May 8, 2008: Ronit among the 50 best dressed men in India

The list of 50 best dressed men in India

#5

Actor Ronit Roy feels that the small screen helped him create a public image of a well-dressed man. While the suave Rishabh Bajaj of Kasauti Zindagi Kay is dapper and well-polished in business suits, Mihir Virani of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi has aged gracefully, moving on to ethnic kurtas. In real life Roy is more like Bajaj, a formal and safe dresser. Linen suits from Gabbana and Giorgio Armani, sherwanis from Millionaire, shirts from Ravi Bajaj and denims from DKNY make up most of his wardrobe. The pride of Roy’s closet is his collection of ties from Zodiac, Satya Paul, Armani and Trussardi.

May 13, 2008: Dus Ka Dum?

Apparently, Ekta has dropped Ronit Roy from the Star Parivaar Awards because he demanded Rs 10 lakh to perform

Star channel's prolific actor Ronit Roy is out of Star Parivaar Awards. Apparently, Roy has been shown the door by Balaji Telefilms, producers of the show, as he demanded a whopping Rs 10 lakh for his performance. The awards are scheduled for May 17.

Our well-placed source from the TV industry says, ”Ronit was supposed to perform on the song Main Hoon Don (from the film Don). However, he demanded an exonerated amount, which sent Balaji reeling.“

So Balaji decided to drop Ronit and summoned Shalin Bhanot (Madan of Sangam), who was more than willing to perform.

”Ronit had agreed to dance at the Star Parivaar awards. However, it was only of late that he informed Balaji about his price. Though there was very little time left for Balaji to hunt for a replacement, they did not bow down to Ronit's demands. They managed to rope in Bhanot,“ our source added.

When contacted, Ronit did not deny that he was not performing. ”I will be out of town on May 17 and have informed Balaji about my unavailability.“ When asked if he had demanded too much money, Ronit replied, ”Of course, I will ask for money,“ and did not wish to comment any further.

We then called up Bhanot. ”Yes. I am performing on the song Main Hoon Don. But I am not aware that I have stepped into Ronit's shoes,“ he confessed.

May 16, 2008: Ronit's Maha Sacrifice

Ronit Roy is working very hard for his role of Bhishma in Mahabharat. Apart from exercising everyday he is avoiding his favourite food like rice and fish. Since Ronit was busy in shooting we spoke to Neelam Roy about his diet and exercise regime.

”Both of us are on a weight loss programme so we have to take care of our eating habits. We love home made food so I do not give him too much sweet. I try and give him fat free or low calorie dishes so he does not eat food made up of butter and consume less oil. Moreover, I make sure he carries his lunch on sets everyday or send him the lunch. My mother in law also asks him to have at least toast and juice in the morning,“ reveals Neelam.

She however adds, ”We can only put restrictions when we are on holidays otherwise he is very busy with his schedule. But now since he is on a weight loss mission he himself wakes up and has tea before he leaves home. He generally has salads in lunch or I give him jawar roti, dal and sabji. Rice is not definitely not a part of his food. When we prepare biryani he does not combine it with roti. He likes Chinese a lot, because it is very light food.“

Neelam is thankful that food is a not a focal point for Ronit. ”We like to dine together as he gets very less time and it is a way of giving company to each other,“ says Neelam.

About his gym schedule, Neelam says, ”There are no fixed hours as such but he manages to go for an hour everyday. He rehearses for Mahabharat nearly 7 hours and then goes for his serial shoot so the cardio part of training is taken care of. He was very serious during Jhalak but now he is taking it a little easy. At least he is eating on time.“

The shooting for Mahabharat begins on May 28. Some part has already been shot in Mumbai. The show will go on air in August.

May 16, 2008: Mahima and Smriti fight over Mr. Bajaj

Ronit Roy aka Mr Bajaj always manages to grab the attention of ladies. This time it was Bollywood actress Mahima Choudhury who is the celebrity guest for the upcoming episode of the show. She was so impressed with Ronit's dancing skills that she went on praising him on his performance, his new look, his attitude, body language, et al. This eventually made our favourite Indian bahu Tulsi and the anchor of the show Smriti Irani visibly uncomfortable. Smriti had to warn Mahima not to set her eyes on her on screen husband, not only that Smriti also voiced her grief that she is always on the receiving end when it comes to Mr Bajaj.

May 25, 2008: TV's "big" Stars

Today, television is easily the ‘big’ thing.

With Bollywood galaxy’s brightest stars turning ‘small’ and walking off with hefty pay cheques, we thought it was about time we figured out who television’s biggest stars really were. We got a few luminaries from television to nominate the small screen superstars.

Small superstar :

That is a tag that belongs Ronit Bose Roy. Ronit even owns an official fan website which has thousands of fans writing gush, gush letters to him everyday. If Bollywood didn’t suit him, Balaji did. From playing grand dad to putting on his dancing shoes for a reality show, Ronit has proved once and for all that size truly doesn’t matter.

June 14, 2008: "Fatherhood is a lifestyle"- Ronit

TNN

I have a very special friend,

And Daddy is his name-o,

D-a-d-d-y, D-a-d-d-y, D-a-d-d-y,

and Daddy is his name-o!

He always loves and cares for me,

And Daddy is his name-o,

D-a-d-d-y, D-a-d-d-y, D-a-d-d-y,

and Daddy is his name-o!

Fatherhood is a joy that cannot be expressed in words. And, it is a great responsibility too. For, a father is not only supposed to lead by example, but also open up a whole new world to his children — a world that encompasses joy and sorrow, agony and ecstasy and patience and virtue — with the wisdom of a sage and the practicality of a friend. But, what does fatherhood actually imply? And, what does Father’s Day signify? Sameer Dharmadhikari, who plays Siddharth Tyagi in Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki, believes, ”For me, spending time with my daughter Saraswati is the most important thing. I play house with her and, she takes care of me in many ways. So, everyday is Father’s Day for me.“ What are the true qualities of a good father? ”More than the children changing, you as a parent have to change. It is just about leading them on the right path and keeping all options open for them. I do my best to guide my daughter in the best manner possible,“ he says.

To get a true taste of parenting, one has to experience it to believe it. ”When I come home from work, nothing refreshes me more than playing with my daughter, or going out with her for a walk. A child’s innocence and joy can take the tension of work away,“ says Sameer. Did his dad give him any advice that he remembers fondly? ”I remember my father telling me one important thing, ‘Jab tum baap ban jaoge, tab tum samjhoge,’“ he laughs.

Ronit Roy, better known as Rishabh Bajaj in Kasautti Zindagi Kay..., says that his onscreen persona is an extension of his real-life experiences. ”being a father in real life reflects in the role I play. I feel that my children are making me a better actor,“ he says. Bringing up children in ‘the big bad world’ is tough, and Ronit leads by example. ”If there is anything I wouldn’t want my children to do, I will not do it myself. It’s all about living for and through your children. For me, being a father is a lifestyle.“ Ronit further adds, ”My family and work are the two things that I live for. My happiness lies there. Every moment spent with my children is etched in my mind.“

If family is the fulcrum of the society, father is its undisputed driving force. Whatever the father does has a direct bearing on the family. Vinay Jain, who plays loving father Manav in Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki feels his character’s traits have rubbed off on him in real life. ”My character is a very compassionate and loving person. Having embodied this role, I have grown as a father in reel and real life,“ he explains.

Even after the long hours of work on the set, he makes sure to spend quality time with his son. ”When I spend time with my son Ranveer, I make sure to be totally focussed on him. When I am with him, work or any other activity doesn’t matter.“ Vinay shares a special bond with his son, especially when they do things together. That is why they say, father is a special person in our lives.

June 14, 2008: No Smoking for Bheeshma

The young charmer who danced in a sailor uniform to Yeh akkha India jaanta hain hum tum pe marta hain 16 years ago in Jaan Tere Naam, is all set to play the grandest role in the grandest epic. He talks to t2 about being Bheeshma even as he rehearses hard for the finals of Yeh Hai Jalwa on 9X this Sunday.

You are playing the big daddy in an epic — Bheeshma pitamaha. How does it feel?

There is a whole gamut of emotions. There is joy at having got the opportunity to play an iconic character. On the other, there is a fear of not being accepted. Though shooting has started, we are still grappling with the correct note of the character — the look, the voice, the movement, the body language….

How have you prepared for the role?

I have read the transliteration of Mahabharat. The scary part is doing my own construction of the character. It is impossible for me to feel like Bheeshma. His righteousness, the kind of life he led, his sacrifice.... But I plan to give up smoking.

Where do you smoke?

In the loo or in the car. But the car doesn’t have tinted glasses, so I shouldn’t be smoking there too as that gives a wrong impression to people.

How is Ekta’s Mahaabhaarat turning out?

The characters will not be over the top. It will be pretty much a today’s adaptation. But it is difficult to pin down things as we have not reached the Kauravas and the Pandavas yet.

Are you happy with the role she has given you?

I had asked for Bheeshma. The role grows with the story — son, brother, father, grandfather, ruler. The crown of the Kurus was his for the taking.

The men in Mahaabhaarat are usually bare bodied. Are you working out?

Yes, I am undergoing training. Why can’t Bheeshma have a six pack? But do not expect cultured abs like Shah Rukh’s. Bheeshma was not a body builder.

You have also made it to the final of Yeh Hai Jalwa. Are you tense or would Sunday be just another day at work?

For me, it’s the completion stage of an assignment. We have managed to entertain a large cross-section of viewers.

What has the journey been like with Bindass Bosses, your team of white collar workers?

I have been a mentor to them. When they came, they were like bathroom singers…

Bathroom dancers?

Umm…bedroom dancers. The biggest task was to make them aware that they were on national television. They could all move a little, but they are not professionals.

Who among your colleagues impressed you most?

My brother Rohit. In the short run he had on the show, he put up a fine act. Never did he try to prove that he is the world’s best.

Does Rakhi Sawant have an edge by leading a group of children?

These children have danced before. Still they are children and can be difficult to work with. But then, they are easy to mould too.

Is Hussain enjoying an advantage as his team members are industry wannabes?

It is true that what they are doing are in line with their business. One girl, Bhavna, is a great dancer. But the three strongest teams have made it to the finals. So it should go down to the wire.

Is Ronit Roy fit to play Bheeshma? Tell t2@abpmail.com

June 14, 2008: Ronit is mortally scared! 

14 Jun 2008, 0000 hrs IST, NIKHILA PANT ,TNN

Ronit Roy is very scared. He is all set to play the role of Bheeshma Pitamah in Ekta Kapoor’s epic Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki. When asked if he has the jitters about portraying the character, he says, ”Jitters?

I am mortally scared! The role of Bheeshma Pitamah is one of the most important in Indian mythology and is of iconic stature. Since I would like to believe that I am not the best actor, I am relying solely on my hard work to portray the role to perfection.“

Does he feel he has double the challenge – breaking free of the image of Rishabh Bajaj and Mihir, and then convincing the audience with his portrayal of a character that Mukesh Khanna made popular? Ronit disagrees, ”Those who have appreciated me in other roles are eagerly waiting to see me in this epic show. That, in a sense, is scary again, since that just raises expectations. It is certainly a role bigger and better than what I have done till now.“

Ronit also quickly brushes aside rumours that he refused to perform to the song Main Hoon Don at a recent telly awards function by Ekta Kapoor’s production company. ”I wonder where all this comes from. Balaji is like extended family to me. I would have performed for free for them. I could not do so since I was not in the country due to some prior commitments.“

While on the subject of rumours, he says that being embroiled in controversies that are cooked up to tarnish his name do not worry him any more. As he says, ”I ignore them. I do not have the time, energy or inclination to make my stand clear. I choose not to respond as long as it does not affect my family and audience.“

One controversy that he still can’t forget, though, is when he was accused of rape. He says, ”The charge held no water. The news was formulated on the basis of the statement of a so-called witness, who was not even in the country when the alleged crime was supposed to have been committed. And the silliest part of the story was that the victim was not even spoken to. Thankfully, those who know me supported me through it. But I guess one has to pay the price for fame.“

A recent development that has Ronit all excited is the fact that he and his team have reached the finale of 9X’s Yeh Hai Jalwa. So what does he think has been the USP of his team, Bindass Bosses? He reveals, ”The USP of our team is that it has no USP. I would not say that we are the best dancers, but we certainly work the hardest. We make a sincere effort to entertain the audience through our dance and themes. It is purely the love and appreciation of the audience that has brought us to the top.“

After earning rave reviews for his performance on Jhalak Dikkhla Jaa and now reaching the final of another dance reality show, will we see Ronit dancing once again on other reality shows? He avers, ”I am done with the competitive aspect of dancing. And I also don’t want to face more of the negativity that surrounds these reality shows. But I will keep dancing, in one way or the other!“

Ronit doesn’t mince words when he agrees that being at the top is cause to be proud. He explains it thus – ”Every milestone and every success makes me more humble. I am a very beach person, and I feel incomplete without the wide expanse of the sea – the sea of the audience. It makes me feel proud of the fact that people really like what I do.“

June 16, 2008:

June 17, 200: Gods go Primetime:

The pancaked faces and the sob stories are passé. Indian TV is returning to the fare where arrows fly instead of taunts and brave soldiers fall instead of saree pallus.

With Ramanand Sagar returning with Ramayana, Ekta Kapoor producing Mahabharata and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy composing music for Jai Maa Vaishno Devi and Mata Ki Chowki that’s being shot in J&K, the epic dramas are coming back with a bang.

Going retro

Mark Tully, in his book, talks about how even the wedding mahurats in India were fixed to make sure that they didn’t coincide with the telecast of Ramayana and how passengers would happily lose themselves in the scenes of Mahabharata showing on station TV sets and forget to board the train. But that was all in the ’90s.

In today’s world of TRP battles, that kind of fascination may not return, but the producers are sure hoping for miracles. Says Shailja Kejriwal, executive vice president of NDTV Imagine, ”After the saas-bahu soaps, reality shows exploiting human emotions became the next big thing. And lately, roping in big stars to host game shows has been the ploy to lure the viewers. There was a lot of monotony with everyone jumping on this bandwagon. We tried to erase that fatigue with epics. Ramayana , for Indians, is not a story, it is a collective psyche. Bringing all that on telly screen will attract viewers.“

Rajat Tokas, who played the character of Prithviraj Chauhan for many years, explains the fascination of Indians with epics thus, ”Every Indian knows the story of Prithviraj. So, they can relate to the characters when they watched the show on TV. Also, viewers needed a change from sob-shows and reality shows.“

That sense of déjà vu

With the original shows still enjoying reruns on some channels, the most daunting task for the actors and production houses alike is to avoid comparisons with the original shows. To make sure that they stand out, producers are trying to make them a visual treat. As Ekta has said about her show, ”My next project will be something that is bigger than everything I have ever done, put together. It is going to be a huge show.“

Bobby Bedi’s line-up for his Mahabharata, which is in doldrums just now, gives a fair idea at the level which channels are thinking – his team had Chandraprakash Dwivedi, Barrie Osborne, Amardeep Behl, Farrukh Dhondy, Ranjit Kapoor and Talvin Singh.

And how will actors stand out from people who played the roles originally? Says a popular actor, ”Enacting a role in epics is primarily about erasing the images set in the Indian psyche and then playing the part to perfection so that no comparisons are drawn with the original actors.“

Making it cooler

Retelling the tales told by grandparents and popularised by oral tradition is certainly an uphill task, concur the makers of these shows. Thinking about Draupadi invariably brings back the face of Rupa Ganguly and none can beat the image of Arvind Tripathi as Ravana . To break these images and garner interest of Young Indians is the priority of the makers of these epics.

Indrani Mukerjea, founder and CEO of INX Media opines, ”To avoid getting into the rut, we contemplated a modern interpretation of Mahabharata. The idea is to bring a contemporary feel to the show. We roped in Manish Malhotra to dress up the characters and we have good visual effects etc. Also, if you have someone like Ronit Roy playing Bheeshma Pitamah, people will be interested to have a dekko.“

Echoes a highly placed source at Sagar Arts, ”We definitely have to make Ramayana relevant to this generation... hold their interest. And I am sure the magic of the era is strong enough to hold the interest of the younger audience.“

Kejriwal agrees, ”We can’t deviate much from the original story but we can surely bring in the expertise when it comes to special effects. To pander to a generation glued to their computer screens, nothing less than the thrill of video games will do.“

June 21, 2008: "Rishabh Bajaj was a must have" - Ronit

Serial killer

TELEVISION

Surfeit of channels, stale characters and reality shows affect soaps

By Harshikaa Udasi

The monsoon had yet not set in last year, but the nation was already shedding tears over the death of its most beloved television bahu. Ekta Kapoor of Balaji Telefilms had ruled that Tulsi Virani (played by Smriti Irani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi) would have to leave. "She walked up to me and said that my character needs to die and I replied 'okay'," reminisces Smriti.

Less than a year later, Ekta was at a televised press conference, beseeching Smriti to get back to the show. The czarina of television had to keep her ego aside and bend to the viewers' incessant demand for the original Tulsi. Earlier this month, the 30-year-old actor rejoined the cast of Kyunki. It was nothing short of a silent triumph for Smriti. "I had decided that I would come back if asked with respect. I was, so here I am. I knew that my fans were missing me," she says candidly while shooting for her comeback episode.

Tulsi, the modern-day Sita, is associated more with mass hysteria and respectful awe. Wherever she goes, Smriti is respected almost like Deepika Chikalia, who played Sita in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana that appeared on Doordarshan in the 80s. Same is the case with Tulsi's husband, Mihir Virani (played by Amar Upadhyay), the present-day embodiment of Ram. No one can forget the public chagrin that followed Mihir's death in one of the episodes of the show, years ago. Ekta had no recourse but to resurrect Mihir.

While this led to rebirths, plastic surgeries and other miraculous reappearances becoming TRP-boosting tools, the might of the TV stars came to the fore. It also set the tone for actors down the line. Prachi Desai, who played the role of Bani in Kasamh Se, has landed a debut film in Farhan Akhtar's production opposite Farhan himself. Shveta Salve of Jhalak Dikhla Ja fame and Sumeet Raghavan from Sarabhai vs Sarabhai have got a big banner film each.

It was the turn of the century and, as many would agree, a turn in the fortunes of the then little-known people of the small screen. The saas-bahu brigade, in different packages created by Ekta and her creative director Nivedeta Basu, was born to rule. The women came in all avatars-the docile, the righteous, the scheming, the suffering, the simple and the extravagant. One still remembers the classy and subtly vicious Pallavi of Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, whose sole aim was to make life miserable for poor Parvati; Komalika of Kasauti, the vamp who made men go weak in their knee; and the ugly duckling, Jassi. It seems to be a never-ending list.

The men, reduced to nothingness in women-oriented storylines, worked wonderfully well whenever they showed some character. One can never forget the straight-out-of-a-Barbara Cartland Mr Bajaj or the eternal romantic Anurag Basu of Kasauti, the evil-turned good son Gomzi of Kyunki, the devil-incarnate Ansh (who gets killed by Tulsi) and Armaan Sir, who falls in love with his secretary in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin.

Urvashi Dholakia, who payed the seductress Komalika, scorched the screen with her sexy hitched-up sari, knotty blouses and loud makeup. She was loved as much as she was hated for her negative act. "It beats me what people used to find so attractive about the character. When Ekta spoke to me about Komalika, she told me I was going to be the next big thing on television. Next thing I knew, the Komalika style was being aped across the country," says Urvashi.

The vamps were etched in pubic memory. Sudha Chandran of Kahin to Hoga, Urvashi of Kasauti and Shweta Kawaatra of Kahaani managed to do the unexpected with even the dark characters they were given, sometimes even outscoring the protagonists. Sudha's logic-defying bindis became the rage, and everything from her makeup to her dressing style was discussed with gusto among fans and copied. Think about Kahin to Hoga and Sudha comes to mind instantly even today.

Since then, the vamp has been repeated ad nauseam in the same style across shows, killing the very uniqueness it began with. Whether it is Aanchal Dwivedi (who plays Kaveri in Saat Phere), Kamya Punjabi (Sindoora in Dulhan Banoo Main Teri) or Ashwini Kalsekar (Jigyasa in Kasamh Se), all seemed to be Komalika-clones. While the trio did become household names, they failed to get the mass appeal of Komalika. "Frankly that phase of becoming a household name and every bit about you from head to toe being dissected and analysed, has gone. People watch and forget. Now it's even difficult to remember who is playing what and in which show on what channel," says Urvashi, with a laugh.

Earlier, limited channels (Star Plus, Sony and Zee) and fewer prime time shows were defining factors in the popularity of these characters. When Kyunki hit the screens there was no other show of its proportions. The same was the case with Kahaani. The attraction was the freshness of the plot, the frequency of the shows and the all-out marketing efforts. For instance, Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin promised to create a totally different concept for Indian TV, and it did. Mona Singh, who played the ugly Jassi, became every one's sweetheart overnight. Now there are at least eight Hindi entertainment channels that are fighting for their share of the pie. In such a case creativity suffers. The sort of creativity seen till a few years ago, even though in Jassi's case it wasn't original (it being an adaptation of Ugly Betty), is hardly there nowadays.

TV shows are now stressing on physical aspects. For instance Rajshri Thakur, who dons the role of Saloni in Saat Phere, began by playing the 'dark' girl who wins over people with her goodness. Parul Chauhan, whose character Ragini in Bidaai, plays a dusky girl who is rejected by her suitors because of her complexion.

"That's precisely the point," says Ronit Roy, whose portrayal of the suave Mr Bajaj is etched in people's memory. "The characters were created with a lot of vision. Mr Bajaj was an absolute must-have, though he was middle-aged, and became a fantasy for many. Apart from that character, only Mihir, Jai Walia and Karan Virani have been able to create a different niche for themselves." Incidentally, no actor was ready to take up Mr Bajaj's role as everyone was averse to grey hair. 

Actors could also exercise their creativity as they had more time to concentrate on their work. So Shweta asked Ekta if she could make Pallavi a little more easy-going vamp with more class and less makeup and jewellery. Smriti insisted that she would play Tulsi the way she visualised her.

The lure of films has also diluted the focus of today's TV stars. Prachi left her Bani role (with which she shot to fame) midway and hopped on to the movies bandwagon when offers poured in after she participated in Jhalak Dikhla Ja, a dance reality show with Bollywood celebs as judges.

Indian television has been exploiting the reality show format with such enthusiasm that TV actors are being paid huge amounts to participate in song, dance and comedy shows. Since these shows ensure higher visibility, the actors are also keen on participating in them. In the bargain, the charm of the original character is lost. Nobody can remember the character that Shveta Salve played, but everyone remembers her as Ms Twinkle Toes from Jhalak. She has now landed the lead role in a Dharmesh Darshan film.

Shweta Kawaatra (the scheming Pallavi bhabhi from Kahaani), who gave villainy a different class altogether, says that TV stars are popular even today. "But earlier, television was just waiting to explode. We were at the right time, we were focused because for most of us it was our only source of bread and butter and we were living our characters. People wanted to slap me whenever they saw me," she says.

Says Smriti: "When I was working in Kyunki, for the first six month I had no idea about its popularity. When I actually understood the magnitude of what Tulsi created I was stunned, but it never really went to my head. I just knew it had to be believable as a character and I had to keep going." TV has moved on. So have audiences. Actors have a wider spectrum, too. That magic can never be recreated.