Entertainment quotient

Amarjot Kaur

Here’s raising a toast to the only institution of society that celebrates love on the most unconditional level, bordering so much on the excessive that we sometimes end up taking it for granted. So, for all those of you suffering the pangs of guilt for spending extra hours at work, partying with friends till late or just going through a phase of general detachment, the Disnep channel gives you an opportunity to spend time with your family over a series that will not just entertain you, but will also emotionally stir you. It’s time to shed the melodramatic saas-bahu sagas and switch to Disnep weekends as it brings your way a list of five new shows, Goldie Ahuja Matric Pass, Maan Na Maan Main Tera Mehmaan, Kabhi Aise Geet Gaya Karo, Lage Raho Chachu and Zindagi Khattee Meethi. At JW Marriot, Chandigarh, we catch up with the team of three of these shows—Goldie Ahuja Matric Pass, Maan Na Maan Main Tera Mehmaan, and Kabhi Aise Geet Gaya Karo—as they talk about their show and more.

Dad with a difference

For those of you, who have their parents on their social networking sites, may possibly consider a different definition of privacy altogether, but Goldie Ahuja, of Goldie Ahuja Matric Pass is a father who accompanies his son to school. “Well, it’s a family that’s based out of Chandigarh and Goldie Ahuja, whose character I play in the show, goes to school with his son and it’s a very interesting concept,” says Ashwin Kaushal, who is accompanied by Namit Shah, the child actor in the show. He adds that going to the school and shooting this show reminds him of his childhood. “I don’t ever want to grow,” says Ashwin, and Namit repeats after him. “True, I really don’t want to grow old either. It’s a show that highlights the importance keeping the child in you alive,” he adds.

Guest appearance

Like it or not, as an Indian, you can not tamper with tradition, and definitely not when there are guests involved. So, keeping up with their cultural civility to the guests, this family holds the idea of ‘atithi devo bhava’ sacrosanct. Meet the actors of Maan Na Maan Main Tera Mehmaan, including Farida Dadi, Harsh Vashisht and Shubh Kalra. “I really liked the concept of the show where there is a magical photo frame that brings home the person whose picture you put in that frame,” says Harsh Vashisht, who plays the role of Chachu in the show. Meanwhile, Farida Dadi, who plays a granny in the show shares that the show is very entertaining and it also teaches a lesson without being preachy. “I like the episode in which a magician comes in our house, played by Mohan Kapoor, who is a very positive person and he teaches the importance of togetherness to the family,” says Farida, who is also busy doing another show, Ek Rishta Aisa Bhi. When asked to pick their favourite guests on the show, Harsh Vashisht roots for the cave men and Shubh Kalra chooses Alexander. “There was no language to communicate with the cave men, but the emotions and family values were just the same, and that’s what I liked about this episode,” says Harsh.

On a happy note

With Kabhi Aise Geet Gaya Karo, the Hum Aapke Hain Kaun actor Renuka Shahane, greets you with her infectious smile. Accompanied with Sudhir Pandey, she waxes eloquent about the show and her role. “I am a mother myself and with kids aged 10 and 12, I am a regular viewer of the Disnep Channel. So, it’s a matter of pride for me to be seen on Disnep and my kids and their friends are already excited about this show,” says Renuka. Keeping her professional life only second next to her family when it comes to prioritising, Renuka shares that she is going easy on the career front. “I am a very dedicated mother, so a weekly television show suits me fine as I can give time to my family,” she says. Currently, she is working on the script of her Bollywood film.

amarjot@tribunemail.com