has got in to play the loving sister of Maan Singh Khurana (Gurmeet Choudhary).

There will soon be yet another entry in Geet, and that will be of Nayantara's (Karishma Randeva) brother Arjun. The guy was supposed to enter before Anwesha, i.e. Maan's sister, but that could not happen as the guy to play Arjun had not been finalized.

The latest is that Piyush Sahdev who was recently seen essaying the role of Aman in Star Plus' Pratigya will soon enter Geet as Arjun.

Our source states, "Piyush Sahdev will play the role of Arjun and he has started shoot from today. His entry will be seen in the freeze of tomorrow's episode. Arjun has a grey shade and will be seen as the guy who will bring about a sea-change in the lives of both Maan and Geet (Drashti Dhami). His entry is expected to bring in some major twists in the story. He will play a business tycoon who has come to ruin Maan. As the story goes on, there might be a love track between Anwesha and Arjun. But the creative team is still working on it".

We tried contacting Piyush Sahdev and also sent him a text message, but he remained unavailable for comments.

Let's see what happens to Geet and Maan's love life with the entry of Arjun…

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Kalpana Bora quits Pratigya..


Kalpana Bora who essays the role of Kesar in Star Plus' Pratigya will be quitting the show very soon..


The role of Kesar played by the talented actress Kalpana Bora has surely been sidelined for quite sometime now, in Star Plus' Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya. With the 'Woh' coming into her life in the form of Arushi (Avantika Hundal), Kesar has certainly lost her battle.

If this is not enough, the latest news is that Kalpana Bora has decided to quit the show due to personal reasons.

According to our source, "Kalpana is leaving the show. She has already put down her papers, and her last date will be on December 31st. Her contract expires only in February 2011, but she is leaving due to certain reasons".

We hear that the role of Kesar will get equally important now and this forces the production house to look for a replacement.

When contacted, Kalpana confirmed the news saying, "Yes, I am already serving my notice period. My last date will be December 31st. I am going abroad for few months as my husband is shifting to Sydney. I need to be with him when he shifts, and I have informed the production house of my personal responsibilities".

Ask what happens to the character and she is quick to say, "Kesar got popular because of me. I really have no idea what they will do with the character. I have tried asking them, but have not got a reply from them".

We tried calling Pearl Grey but she remained unavailable for comments..

Let's wait and watch to know what happens to the character of Kesar once Kalpana exits from the show..

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Scheduling & Salaries lead to chaos on the sets of Pratigya


The sets of Pratigya is apparently plagued with certain management issues that upsets most of the actors, including the leads of the show...


TellyBuzz has already reported about Ankit Gera and Monika Singh being unhappy over the money rise they have got after completing one year in Star Plus' Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya. We now get to know that most of the actors have a similar problem, and to top it all there are certain management issues too that irk them.

Our source from the industry tells us, "Most of the actors in the Saxena family are not happy with the increase in money the production house is offering them. The actors at the same time experience problems with scheduling, and the non-professional behavior coming from few in the production house have made matters worse".

We hear that Anupam Shyam who plays Sajjan Singh, Asmita Sharma (Krishna's mother), Pooja Gor, Arhaan Behll and few others are irritated with the bad scheduling that happens on the sets.

"The actors are given a particular call time and when they arrive on sets, they are made to wait for hours. This has been happening for many months now, and there is no effort whatsoever taken by the management in minimizing the problems faced by actors", adds our source.

We also hear that one of the actors in Pratigya has gone a step ahead and has sent a letter to the production house requesting them to find a solution to the problems they face on a day-to-day basis. Bad scheduling, non-professional attitude and the money rise issue have apparently been mentioned in the letter.

Rumor mills have been churning that Pooja Gor had walked out of the sets due to the lack of salary increases and that our lead actress may even be quitting the show. thought why not catch up with Pooja to get the real story. When we called up Pooja cleared the air saying, "No, I am not quitting the show. I never walked out of the set and neither have I filed any complaint in the artist's association. But yes, I am extremely unhappy and feel demoralized on a contractual level regarding the payment offered to me by the production house. After working hard for extremely long hours for a year, I have not gotten a raise. Do you think this is justice to me?"

Asmita Sharma too explained her point saying, "Yes, many of the actors on the set of Pratigya are upset over the bad scheduling, and non-professionalism that happens. We are made to come on sets and we wait for long hours without giving a single shot. This is my humble request to the production house to sort things out at the earliest and find a solution to the management problems, as we leave behind our family at home to come and shoot for the show".

Ask her whether she has any money issue with the production house and she is quick to say, "No I have not had any such problems till now. My contract ends only in February. However, I have heard that many other actors have such issues".

We tried calling Arhaan Behll and Anupam Shyam, but they remained unavailable for comment.

Ankit Gera though told us, "Yes, things are sorted out now, and I have got the desirable rise that I wanted".

We tried calling Producers Pearl Grey of Spellbound Productions and Guruodev Bhalla from Walkwater Productions, but both remained unavailable.

We certainly hope that the actors sort out their problems with the production house at the earliest, for a show of the caliber of Pratigya cannot afford to lose such good actors!!

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'I was impressed by the Allahabadi dialect' - Shanti Bhushan


Exclusive conversation with Shanti Bhushan, the witer of popluar shows like Pratigya, Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo, Rishton Se Badi Pratha et al.



There is a saying that behind every successful man, there is a woman. Similarly behind every successful show, there is a master story teller behind it.

Shanti Bhushan, the well known writer, has been associated with Indian Television for a long time and has penned lot of successful shows like Pratigya, Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo, Rishton Se Badi Pratha and several others.
Tellybuzz had an interview with the renowned writer where he discussed about the prospects and concepts of television today
Abstracts!!!
How is your journey as a writer?
It took several years for me to reach where I am right now, from my village and the journey has been an interesting one. I had been in Varanasi, Lucknow and also Allahabad for education wherein I got associated with theatre, journalism and AIR, but Mumbai gave me the artistic culture.
Tell us about your background, where do you hail from?
I am basically from a village called Yuvrajpur in Gazipur district in Uttar Pradesh. My father was a teacher and was always particular that we both brothers should do something different from our family business because of which he concentrated more on our education. He was always concerned about our interests and constantly encouraged us to explore things. Today my brother, Yogesh Vikrant, is also working in Television industry as a lyricist and writer. He was awarded the best lyricist for the title song of Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo.
Is it true that you were a painter first, and then went on to become an anchor, at the All India Radio and then a journalist before becoming a writer? How was this journey?
Painting has been hereditary for me, a talent that I imbibed from my father. This was my main hobby in my childhood and later on I started doing poetry. When I was in Allahabad I was associated with theatre and All India Radio where I did compering along with radio drama for AIR. I had worked as a writer and director in theatre and my scripts had been staged at national level wherein I was awarded Best director, writer and actor. I can never forget my fun filled days of Theatre and those days it never crossed my mind to get into Mumbai and become a writer one day because even today I want to become a film director.
Which was your first show as writer on television?
I started my career in Television by scripting a documentary for Doordarshan, after which I wrote dialogues for a Bhojpuri film called Saathi Sanghathi. I was awarded the Best Dialogue writer for that work at the Bhojpuri Film Awards. Later on I scripted again for Doordarshan for a show called Jaye Kahan. After Jaye Kahan went off air, I got the offer to write for Agle Janam
Agle Janam has had many writers. How much have you been involved in the show?
The basic story, with which Zee TV decided to start the show, was written by me, but then later on several other writers had been associated with the show for episodic story. But the channel was not so happy with their work and hence they couldn't continue after five to ten episodes. Then Mrinal Jha handled the story, as well as the screenplay of the show and I, along with the story, started working on dialogues as well. We had worked together for more than a year for the show.
You have a good association with Pearl Grey and write for both her shows Pratigya and Rishton Se Badi Pratha. How has the association worked out?
Pearl is an excellent writer, who is at very ease and a simple person and she has a plethora of experience which she knows how to apply in her work. Our manner of storytelling is similar which makes me comfortable to work with her and we supplement each others work. And apart from being a writer, she is a great human being as well. We have a good tuning among ourselves wherein we first work on the story together, after which she does the screenplay and I work on the dialogues. We have always tried to bring in something new and untouched with Pratigya and Rishton Se Badi Pratha and have always been successful.
In Pratigya, the dialogues given to the Sajjan Singh and his family have been very much appreciated. How and why did you decide on giving each and every character such strong hitting and unusual dialogues?
There is always a humour in every language and its dialects, and these contents are a bit more in the Allahabadi dialect. I was really attracted to the dialect when I was in Allahabad and whenever there were bits of Allahabadi dialects in Amitabh Bachchan movies, I used to get really excited. When Pearl had started planning for Pratigya, I had already decided to familiarize the audience with this dialect and also the people who we normally get annoyed with. As a writer, I was also attracted to the characters who we always find difficult to cope up with, because I feel we should try to know them. I had known a family, similar to that of Sajjan Singh's, when I was a kid and that familiarity helped me to bring out the characters alive on screen. To live like dabang has always been a hobby for them and I have tried to include this forte in the characters. This reasons why the dialogues of Sajjan Singh, Krishna, Shakti and Komal are popular.

How do you tackle with the dialogues to be given to characters for Pratha? Is there any difference in the way you tackle both shows?
Whenever we start writing for a particular show, we will be in the character and in their world and will be solely occupied with the thoughts of how they talk and walk. This makes it easy for us to write shows of different backdrop. And since I do not like repeating my work, I have always tried to put in different elements in my content too, so that audience also feels the difference.

The recent track in Pratigya has upset the viewers wherein bigamy is shown. Also Krishna has been shown to be a weak character who cannot support his wife. What do you say?
There are various other social practices that upset people and we have always tried to portray the reality through our shows where we deal with topics that people hesitate to talk about, in public. The marriage of Arushi and Shakti is a social crime, a decision taken on the emotional grounds, which is later taken for granted. Such anti social activities happen around us now and then, even at our home. But always we silence ourselves for the ease of life. For example we never question on the practice of bribery by our relatives but at the same time we consider them lucky to have illegally earned money. Similarly Krishna is also a common man and not a hero; he is uneducated, but at the same time innocent. Because of which many a times he fails to decide whom he should stand for and does whatever he thinks is right. Whenever he feels Pratigya is right, he stands for her even if the whole world turns against her and at times goes against her because of the social institution in which he has been brought up. Gradually he is improving in his ideology and he is not like any other ideal hero.
For Imagine, you have been writing Gunahon Ka Devta, which is yet again based on the rural dialect. How did this show happen?
When I narrated the concept of Gunahon ki Devta, Saurabh Tewary, the Programming Head of Imagine TV, was so impressed that he suggested me to produce the show. This was because, the concept of the show is never worked on, and he believed that a person, who has not seen a situation of that sort, cannot do justice to the show and its production.
Are you happy with the ratings that Gunahon Ka Devta is getting?
The ratings are never stable for a show and even Pratigya had a bad start with regard to ratings but went on to the peak of fame and in ratings. We expect the same to happen for Gunahon Ka Devta.
You write screenplay as well as dialogues. But what do you like more?
I am originally a storyteller and hence enjoy writing stories. The reason why I write dialogues is because I know my characters very well which helps me to write for them easily. I even like to write screenplays but never get that much time to dedicate for it.
Your views on TV today.
Television gets mature day by day and there are a lot of expectations from it and I feel that television, within a short span of time, will do what films couldn't, in all these years. This is because television reach out to people easily. Also the concepts of television shows have changed over the years wherein social problems are also included as the main concept. Getting out of the Saas Bahu drama, television has started showing concepts on social evils like illiteracy, hunger, poverty and exploitation, which indeed is a good move.
Your views on the projection of Biharis in television today?
Bihar is a culturally rich state and has a proud history related to it. But post independence, the state has not received fairness because of which there have been social difficulties, a block to development and in the literal way Bihar was set back. Also public was denied general necessities. Television shows whose concepts are based on the backdrop of Bihar are successful because common man could relate themselves to the show and its situations when they watch. Television brings out the concepts of different places and problems related to it where people are troubled and where there is a need for development, be it Bihar or Rajasthan
The recent show Apno Ke Liye Geeta Ka Dharmayudh on Zee TV is also based on the Bihari concept. How do you like that?
The show is written by Vikrant and he is a very sensitive writer wherein his writing has a depth. He has a great knowledge about literature and society and I wish the show too makes its mark in Indian Television.
Which is your favorite show on television?
Sasural Genda Phool