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?
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
