‘The Ranjans are the biggest liars ...
There’s more drama off-screen at telly awards functions than there is on the tube these days. Anu and Shashi Ranjan of Hero Honda Indian Television Academy (HHITA) have slapped a legal suit on Balaji head honcho Ekta Kapoor, for preventing her actors from attending the awards show. The Ranjans even claim that Kapoor demanded a list of Balaji winners prior to the event. Now, Ekta is in retaliation mode.
You did not attend the HHITA awards because Anu and Shashi Ranjan refused to show you the awards list. Comment. That’s rubbish. Anu and Shashi are the biggest liars in the world. I think too many people are asking them why I didn’t attend their function. They are scared to tell the truth because it’s dirty.
So what’s the truth?Yes, I boycotted the show. I was in Delhi all day, but I returned in the evening. I could have attended the show. The Ranjans kept calling me to know if I had a problem but I didn’t tell them anything.
Why didn’t you attend?That’s because my flagship show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, which has been India’s No1 show for six years, had not been nominated in the Best Serial category.
Isn’t that a petty reason?That’s not a petty reason. My fury did not stem from the fact that Kyunki had not been nominated, but from the fact that Anu and Shashi axed Kyunki’s nomination simply because Star Plus did not buy the telecast rights of their show.
How are you sure about that?Somebody working with their telecast partner Zee told me about it.
Is that the way awards are being conducted these days?Yes, and I wouldn’t be comfortable being part of such a show. Kyunki is India’s No 1 show and deserves respect. If it has not scored from the public, that’s fine. But if personal interests are the motives behind such acts, I am not going to allow it. Even Zee was shocked that Kyunki was axed from the nominations list. Some people connected to HHITA and Zee told me beforehand that Kasamh Se is going to get many awards. I didn’t like that fact either. Just because a show is being telecast on a particular channel is not reason enough to give it a biased preference.
Did you instruct Balaji actors like Shabbir Ahluwalia, Prachi Desai, Ram Kapoor, Akashh Deep Saigal and Sanjit Bedi not to perform at the HHITA?That’s another lie. I have better things to do than interfere in the personal lives of my actors. It was very essential that Ram and Prachi shoot for Kasamh Se that day. Yet, I personally went to the studio where they were shooting, reworked the script and asked them to go for the show. But by that time, Anu and Shashi had made alternative arrangements (pauses).
Go on…Anu and Shashi wanted some of my actors to sign exclusive contracts with them, which would debar them from performing at the Indian Telly Awards (ITA; of Anil Wanwari). Some of them even signed those contracts, but later felt uncomfortable. That’s not my fault, is it? The ITA and the HHITA have always been at loggerheads. There is tremendous competition between them.
So you have been made a scapegoat?Yes. There’s another reason for that. Anu and Shashi are frustrated that their award function wasn’t as good as the Indian Telly Awards, which I attended.
Which of the two awards shows is fair?I am not passing judgment. I am only bewildered as to how low the Ranjans (HHITA) can stoop when they are at a crossroads with Anil Wanvari (ITA), and do not get the broadcaster of their choice (Star).
So what are you going to do about it?I am taking legal action against HHITA. I had high regard for them, but I am shocked and hurt by their character assassination of me. I will never send nominations for any of my shows to them henceforth.
You did not attend the HHITA awards because Anu and Shashi Ranjan refused to show you the awards list. Comment. That’s rubbish. Anu and Shashi are the biggest liars in the world. I think too many people are asking them why I didn’t attend their function. They are scared to tell the truth because it’s dirty.
So what’s the truth?Yes, I boycotted the show. I was in Delhi all day, but I returned in the evening. I could have attended the show. The Ranjans kept calling me to know if I had a problem but I didn’t tell them anything.
Why didn’t you attend?That’s because my flagship show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, which has been India’s No1 show for six years, had not been nominated in the Best Serial category.
Isn’t that a petty reason?That’s not a petty reason. My fury did not stem from the fact that Kyunki had not been nominated, but from the fact that Anu and Shashi axed Kyunki’s nomination simply because Star Plus did not buy the telecast rights of their show.
How are you sure about that?Somebody working with their telecast partner Zee told me about it.
Is that the way awards are being conducted these days?Yes, and I wouldn’t be comfortable being part of such a show. Kyunki is India’s No 1 show and deserves respect. If it has not scored from the public, that’s fine. But if personal interests are the motives behind such acts, I am not going to allow it. Even Zee was shocked that Kyunki was axed from the nominations list. Some people connected to HHITA and Zee told me beforehand that Kasamh Se is going to get many awards. I didn’t like that fact either. Just because a show is being telecast on a particular channel is not reason enough to give it a biased preference.
Did you instruct Balaji actors like Shabbir Ahluwalia, Prachi Desai, Ram Kapoor, Akashh Deep Saigal and Sanjit Bedi not to perform at the HHITA?That’s another lie. I have better things to do than interfere in the personal lives of my actors. It was very essential that Ram and Prachi shoot for Kasamh Se that day. Yet, I personally went to the studio where they were shooting, reworked the script and asked them to go for the show. But by that time, Anu and Shashi had made alternative arrangements (pauses).
Go on…Anu and Shashi wanted some of my actors to sign exclusive contracts with them, which would debar them from performing at the Indian Telly Awards (ITA; of Anil Wanwari). Some of them even signed those contracts, but later felt uncomfortable. That’s not my fault, is it? The ITA and the HHITA have always been at loggerheads. There is tremendous competition between them.
So you have been made a scapegoat?Yes. There’s another reason for that. Anu and Shashi are frustrated that their award function wasn’t as good as the Indian Telly Awards, which I attended.
Which of the two awards shows is fair?I am not passing judgment. I am only bewildered as to how low the Ranjans (HHITA) can stoop when they are at a crossroads with Anil Wanvari (ITA), and do not get the broadcaster of their choice (Star).
So what are you going to do about it?I am taking legal action against HHITA. I had high regard for them, but I am shocked and hurt by their character assassination of me. I will never send nominations for any of my shows to them henceforth.
posted by Vijay @ 12:59 AM
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