GECs
Sakshi Tanwar moving out of ‘Kahaani…’?
MUMBAI: Has Sakshi Tanwar aka Parvati of Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii upped and left the long-running hit soap on Star Plus?
If yesterday’s (1 April) episode of the Balaji Telefilms’ product is anything to go by it would seem so. It showed Parvati having burnt her face beyond recognition in an accident.
All the clues seems to indicate that the telly plastic surgeons will be working overtime and give the lead a new face and the story a new twist.
The buzz in the industry is that struggling actor Jaya Seal (she has two flop films Xcuse Me and Chhal to her credit) is stepping into Tanwar’s shoes. Seal has even started shooting at Sankraman Studios since yesterday, informed sources say.
When contacted, Tanwar was very brief. “I cannot comment on this. You have caught me at the wrong time. Please let us not extend the conversation anymore,” was all she would say.
Jaya as Parvati?
Creative head of the show Sandeep Sikand, meanwhile, said, “We are in a very serious stage of scripting the turn of events which will follow. For the next 10 days, I cannot make a comment on whether Tanwar is leaving the show or not.”
Director Gary Bhinder, however, was far more emphatic. Tanwar would remain an “integral part of Kahaani… until the last episode. Underline my words,” he asserted.
This tale has two possibilities. The first is that it is another of those incredible plot twists and Tanwar will be back like a bolt from the blue when the audience has given up hope.
The other (more plausible one going by the industry buzz) is that Tanwar has packed her bags for good from the show.
If Tanwar has indeed left the show, her exit will follow the plot line scripted a number of times by soap queen Ekta Kapoor. It was she who made the plastic surgeons working overtime routine on Hindi entertainment television a coomon occurence. It kick-started when Smita K morphed into Mouli Ganguly (Kaahin Kissii Roz). It was just about digestable (with a gulp, though) when Mandira Bedi reappeared as Achint Kaur (Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi).
And, it was amusing when Aroona Irani apparently copied Ekta by showing that Dev had changed from Varun Badola to Amar Upadhyay. In all these instances, the plastic surgeon’s scalpel was at play.
If, as expected, it finally transpires that Tanwar has left Kahaani…, she will be the second big leading lady of a Balaji House hit soap in a short span to walk out. Recently Kkusum aka Nausheen Ali Sardar did it in the Sony show of the same name.
The reason? The protagonist is fed up playing the same character day in and out. According to some of her actor colleagues, Tanwar has not shot much since the last two weeks. A member of the cast also indicated that there has been some friction, since past few days, between Tanwar and execs.
Any guesses on who’s up next for plastic surgery?
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
