Earshot — Pune

Two-timing
Anand Mahendroo who gave us geniune comedies like Idhar Udhar and Dekh Bhai Dekh is probably creating history on Indian television. Why? He has created a set for Idhar Udhar on an area measuring 14000 sq feet and if the buzz is to be believed it cost him a whopping Rs 2 crore — the most expensive one ever erected. Then, this is one of the few occasions, a serial is being simultaneously shot in two languages, in Hindi and Tamil. The Tamil version is called Inge Pinge and is telecast on Chennai Doordarshan at the same time as the Hindi version on DD1. Moreover, we hear that it’s also being dubbed in Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam!

Moving back
These days everyone is talking about Movers & Shakers on Sony and Shekhar Suman. It is the only kind of show in India which goes out five days a week. But what they’ve been doing is to telecast some old episodes and calling it The Best of Movers & Shakers. We got to know that the reason behind this is they don’t have enough episodes in the bank. But they are shooting continuously and fresh episodes will start from 18th of this month. We also heard that Mahesh Anuj is not directing the show any more since five days a week means shooting for 22 days a month.

Changing Places
Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai the sitcom on Zee is making a lot news these days. Recently, actress Dimple Ghosh who is well-known for her tantrums was thrown out of the serial. If rumours are to be believed she used to leave the sets to meet her fiance (now her husband) and not turn up for a long time, making the whole unit wait. It seems this was happening too often and finally producer Prithvi Singh decided to replace her with Rakhee Malhotra. That’s not all. We also hear that Gyan Sahay no more directs this show and Singh himself has taken over as director.

In and out
There are casualties in debutante producer Vipul Kothari’s Lekin Woh Sach Hai on DD1. The series which is being directed by Manoj Nautilya, is doing quite well in terms of TRPs and viewership inspite of the 10.30 pm slot. But recently Niki Aneja who stars opposite Salil Ankola as an ASW (Anti Superstition Wing) officer was dropped and Nilanjana Shaikh has taken her place. The same girl, who reportedly, is having an affair with actor Vaquar Shaikh. And guess who has joined the cast of Lekin…? Vaquar Shaikh.