Ekta Kapoor brings another love story on TV with ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ Shabbir Ahluwalia, Sriti Jha and Mrunal Thakur, leads of Ekta Kapoor’s upcoming show ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ in Delhi on Wednesday narrated the tales that have captivated audience attention for almost two decades now. The master storyteller Ekta Kapoor is back with a new offering on Zee TV, this time replacing her own immensely successful show ‘Pavitra Rishta’. Based loosely on Jane Austen’s classic ‘Sense and Sensibility’, ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ is its Indian interpretation, following the life of a mother who runs a marriage hall and lives with the hope of seeing her two daughters – poles apart in bearing, outlook and disposition, happily married some day! Known for making shows that are women-centric, the pivotal characters of this new show are a bunch of strong, feisty women, living together in an all-female, matriarchal family. Shabbir Ahluwalia, who plays the rock star Akki, Sriti Jha and Mrunal Thakur, who play the poles-apart sisters Pragya and Bulbul respectively, were in Delhi on Wednesday to interact with viewers about their new show. Sriti Jha’s character of Pragya, the elder sister, is practical, hardworking and committed to supporting her family … though she’s barely finished her own studies, she teaches in a college to ensure that her mother Sarla’s meager earnings from the marriage hall never fall short in making the two ends meet. In the midst of all this pressure on her, she’s forgotten how to unwind or pursue any passions of her own. Mrunal’s role of Bulbul, on the other hand, is that of a girl who has her head in the clouds. She’s vivacious, smart, stylish and a complete dreamer. It barely, if ever, occurs to her to snap out her own make-believe, rose-tinted world and be of any real use to her family. She’s an aspiring singer and idolizes the ruling heartthrob of the country, Rockstar Akki. Actor-turned-producer Shabbir Ahluwalia, who has shied away from facing the camera since 2012, has been roped in to play Rockstar Akki with a cult following of his own. Shabbir says, “This is the first time when I will be playing a rock star on television and in order to look my part I had to ensure that I did not just get my costume and look right, but also get that attitude and zing required to portray a rock star onscreen. While my character would come about as somebody who is stuck-up, there are still various shades to it. From being a leading rock star, to playing a brother, Akki’s character is well-rounded and will connect with audiences in a way that they will soon begin to relate to all that happens around him.” Sriti says, “I play the pragmatic, rooted one. While she may seem boring at first, there’s so much depth to Pragya. She is sensitive, she is responsible and full of love. In a world of selfish people, Pragya comes as a breath of fresh air with her inability to even think of any situation from her own stand-point. She always places family first. I have known people like that … while they seem just too good to be true, some of them are genuine souls and I feel they deserve nothing short of the best in life!” Mrunal says, “I am excited about the role of Bulbul. She’s a dreamer, has her head in the clouds. Has romantic ideas of her dream man … she’s perky, stylish and full of verve. Quite unlike her elder sister Pragya in most ways, she is not particularly devoted to helping out with her family’s financial crunch or being of any real support to the all-female, matriarchal family. She lives in a bubble of her own!” With ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ slated to air at 9 PM from the date of its launch on Zee TV, ‘Pavitra Rishta’ will now be aired Monday– Friday at 6:30 PM on the channel. Talking about the time shuffle amongst her projects on Zee TV, Ekta says, “Pavitra Rishta has been on-air for over 4 years now and the journey has been most gratifying for me as a maker. After ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu thi’ if there is any other show which is close to my heart, then it is Pavitra Rishta.The characters of Manav, Archana, Arjun, Purvi and now Ankita-Naren have endeared themselves to the audience, so much so that they are an inseparable part of their lives. While the audiences who are hooked on to Pavitra Rishta will continue to enjoy the show at 6:30 PM, the new show ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ will open at 9 PM, drawing maximum eyeballs.” She adds about her new show, “All I can say is that is it’s a very passionate story of love …!” Ekta Kapoor’s association with Zee TV dates back to almost two decades ago when the partnership produced one of the greatest successes of satellite television – Hum Paanch. Her soaps, be it Kasamh Se, Pavitra Rishta or Jodha Akbar, the latest historical to rule the roost on Indian television, have been universally appreciated and have enjoyed long glorious runs on the tube. jaipur.patrika/experience/entertainment/tellywood/ekta-kapoor-brings-another-love-story-on-tv-with-kumkum-bhagya/
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 11:10:44 +0000
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