5 questions with Anupama Varma urf Sheetal Ambuja

5 questions with Anupama Varma

Sulakshana Gupta
Posted online: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 at 0324 hours IST
Updated: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 at 1129 hours IST

Get set to welcome Anupama Varma into the world of Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin. The model/ actress plays a spoilt rich brat—Sheetal Ambuja—who has Purab and Jassi fighting over the project of designing her wedding trousseau. Sheetal Ambuja is flamboyant and la-di-dah, and Anupama says she’s enjoying the role

Are you like Sheetal Ambuja in real life too?
Sheetal can’t conceive how a girl like Jassi could be the head of a fashion house. Coming from the glamour industry, I can totally identify with her. But sometimes I wish I could be tough and hoity-toity like her when dealing with some people. Unfortunately, I’m just a no nakhras person.

Why is it that you’ve only been doing cameos recently?
As an actress, if a role excites me, I do it regardless of whether it’s a lead or a cameo. Anyway, it’s better to play great cameos instead of leads in bad films.

But none of your films have done well at the box office?
I always work hard for all my films. But I have made some bad career moves. The first was waiting four years for Grahan, opposite Jackie Shroff, to be completed. I didn’t work during this period because it was to be my big debut film

You are luckier with music videos than your films.
That’s true. Boom Boom and the recent Bheegi Bheegi Raato Mein were both tremendous hits. When I hear a song, I just know it’s going to be great. I’ve just finished shooting another video, you’ll be seeing a lot of me soon.

What’s happening in your love life?
I don’t believe in frivolous relationships. Until I find something serious I intend to be single. But when it happens, I’ll definitely shout it out to the world.
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TV thriller: Jassi stalker identified

TV thriller: Jassi stalker identified
IANS[ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2004 04:12:38 PM
MUMBAI: A small time TV producer is suspected to be behind threats to actress Mona Singh who plays the protagonist in the highly popular soap Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin .

Singh filed a police complaint earlier this month after a telephone caller threatened her.
Police officials say the caller, who called himself Vicky, did not demand any money from Singh but tried to persuade her to act in a television serial.
The name of the producer who is suspected to have employed Vicky has been kept a secret to allow investigations.
In her complaint, Singh alleged that Vicky, claiming to be calling from Nairobi, had telephoned her demanding that she work for a certain television company.
The caller even threatened to harm her if she didn't stop working on Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin , which is aired on Sony channel, according to police.
Singh plays the bespectacled, simple yet highly intelligent middle-class girl Jassi, winning the hearts of millions of Indians who identify with her.
Police have arrested a few known gangsters who specialise in extorting money from professionals, according to sources. All of them are suspected to have been employed by Vicky, police said.
Police here say extortionists based in Mumbai often make threatening telephone calls using foreign SIM cards or even satellite phones to give the impression that they represent gangsters Dawood Ibrahim or Chhota Rajan.
"A lot of small time gangsters have been caught using the same methods," says a police officer.
Police have provided protection to Singh, who has also signed up with a private security agency
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Jassi's Day Out in Delhi

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'Jassi's...' plot transiting to some serious drama

'Jassi's...' plot transiting to some serious drama

By SONALI KRISHNA Indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Well, for Jassi Jassi Koi Nahi the track has been built and the flagship show of Set India is ready to move ahead into some real drama.

After its one hour special last night; celebrating one year on air, starting tonight, the confusion between lead character Jassi and spurned suitor Purab is finally sorted out when Purab walks into Jassi's birthday bash with a cake and it then moves on to Jassi's realisation of what that gesture essentially meant.

What's next is the queen of hearts moves on to becoming the queen of the boardroom, with Jassi demanding that big boss Armaan make her CEO of Gulmohar. With her ultimatum of either CEO or out; Armaan is left with no choice but to bestow her with the coveted title.

Jassi is then challenged by key rivals like Mallika and Aryan who ensure her already uphill task gets even tougher. Also, one sees Jassi face trials and tribulations in her attempts to recoup the lost money of the fashion house as well as her endeavours in ensuring improvement of the company's financial status.

This then leads to Jassi's transformation. No, not her looks as yet! It's the transformation of a more confident, more wary and street smart woman who finally starts to understand the cruel ways of the world. Finally, Jassi sheds her innocence.

Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Sony's EVP programming and response Tarun Katial says, "It's exciting, innovative and an interesting time at Jassi... where the well talented supposed ugly duckling gets a chance to prove her mettle."

Jassi..'s ratings have been dipping lately and is not as up there as it used to be. When questioned on this Katial says, "Yes, there has been a slight dip, as people have been waiting for some zing and spike. Also, every track has a setting up phase and then progresses into full blown drama. The show was a build up till date and will now move on to a different zone."

So, Jassi is in transit right now. Maybe once the show reaches destination drama, the ratings scene at the Jassi.. pad will look a lot more colourful.

Courtesy: IndianTelevision.com

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'Jassi...' is a year old

'Jassi...' is a year old

By IANSSep 01, 2004, 12:20

Mumbai, Sep 1 (IANS) Sony Entertainment's "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin" completes one year of telecast Wednesday, a year that has seen its distinctly dowdy heroine Jassi become an icon -- and the ugly duckling hasn't even turned into a swan yet.

Breaking the saas-bahu mould on Indian television, "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin" has given the Indian middleclass a new working-class icon who is neither glamorous nor desirable. Jassi is simply what bourgeois dreams are all about.

Deya Singh, one-half of the directorial duo Tony & Deya Singh, is still disbelieving about the soap's success.

"Frankly, we never expected "Jassi..." to be so successful. My husband Tony and I are hardly the kind of people who think about such things. We're just busy doing our work. "Jassi..." isn't our first successful show. We earlier did "Banegi Apni Baat" and "Just Mohabbat", both very different and yet successful." Deya and her husband refuse to look at the social responsibilities that have mushroomed around "Jassi..."

"We'd rather start something new than sit and gloat over the impact of "Jassi..." Do you know, for one week we sat on the script idea of the serial. We didn't know if it would work. I don't think we should look at Jassi as a social responsibility. If she has become an icon, let her. But, at the end of the day, she's a human being full of frailties. We're not going to mould her to suit people's expectations. Jassi will be what she's meant to be." Deya and Tony Singh are already on to their next show.

"It's a weekly comedy called "Bal-Bal Bache" and it's going on Sahara Manorajan. It's going to be on air this month. "Jassi..." has taken over our lives. We've two kids aged two and eight, but fortunately they're very accommodating."

The original "Jassi..." in Spanish ran for 330 episodes. The Indian show has completed 210 episodes. "But it'll continue, though ideally shows should end when they're on a high," laughs Deya.

At least two other soaps, Sony's "Hum Dono Hain Na" and Star Plus' "Dekho Magar Pyar Se", have also borrowed from Spanish serials.

Deya is unperturbed. "In places like Mexico and Colombia, they've scores of such shows. Not all of them are successful. We're not in this for money. Will the actress playing Jassi get bored? I don't think so. Which other show or film will give her an opportunity like this? Look at it this way. We're working 29 days a month. Where's the chance to get bored or restless?

"You've no idea what level of commitment the Indian TV industry requires. The other day I heard a director fainted on the sets of a soap. We've to be damn professional. Day after day, we've to produce episodes revolving around one character and a slender storyline. There's an incredible amount of coordination involved. The sponsors are breathing down our necks."
And the next level for Jassi?

"To express herself. She'll express her mind more openly. The ugly duckling is blossoming gradually. We can't bring around an overnight change. Jassi is about acquiring a sense of self. We're lucky to have broken the mould. It does give us a sense of achievement."

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