Purab walks out of 'Jassi...'

By VICKEY LALWANI

If one was to put it in the lingua franca of office, Sameer Soni has put in his papers at Tony Singh's desk. Plainly put, Soni has made it clear to the producers of Sony's Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin that he wants to quit the show.

I am frustrated: Sameer Soni

"I am frustrated. They have brought me back four times with hype and hoopla, and everytime the character soon looses its fizz. I don't want to remain a sidekick. I have asked them to terminate my character in some way or the other. My contract with them expires in July, but I have requested them to attend to my annoyance and relieve me before that. I have even informed the director Imtiaz," revealed Purab of Jassi....

Since the story has gone linear after Jassi's transformation to Jessica, many characters have not been too happy with the show. Rajesh Khera (Maddy) and Shabnam (secretary at Gulmohur House) called it a day. Recently, we heard, Maninee De (Pari) was not too happy with the way her character was going and stopped shooting after she spoke to the channel, who in turn convinced her that her track would return in a meatier way some time later. Parmeet Sethi too isn't too happy, but that's more for money.

Back to Soni. As a creative actor too, Soni is quite dissatisfied, "I and Nandini (Neena Gupta) were the two main eye-witnesses to Jassi's transformation. I was not asked for any opinion when the hi-drama of the courtroom scene (the court case where Jessica is accused of killing Jassi) was going on. Would you believe that I didn't even shoot for the court scenes? Whatever you saw, was taken elsewhere; just the face shots were taken with the required expressions," adding, "I am supposed to give 12 days to Jassi... but last month I was asked to report for just 5 days, this month just for 7 days, that means 12 days in two months instead of one."

Soni continues, "Even those few days which they have been calling me, has been for just an hour or two. Plus they have asked me to keep certain number of days free, but later cancelled a day or two from that set. At this rate, I don't know how I can take up work."

Again he questions the creativity behind the show. "Pray, tell me if something happens to Jassi, would Purab be a prime suspect? Viola! Next week Jassi will be shot at and Purab is going to be the prime suspect," he grimaces.


"Actually my character was not in the original Betty La Fea. My character was supposed to last for just four episodes.
Incidentally, it became very popular. But this does not imply that I will be used in a way which is terribly annoying," he signs off, adding, "I have been offered work by Balaji, but I have not yet taken a call on that."

Apart from Jassi..., Soni is presently doing Dil Kya Chahta Hai (Star One) and Anything But Love (a play opposite Mandira Bedi).

Courtesy: IndianTelevision.com

=============================================
Unofficial Site on Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin
Join the India Forums to discuss about Jassi.
Click here to view Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin Forum
=============================================

Freak accident injures Jassi

Freak accident injures Jassi
By Tushar Joshi in Mumbai
Saturday, 28 May , 2005, 11:52

Mona Singh of Sony's 'Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin' met with an accident on the sets on Thursday evening. The actress, who was shooting in Jogeshwari, suffered a head injury when a mounted light came off the stand and fell on her head.

A source on the set revealed, "This happened around 5.20 pm, when we were shooting an important scene between Nandu (Gaurav Gera) and her. There was this light mounted on a stand and it was positioned exactly behind where she was standing.

"All of a sudden, the lamp gave away and fell on her head. It took a while for Mona to realise what had hit her. But as soon as she saw blood oozing from her head, she panicked and started crying."

Psychological shock

Witnesses reveal that the actress was bleeding heavily. "There was a lot of blood on her face. It was a huge shock for her. Since the lamp fell from behind she didn’t even know what hit her," says one source.

Singh was instantly rushed to a nearby hospital — Bel View on Veera Desai road — where she was given three stitches on her forehead.

A source close to Singh said, "It was more of a psychological shock than a physical injury. Since the lamp was very heavy and hit her from behind, it caused her more damage."

Resumes shooting today

But the actress is already on the road to recovery and will start shooting from Saturday. The creative head for the show said, "There is no need to worry. Mona is resting at home and should resume work in a day or two. The injury was quite minor."

When we called Mona to see how she’s doing, she said, "I’m recovering at home now. I’ve been advised not to take calls, to rest. But I’ll get back to work once I’m feeling better."

Courtesy: MidDay
=============================================
Unofficial Site on Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin
Join the India Forums to discuss about Jassi.
Click here to view Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin Forum
=============================================

Jassi goes the Bollywood way!

By IndiaFM News Bureau, May 27th 2005 - 1230 hrs IST

The wait is finally over…hordes of fans and the industry itself wanted her to shift to the big screen and so finally she has obliged. Mona Singh aka Jassi is going to make a foray into films.

Officially signed by Bobby Pushkarna for his next Main Toh Chala, Mona Singh has finally given in to the immense temptation of Bollywood offers that have been coming her way ever since her make over. The film is a black comedy where Mona plays an average, ambitious, working girl who goes through a lot to understand the intricacies of life.

The actor says she never had Bollywood aspirations but was open to the idea of good offers. The lead opposite her in this romantic film has not yet been finalized.

Courtesy: IndiaFM

Direct Link:
=============================================
Unofficial Site on Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin
Join the India Forums to discuss about Jassi.
Click here to view Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin Forum
=============================================

Mona 'Jassi' Singh's film debut

By Manisha Deshpande, Bollywood Trade News Bureau


A few days back 'Glamsham' reported on how producer Bobby Pushkarna of PAGE 3 had decided to move on in his career and start his next film, which he is planning on a very big scale. It has now come to light that Pushkarna's next film will also mark the film debut of Mona 'Jassi' Singh, who made Jassi's plain Jane character one of the most popular ones on television.

The film in question is called MAIN TO CHALA, a black comedy which will have Singh playing the role of an average working girl who goes through several trials and tribulations before she comes to terms with the equation of life. It will remain to be seen whether the character has any resemblance to the character being played by Muskaan, who makes her debut in Pooja Bhatt's HOLIDAY. Bhatt recently started shooting for HOLIDAY in which Muskaan's character of a simpleton, who rises on the success ladder, is said to be specially authored on the lines of Jassi's character.

Meanwhile, Singh has already entered into a new contract with the Jassi producers where she can wrap up her television work in 20 days and allot the rest for her film debut.

Courtesy: GlamSham

=============================================
Unofficial Site on Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin
Join the India Forums to discuss about Jassi.
Click here to view Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin Forum
=============================================

Parvati comes to Jassi's aid

By: Shaheen Parkar

Parvati (Saakshi Tanwar) takes a break from solving the problems of the Aggarwal clan and comes to the rescue for Jassi.

She enters the Sony daily Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin tonight as the righteous lawyer Indira Bhargav. She has never lost a case and is choosy about her clients.

The gimmicks of public prosecutor Thakral (Aman Varma) in the on-going legal wrangle over Jassi’s identity doesn’t amuse her either.

Known for her witty and quick arguments in court, she only takes up the case of the innocent and downtrodden and is known for her dislike for liars and deceit.

Tanwar found this offer to play Jassi’s lawyer and “was happy to be part of the show to do a cameo. Such fascinating roles have always interested me,” she says.

At first, Indira refuses to fight Jessica aka Jassi’s case, but Armaan (Apoorva Aghinotri) convinces her to take on the case and prove that Jassi is innocent.

The plot will have Indira direct Armaan and Purab (Sameer Soni) to procure all the makeover evidence from Mauritius. She also makes Nandu get hold of Jessica’s servant and office peon to prove that Mallika had hidden a letter Jassi had written to her parents.

Jassi Jaissi...,which has become a courtroom drama now, will have Indira match Thakral’s arguments and will play a major role in buying time to prove Jassi’s innocence.

Tanwar, who will be seen in a few episodes of Jassi, had earlier played the title role in the Sony serial Devi.

Courtesy: MidDay

=============================================
Unofficial Site on Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin
Join the India Forums to discuss about Jassi.
Click here to view Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin Forum
=============================================

Aman Verma makes entry on Jassi

By: Tushar Joshi

Things seem to be going down hill for Jessica Bedi (Mona Singh), who has been arrested on suspicion of killing Jassi in Sony’s drama Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin. To make matters worse for her, the show will now see the entry of public prosecutor Thakral, played by Aman Yatan Verma.

Says Verma, “Mallika (Rakshanda Khan) and Armaan (Apurva Agnihotri) contact Thakral to prosecute Jessica. He is completely over-the-top, intelligent, and articulate and thinks he is good at everything. He has achieved a lot and wants more from life.”

Describing his role as a mixed bag, Verma says, “I found the character challenging and exciting at the same time. He is greedy for money but quite focused as well. I am looking forward to see how well this role is received.”

Ask him about what hopes he has from the show and he says, “I am taking each day at a time. That’s how one needs to work in a daily. The nature of this role depends on ratings and audience reaction, among other things.”

On his experience of working with Jassi, he says, “I have met her before. She’s a very sweet person. Also, our respective fathers are retired army men so we have a common thread there.”

Apart from this TV role, the actor also has a couple of films lined up. “I am in talks with Ravi Chopra for a role in Babul and there some other banners as well. But I would only discuss them after I start shooting.”

On the prospects of his return as Abhay Chauhan in the daily Kumkum, he says, “Talks are on on that front, but it would be premature to spell out the details at this point.”

Verma is currently hosting the dial in game show for Sahara One — Dial One Aur Jeeto.

Courtesy: MidDay

=============================================
Unofficial Site on Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin
Join the India Forums to discuss about Jassi.
Click here to view Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin Forum
=============================================

Jassi jaisa makeover kisi ka nahin

By: Somashukla Sinha Walunjkar

Not all screen makeovers make life easier for stars. Ask Mona Singh who’s been working 20X7 ever since the Jassi braces, shapeless salwar-kameezes and glasses came off.

In between anchoring shows for Sony, promoting her soap, doing commercials and being part of talk shows on TV, life hasn’t been the same at all. “I haven’t enjoyed my stardom at all for the last two months. I am not complaining about the work schedule — just that mom is upset because I’m hardly home.”

Mona Singh: Life has become very different

Mona, an MBA from Pune, admits: “I always wanted to be famous but the last two years have been hectic. Becoming an icon is tough because people start having expectations from you. But then I wouldn’t have it any other way.” In many ways, the makeover has been a relief: “The braces made my gums bleed and I wanted a haircut badly. The only plus was I could eat what I wanted and it wouldn’t show.”
Her makeover has upset many fans, she says: “They wanted the ‘ordinary girl’ look to remain. I think good looks are just gloss. Inner confidence always shows.” And yes, like most TV stars, Mona’s “open about movies.” Only she’s “waiting for the perfect break”.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times
=============================================
Unofficial Site on Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin
Join the India Forums to discuss about Jassi.
Click here to view Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin Forum
=============================================

Jassi to endorse Godrej No.1 soaps

Mumbai: Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), has roped in Mona Singh of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin (a popular serial on the Sony channel) to be the brand ambassador for Godrej No.1 soaps.

Godrej No.1 soap is the largest selling brand of Grade I Soap in the country and Jassi will be conveying the importance of using Grade I quality soaps to the viewers.

The new Godrej No. 1 ad takes a typical situation inside any Indian home. The theme of the campaign revolves around the proverbial statement, "All that Glitters is not Gold... All soaps are not Grade I quality soaps."

Godrej Soaps and Jassi both stand for the Sachchi prakritik sundarta proposition, according to the company.

The campaign educates people the advantages of using Grade I quality soaps that produce more lather, last longer and thus is a great value-for-money proposition. (75 gm bar of Grade III toilet soap would last for 28 baths compared to Grade I soap which lasts much longer.)

"The new look Jassi has been a user of Godrej No. 1 soaps for over a decade now. Jassi is an exact fit as the brand personality of Godrej No. 1 which is simple, unpretentious, down-to-earth girl-next-door", says Dr R.K. Sinha, Executive Vice-President, GCPL.

Godrej No.1 soap was launched in 1922.

This 83-year-old brand enjoys a volume market share of 6 per cent. It is the 5th largest selling soap in the country and tops in Punjab/Haryana with a 20 per cent market share.

Godrej No. 1 soap rely on below-the-line promotions, and for the past 5 years it has been selling at a 3+1 free offer in the market.

In 82 years, the brand has spent less than what a major soap brand would spend in a month of heavy promotions (Rs 12-13 crore), according to the company.

Courtesy: Business Line

=============================================
Unofficial Site on Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin
Join the India Forums to discuss about Jassi.
Click here to view Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin Forum
=============================================

Jassi is Model No 1

By: A hitList Correspondent (MidDay)

After endorsing products on the small screen as Jassi, Mona Singh is now going to endorse a product in her first real TV commercial.

Godrej, the home lifestyle brand, has roped her in as their new brand ambassador, and Mona will “convey the importance of using quality soaps to the viewers”.

SOAP QUEEN: Mona Singh in the Gogrej ad

Speaking on the choice of Jassi as a model, a spokesperson from Godrej said, “Godrej No 1 Soap and Jassi both stand for the ‘sachchi prakritik sundarta’ (true natural beauty) proposition.

The new Jassi fits the brand personality of the soap perfectly — simple and unpretentious.”

In the campaign, Jassi will use Godrej’s sandal soap, saying, “Jaise 24 carat hai asli sone ki pehchaan, vaise Grade 1 hai asli quality ki pehchaan” and “Har chamakti cheez sona nahi hoti, aur har sabun Grade 1 nahi hota hai.”

Mona Singh was under contract with Sony Entertainment Television and was hence not allowed to do commercials till she got her new look as Jessica Bedi.

Now that she’s been transformed, the brand snapped her up. The campaign will be launched nationally on May 15, 2005.

Courtesy: MidDay
=============================================
Unofficial Site on Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin
Join the India Forums to discuss about Jassi.
Click here to view Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin Forum
=============================================

Makeover freedom

By: PRATIM D. GUPTA

Mona Singh of Jassi fame looks demure in an Abhishek Dutta outfit. “I wanted to give her a look that is different from her character on the soap,” says Dutta. The result is a bridal ensemble in toned-down shades. Picture by Aranya Sen

Now, I am me,” announces Mona Singh, as she sits back and sips a Diet Coke in her hotel room at the Golden Park on Saturday evening. An elaborate photo-shoot later and before shooting off for a jig at the hotel’s restobar, Fusion, television’s most loved lady came out from behind her braces and spectacles for the first time in the city.

“It’s quite amazing — I wasn’t even allowed to be at the Calcutta launch of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin,” recalls Mona. “In fact, all across the country everyone was looking for me. ‘Who’s Jassi?’ they would keep asking. Life was so bizarre then. I wasn’t even allowed to stay at my own home in Mumbai. The Sony team had me put up at a secret hotel with security guards so that the media wouldn’t hound me.”

But the Asian Paints commercial was all over television then and Mona found it difficult to hide her real identity. “I had done other advertisements and ramp shows but the timing of the paints ad was too close to the launch of the show. I couldn’t say anywhere that I was Mona. I had to be Jassi all the time. The contract with Sony asked me to look and sound the same in real life as I did on the serial. The channel wanted people to believe that I was Jassi.”

And so she was and that too without competition. “I was the only girl to be screen-tested for the role,” reveals Mona. “The makers wanted a small-town girl from a middle-class background with no television or film experience. I fitted the bill perfectly. I came from Pune and was very, very new to the camera. Incidentally, my real name is Jasmeet. Since my sister’s name is Sona, my friends and family have always called me Mona. So I was, kind of, playing myself.”

It wasn’t easy, however, to slip into the Jassi mode. “I had to keenly watch the tapes of Betty La Fea (Betty, the Ugly One), the Spanish show from which Jassi was adapted. There were special classes held where everything from my body language to my voice modulation were worked upon. I had to have a typical Punjabi accent to go with my character. There is such a thin line between being true to the character and looking funny on screen. I had to be very careful that the serial didn’t turn out to be a comedy.”

Only after the show aired did Mona realise what she had got herself into. “We were shooting at Jogeshwar in Mumbai and for a particular shot, I had to cross the road in one take since we hadn’t taken prior permission. And during the canning of that one shot, the entire traffic came to a halt on the road. Everyone from rickshawallahs to little children to aged aunties was coming up to me. There were people asking me to autograph Rs 500 notes since they didn’t have other paper. I then realised, my god, this is really big.”

Looking back, Mona can now pinpoint what exactly made Jassi the biggest thing on the small screen and made the 10-year-old Sony Entertainment Television the second-most popular satellite channel in the country. “The Indian television and film industry never had such an ugly looking protagonist. Now, most women in our country are not good looking. And here was Jassi, who was totally plain Jane but so very ambitious. People could really identify with the character. I had initially thought that the popularity would just be limited to the north. But even in places like Calcutta and Bangalore, the show became a rage. I remember how I got completely mobbed at the Calcutta Book Fair. I feared that the newspaper reports next day would say, ‘Jassi creates stampede.’”

But did the magic makeover from Jassi to Jessica backfire? “It was always coming. The Sony people were teasing the audiences throughout and waiting for the right turning point in the storyline. People have had mixed reactions to the change. There have been people who have liked the makeover and there have been others who haven’t approved of the transformation. Ladies have messaged me saying how their daughters are trying to look good after seeing me change. I think, once my family accepts me on the show, audiences will accept the change in a bigger way.”

Mona is happy, though. “The feeling now is amazing. All that lying to everyone was exciting and a one-of-a-kind experience but I am a lot more free now. I do not have to run from the media anymore. I can tell everyone that I am Mona Singh. However, it does take a lot more time for make-up now. To be Jassi, all I had to do was wear those huge spectacles, fit the braces and get a darkish tone. Now I have to wear eye-lashes and mascara and so many other things,” she laughs.

So is the new look an invite to the big banners in Bollywood? “Films are more hero-oriented unlike television where women have a presence,” feels Mona. “Although the scenario is changing fast, at the end of the day, Bollywood is for heroes. There have been offers from many new producers and directors who want me to play Jassi even in the film medium. But if I do get into films, I would like to do something as challenging and as dramatic as Jassi was to television. So, I am ready to wait for the right offers to come in.”

But will the Sony contract allow her to venture elsewhere? “I am about to renew my contract with the channel and I will add those clauses this time. I would love to stay with the channel since Sony has used me as its face. And so is our fate, that my birthday is on the same day as that of the Sony anniversary — October 8. So we cut the cake together every year,” smiles Mona.

What about rumours of Jessica becoming Jassi again to woo back the lost audiences and TRPs? “That’s something I don’t know yet. Maybe Sony is thinking on those lines. The best thing about the serial is that it really moves very fast. I entered Gulmohar House on episode number 332 and by episode 336, I know everything that’s happening around the place. So whatever happens will happen soon.”

With so many big names (read Ronit Roy, Rajeev Khandelwal) leaving their television avatars, any chances of someone else becoming Jassi? “Inshallah, no. I don’t think replacing actors works. Maybe with time it will but it’s not that easy for someone new to register with the audiences. Also, I can’t imagine anybody else as Jassi,” comes the honest confession.

And what about her personal armaan? “There is a lot of time for marriage. And I am not seeing anybody since we would invariably end up fighting. Also, I hardly have any time — I am shooting 30 days a month.” Take that!

Courtesy: The Telegraph

=============================================
Unofficial Site on Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin
Join the India Forums to discuss about Jassi.
Click here to view Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin Forum
=============================================