No Small Wonder

Tulsi aka Smriti Z Iraani’s turn from a roll call in soaps to a campaign roll for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is an outcome of her mammoth TV presence. ‘‘I genuinely want to be a part of the solution,” says Iraani. She grabbed BJP eyeballs with her strong views on social issues on Sabe TV’s talk show Kuch Diiil Se, where she does an Oprah in a sari.

In fact, Sakshi Tanwar—Parvati from Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii—has turned down campaigning offers. Komolika, alias Urvashi Dholakia of Kasautii Zindagii Kay, says she was also approached by the Congress and BJP. She said no to them. “I have no time for campaigns,” says the actress who would rather attend dandiya nights in the US. So what if she’s the scheming vamp? Like adman Prahlad Kakkar says, ”TV stars have no star value, but familiarity. They’re like rich neighbours in a glass house, and people like to gossip about them.”

Another woman who’s taken daily soap out of the kitchen politics arena is Jassi. Recently, an episode of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, where Jassi faced a moral dilemma about accepting a bribe, was thrown open to viewers. Twelve thousand SMSes were received in 30 minutes for a single episode. In fact, Jassitarians joined forces this month through a fan club (on http://www.setindia.com).

Everyone’s making way for TV. Flip to Page 3 to find faces from the tube splashed alongside regular glitterati. The recently launched Gr8 magazine only increases their shelf space. And it’s not just instances of mass hysteria that convey the magnitude of this industry.

An octogenarian walks upto Aman Yatan Verma on the sets of Khullja Sim Sim and says she’s a die-hard fan. A family waits a full day on the sets of Kyunki for a snapshot with Sudha Shivpuri who plays Ba. Several people offer to carry big bahu Iraani’s bags at the Singapore airport.

Aditi Gosalia, one of her die-hard devotees, swears by Iraani’s flawless character. ‘‘I would fulfil any wish of hers,’’ says the 30-year-old, who works as a counsellor at a Mumbai-based computer education institute. She tuned out of Kuch Diiil Se for the month when Iraani wasn’t its anchor and watches Kyunki only when her favourite actress is in the frame.

While Lata classics have been stacked away in the CD collection, it’s not uncommon to find women humming Kyunki’s theme tune.‘‘For me, it’s difficult to fathom how people get emotionally attached to the character,’’ says Iraani, ‘‘On the streets people treat me as they would a family member.’’ Though Bedi, whose halter-necks made a bigger statement than her over-the-top cricket commentary, hasn’t been in the thick of ‘family’ matters.

‘‘I’m more popular with the men today,’’ laughs the actress, once a female icon as young scribe Shanti. She’s had her share of crank callers. One landed up at her door claiming to ‘‘see her in his dreams every night”.

And then there are fans like Hetal Jimulia, a 24-year-old helpdesk coordinator at a software company in Mumbai, who become a part of the star parivaar. ‘‘I’m there at all the celebrations—his birthday, Christmas or New Year,’’ says Jimulia, who has followed Ronit Bose Roy’s (the latest Mihir) career since his first film Jaan Tere Naam. In fact, Roy was already on a roll as Rishab Bajaj in Kasautii Zindagii Kay and didn’t think that Mihir’s character would prove bullish at the soap exchange. Jimulia first met Roy as a 14-year-old on the sets of his film Deewane Pyar Ke. ‘‘No, I wasn’t heartbroken when he decided to tie the knot,’’ retorts the young woman who now wants to design a website for him.

Hero worship is passé, according to Sudha Chandran who feels that she has unleashed a new breed of vamp voters with her portrayal of Ramola Sikand in Kaahin Kissii Roz. ‘‘I received my biggest compliment when I saw a couple trying to tune the colour gradation on their TV set. The husband told his wife to wait until KKR and that if Mumji’s sari and lipstick shade matched, their TV’s colour tuning would be perfect.”

And whether she goes to Mumbai’s Santacruz or Vile Parle markets, she spots Ramola Sikand jewellery and bindis all over.

Shivpuri, Kyunki’s 86-year-old Ba, sheds about 20 years to be her own age in a salwar kurta. You instantly know why she’s everyone’s favourite grandma, since she calls everyone in the vicinity beta in a most endearing tone that’s perfect off camera too. ‘‘The biggest compliment for me has been when parents approach me and tell me that children who used to greet them saying ‘Hi’ now touch their feet,’’ she says.

Balaji’s blue-eyed boy Verma, on the other hand, is glad that he has been able to shed the Anupam Kapadia identity from Kyunki. ‘‘I deliberately chose to host a game show, but I hear that most women in their 40s and 50s want a son-in-law just like me,’’ he grins. With two films, two serials (Kyunki and Arzoo Hai Tu), one winning gameshow and another in the making (Jaadu for Star Plus), Verma’s grown into a cult figure on the box.

That’s not to say the other stars don’t share the icing. ‘‘TV has given me a new lease of life,’’ admits Bedi, who has received several offers to anchor shows across the country post World Cup. In fact, Minister of Health Sushma Swaraj chose Bedi as the host of a ground event for World Population Day, after watching her in action at the World Tobacco Day in Mumbai. Most recently, Bedi’s signed up as the hostess of a geophysicists’ conference to be held in Hyderabad. ‘‘Why not? I learn something new everyday,’’ replies Bedi, when asked about this strange, new assignment. Iraani is the brand ambassador for all of three brands—Milton, Johnson & Johnson and Stayfree, and reveals that she’s turned down sari and bindi endorsements. Roy also informs that a steady bulk of corporate shows pour into his schedule. ‘‘The most momentous one was when I performed at the Afro-Asian Games in front of an audience of 12,000.’’

Of course, it’s easy to hide the warts—superficial or otherwise beneath all the war paint. ‘‘I look terrible without make-up,’’ moans Iraani. ‘‘I’ve realised that I can never be frivolous or act unlike Tulsi.’’ While Roy’s biggest woe is that he can never stumble out of a bar or get drunk in the presence of a bunch of women. Apart from the 18-hour shift, Shivpuri’s realised that the public is shell-shocked if she’s found buying mutton. ‘‘A group of Gujju ladies was aghast and said, ‘Ba tame mutton khau che?’ (You eat mutton?)’’