Mansi salve who used to be a cute bahu and sweet face of television is back in action. Mansi was raising her baby and was on maternity leave from television but now after two years break she is come back with the Madhur Bhandarkar’s show on Sony, special @10, titled as Anjali. She is playing the lead in the show. We had a candid chat with Mansi about her role, career and her journey in the industry.

Tell us about your role in the show special @10?
I am playing a role of a doctor. Her name is Dr. Anjali Pradhan. She is a doctor in a small town called Dabrawati and there were some happenings in Dabrawati which were quite strange based on superstition and it is basically her fight against those beliefs.

You have delivered a baby so you enjoying motherhood? How’s your baby doing?
I am really happy and yes I am enjoying my motherhood a lot. And my baby is doing quite well and she is cooperating with my shooting schedule. Although this is my first project that I have shot for after a gap but she didn’t bother me much and so I am able to concentrate on my work well.

You are again working with Shakti Anand so tell us about him. How is he as a co-star?
It’s quite strange but before taking my break, two years back I shot in the same studio with Shakti and for the same channel. Sony and now coincidently I am back in the same studio with Shakti and the same channel. It’s really strange and weird. Shakti is always been very modest and down to earth guy and he is still the same person that he was. It was a pleasure to work with him again.

Its very difficult to bring a social change or awareness alone as there comes so many barriers and it happened in the soap also with you so what do you think is the reason people see things going wrong around them but never raise there voices?
Some are quite feeble to even raise their voices and some are scared about the fact that they won’t be supported but there are some who take a step forward. I think somebody has to take an initiative and has to be supported as the things are going to happen gradually but positively it will happen someday. As a human being we have evolved from what we were and what we are now, so everything is going to take time but someday things will definitely happen.

You being an actress would like to bring any social change or awareness?
I don’t want to look at any change or awareness globally or on the country level. My idea of creating an awareness and change is to do it from your home; anywhere where you are mingling around. It’s not necessary to go out of our way to bring a change or something, we can notice small small things around us which we generally ignore and we can bring a change right from our home after all “charity begins at home”.

Your fans are very happy to see you back on television so what do you want to tell them?
It’s great my fans have supported me from past twelve years from my first show Ashirwaad so I am glad they have been supporting me in all phases of my life, like while I was a student then I got married. Today I am a mother and they are still there with me. I can make out from the websites and comments and response that they give me it’s wonderful and I just want their love and support and that will keep me going for sure.

What were you doing all these days?
I was losing my weight, was working out to get back my shape and one best part that god has helped me that I have started looking the same what I used to look two years back. After losing my weight, I am quite happy. Initially it was very easy for me to just get and go for work and come back home and sleep but now things have changed. I have so many responsibilities. I have to take care of my daughter, my family but good thing is that my mother and in laws are very supportive and I so I am able to manage everything very well.

Where most of the tele-stars are seen in reality shows, you aren’t visible. Why?
I guess too much of commitment is required for the reality shows and as of now I am comfortable for four days shoot or something. But if anything good comes then I will definitely take it.

How would you describe your journey till now in the entertainment world?
For me, my graph was never too high, never too low. It’s always been steady. I have been able to do many things along with my career. I did my studies while I was shooting. It’s been a balance between everything. I always wanted it go slow and steady.

What else are you working on these days? Any new shows coming up?
No, nothing! I just want to concentrate on one show now. I am doing advertisements. I have done an advertisement for Britannia and one more. Frankly speaking, its going to be very difficult for me to take up a daily now but still if something good comes why not. I have a long way to go and I have just kept my fingers crossed.

84-year-old Ava Mukherjee may have won hearts as the Ayurvedic Concepts Dadima, but people still stop her on the streets to ask her how Shahrukh is doing. Why? Because thanks to re-runs of “Devdas” on TV, they see her as Dev’s beloved Dadima again and again. But that was then, this is now - her most ambitious role, one she has taken on with the vitality and vigour of a 34 year old. Meet “Detective Naani”.

Tell us a little about your film “Detective Naani”
“Detective Naani” is a feel-good family film that happens to be a mystery thriller as well. A crime is committed in Naani’s society complex in Mumbai. When she decides to solve the case along with her 2 grandkids, neighbours and dog Bruno, the laughs, thrills and spills start rolling.

So, it’s a children’s film?
It’s a film for all ages. Kids, teenagers, 30-somethings, senior citizens, all play a major role in solving this crime. Each one approaches the case through his/her own point of view, giving rise to hilarious hijinks, romantic squabbles, nail-biting tension and emotional moments of drama.

The film seems to have many characters. Then why is it called “Detective Naani”?
Because Naani is the sole witness to the crime. When no one believes her story, she becomes the leader of this team of home-made detectives. Her relentless search for one little victim forms the heart and soul of the story.

How did you approach the role? Did you identify with Naani?
Haha, funnily enough, I don’t have any grandchildren. But I love kids. I’m a people person. I love being active and in touch with everything that’s going on in the world. I drool over Gregory Peck and George Clooney at the same time, and can watch a Kishore Kumar or an Akshay Kumar comedy any number of times.
So when I read this script I felt that this was a very unconventional Naani, a real “cool cat”, as my daughter would say. Who can resist that. I even worked hard to learn Hindi for the role.

Any memorable moments while working on this film?
Oh yes. The scenes with the kids and dog always kept me laughing. Our Labrador dog Bruno was a character. The director had a running shot which started with little Nakul giving Bruno food from the dining table, then taking a phone call, then getting up and answering the doorbell.

In one take Bruno would refuse the food, but when Nakul would take the phone call Bruno would start sniffing him, searching for the food. I don’t know how the kids kept a straight face.
In the next take, Bruno would again refuse the food, but when Nakul would finish the phone call and go off to answer the door, then Bruno would quietly steal the food from the table and eat it up. When Bruno finally got it right, it turned out to be the most boring take.

Any shooting experiences involving you?
Ah, my poor memory was a big joke on the set. Having the main role means remembering so many lines! In one scene I had to be very tough with the CID, and there was a lot of important dialogue to be delivered in one flow. I did it with full force, and then when the director said “Cut” I collapsed in relief and went, “Oof, orre baapre” in Bengali. Everyone cracked up. After that, the cast and crew would keep saying “Orre baapre”

What kind of genre does “Detective Naani” come under?
“Detective Naani” doesn’t come under the usual horror, murder, romance or comedy genre. It draws from real life where we go through so many emotions all the time, from laughter to sorrow, fear…to hope, love and warmth.

For all the feel-good fun that happens while solving this case, the crime itself is a very serious one, the kind that makes the headlines on a regular basis. And though the characters get caught up in larger-than-life situations, they are basically like you and me, real and relatable.

Why should people go and see “Detective Naani”?
So that they can feel good for days and days. So that they feel inspired by watching ordinary people do extraordinary things to right a wrong. We are living in extraordinary times after all, and now is the time for us to be alert, active, plucky citizens. If Naani & Co. can do it, anyone can

Q. Where did you grow up?
A. I was born in Gujrat but grew up in Panchgani.

Q. Were you a good student?
A. Not really. Till 7th or 8th standard I was a good student but after that I lost interest in studies.

Q. What was the worst popular trend when you were going to college?
A. We were not allowed to follow any trend at that time. But when in school we used to keep big nails and different hair cuts in spite of the teachers strict restrictions.

Q. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A. I always wanted to be an actress.

Q. What is the craziest thing you ever did to let a guy to notice you?
A. I didn’t do anything. I was in a girl’s school and when I went to college I really didn’t do anything since I only studied till 11th standard and when in 12th I shifted to Mumbai. There was no time actually for me to go to disco et al. It actually never happened.

Q. What were your hobbies back then and now?
A. When I was in college I was already acting. I started acting at the age of 17. Well dance was one of my secret hobbies. I liked to dance a lot. Now also dancing is my hobby but at the same time I like listening to music also.

Q. What rumours were people spreading about you then and now?
A. There were a lot of rumours at that time for sure and right now I don’t know if there are any rumours. If I see something in newspaper I will tell you.

Q. What nick names did you have back then and now?
A. I did not have any nick name at that time which I really miss. But now when I started working, people here call me chotu because I am very small. It is a very cute name but not a girly one.

Q. What did you do for fun? And now?
A. On weekends, we used to go for movies after college. We went for shopping, at friend’s birthday party and so on. Now I rarely do anything.

Q. What advice did your parents give you when you were in college? And now?
A. My parents were never forceful but they did advise me for studies as I was in hostel. They never stopped me from going out with friends as long as the study went on properly.

Q. Who was your sweetheart in college and now?
A. I think there were a lot of people whom I must have liked but I don’t remember them now. But I had a true friend, a very nice friend whose name was Manti. She was my best friend from Burma, a chinki girl. She was very sweet and it was really nice time I had with her. Now I don’t have the time and I regret that I did not do anything when I had the time in my hands.

Q. With which celebrity you wanted to go to an isolated island? What was your naughtiest fantasy with him?
A. When I was in school I really liked Shahid Kapoor and now I like Hrithik Roshan. I don’t think fantasies are supposed to be out, but sorry there haven’t been any.

Gorgeous actress Neha Marda from Sphere Origins’s Balika Vadhu speaks on music.

Q. Which songs are you enjoying most these days?
A. Very soothing songs because right now I am in Goa so the Thai and the Chicago music really soothes ones ears.

Q. Which film songs from the recent releases have appealed most to you?
A. I think Soniyo from raaz and songs from Delhi 6.

Q. What do you like most – original or remix?
A. Originals.

Q. Which are your five all time favorite songs?
A. Pal pal dil ke paas, You say the most when you say nothing at all, Aaoge jab tum, Maula from Chak De and Soniyo from Raaz.

Q. Which is your favourite romantic song?
A. Soniyo from Raaz and You say the most when you say nothing at all are the most romantic songs for me.

Q.Which opinion is most close to your heart – Today’s songs are better than oldies, Today’s songs are as good as oldies had been or Today’s songs are worse than oldies.
A. It is very subjective right now. The middle age songs were really horrible songs I believe but now we have Aatif Aslam and Kailash Kher, people who have given some amazingly good songs. The whole tone has made a lot of difference, the kind of music has changed; the lyrics have improved a lot too.

Q. How do you look at the concept – Old is Gold?
A. I respect this concept, but with the context with somebody who is experienced enough, somebody like grandparents, I believe they are old and gold

Rachna Parulkar aka Saawri from Sphere Origins's Saat Phere speaks about the qualities she desires to be possessed in her man.

Q. Your kind of man?
A. He has to be a person who will respect me for what I am. He has to understand me and value the relationship that he is in and not regret that my god what have I done. He has to value each and every moment and last but not the least he has to be a nice guy with good sense of humour; not that typical boring who restricts you from doing things.

Q. Your favourite romantic getaway would be…
A. As long as it's with someone special, I think anywhere, any place, will become romantic.

Q. Who inspires you most?
A. My Mom and Dad inspire me the most.

Q. Given a chance to date a historical character who would he be and why?
A. No one because they were all so busy in their lives and they were not at all romantic to date with.

Q. Can a man and a woman have platonic relationship?
A. I don't know.

Q. Your first crush?
A. I had a huge crush on John Abraham and he was my first crush.

Q. What do you think about the institution of marriage?
A. I don't believe in it. It's just that two people stay together for the sake of staying, just because they have been married to each other.

Q. What would you do if your man turned out to be gay?
A. I will be happy. At least he has his own life and he can live properly.

Q. Is a sense of humour a must?
A. Yes, absolutely for me at least.

Akriti kakar, who is co-hosting Amul Voice of India Mummy ke Superstars on Star Plus, with Ali Asgar is quite in demand, we hear. The reality show that doesn't have the audience's vote and is solely based on the children's talent, certainly calls for making important and quick decisions in a short span of time. The Mummy's are no doubt like a solid pillar of strength for their children, but then mothers are after all mothers they become subjective. So, to get an objective outlook the mommy's flock around Akriti and ask her to give tips to their children.

The entire Mommy brigade seems to be way too happy with Akriti's sound counsel that they always turn to her for guidance. The pretty singer, whose journey into singing started from one such reality shows, surely knows what it takes to stand out and is often seen spending time with the kids, when not shooting.

Well, no, he's not been upto anything, the man just signed a movie Surya Productions and Amit Behl along with wife and producer Vaibhavi on Sunday afternoon shot the Mahurat Shot of their new venture, 'The Under-trial', a movie based on a man accused of being a terrorist, post bombings in the city.

The event was held at Filmistan in Goregaon. While Jackie Shroff was keenly expected by the media, he brought a little disappointment owing to unavoidable circumstances and being held up out of town.

Amit Behl and Vaibhavi looked busy co-ordinating on the sets while the director Shekhar S Jha ensured everything proceeded smoothly.

Parveen Dhabas also made an entry minus wife Preeti Jhangiani who is speculated to be a part of the movie too. Yash Pal Sharma was all smiles and pepped about the Mahurat shot and spoke at length about his excitement in being part of the movie.

The Mahurat Shot was an act behind the jail bars involving Parveen and Yash Pal.

Last week ,Hard Kaur was on top of the leaderboard with her two performances earning the judges respect for her in the competition.

Since this week's theme is the circus, you'd have to guess what Hard Kaur and her partner Savio had to dress up as. Well if you haven't figured it out, they had to become clowns! Their act consisted of funny routines, streamers, and the art of using the hola hoop. Just like their past performances, their dance also had lifts.

Vaibhavi Merchant said that it was an outstanding performance. She did a joke on them where she brought them flowers and she squeezed it to get water out. Anyway, she was pleased with the performance.

Saroj Khan was also impressed by the performance. Hard Kaur and Savio gave her a roll of paper that had money imprinted in them to impress her. She was definitely impressed and gave her money as always to show her gratitude.

Juhi Chawla said she expected a lot from her. This week's performance impressed her with the aerobic dance style as well as the comedic portions.

The judges were so impressed that you can take a wild guess and find out they deserved a 30 which is what they got. Hard Kaur owns the leader board again this week and is safe yet again.

Backstage, the contestants gave their comments on Hard Kaur. The contestants, especially TV star Gauhar Khan said that Hard Kaur has become a tough opponent and they think the reason she is getting high marks is because of her signature lifts. I'm sensing a little jealousy here! Hard Kaur commented by saying that they should follow her example and try doing these difficult lifts. Well that's giving it to them Hard Kaur!

This week's elimination goes to TV Soap star Parul Chauhan whose clown act didn't earn enough votes from the juntas

Priyanka Kothari, who has barely recovered from the injury that she had suffered during the outdoor shooting schedule of ‘Agyaat’, was recently left gasping for breath, courtesy some innovative format of ‘Yoga’ that she indulged in. On suggestion of a friend, she opted for ‘Hot Yoga’ classes, a new concept in India. However, after attending just one class, she swore off it and promised herself that she would never be going back anywhere close to the venue.

“Can you believe it, they put you into a room, lock the doors and set the temperature to 50 degrees? And then it is expected that you would get into some full on intense ‘Yoga’. Come on, there are far better ways of maintaining your body and in my list, this unique form of ‘Yoga’ would come last”, says an exasperated Priyanka as she remembers the torturous grill that she had to go through.

“One fine day I got a call from someone from my gym who suggested that I attend these ‘Hot Yoga’ classes. Since I was recovering from injury and was willing to experiment with things that could help me get back to shape sooner, I was game for it. Those one and a half hours that I spent in the closed room would easily count as some of my most tiring moments ever. I tried following all the instructions but once I came out of the class, I was already half dead”, Priyanka narrates her plight.

No wonder, she decided there and then that she was back to her good old gym rather than an experimental trip like this.

“Bombay mein already itni garmi toh phir uske upar aise garmi waale mahaul mein exercise karne ki kya zaroorat hai (When Bombay is already so hot, I don’t see any reason why one should get into a cauldron like this and work out)”, smiles Priyanka who would soon be back on sets to shoot for ‘Agyaat’.

She has another reason for not really being charmed by ‘Hot Yoga’.

“Tell me, isn’t one of the major most criteria for benefiting from ‘Yoga’ is to breath well”, she questions, “This is why worldwide it is practised in open air. No wonder I found the entire concept of doing it in a closed room quite funny. It was claustrophobic.”

She doesn’t mince any words when it comes to the trainers of ‘Hot Yoga’.

“These were some firangs who were in charge of this entire activity. Come on, the entire world is following ‘Yoga’ which is practiced by us Indians and here we had some outsiders trying to tell us what to do”, she says in a humorous tone, “I would rather rely on my own folks who have been doing this so very successfully for thousands of years rather than some newbie who is just so willing to change the very format of this beautiful way of keeping your body healthy.”

Mother has been given the place of God in our Indian culture. Tomorrow being the mother’s day, we inquired from some of our celebs about their love and affection towards their mother.

Maninee De
Q. Tomorrow being mothers day, what surprise are you planning for your mom?
A. Actually my mother lives in Delhi so I don’t think I would be able to surprise her tomorrow. But I wish I would have flied and spent some time with her. But usually as every year I send flowers and a cake to my mom and my mother in law.

Q. From your busy shooting schedules, how much time do you remove for your mother?
A. I try and meet her in every three months if possible and if I am shooting in Delhi then I try to go there 2-3 days before the shoot so that I can spend some time with her.

Q. What does the word ‘Maa’ means to you?
A. The word mother is very sacred to me. I would substitute god for my mother.

Shonali Nagrani
Q. Tomorrow being mothers day, what surprise are you planning for your mom?
A. Luckily for me my mothers’ birthday is a few days away and it is her fiftieth birthday so it is a double special occasion for me. I have bought her a sari, a branded pair of sunglasses, a pair of earrings, a pair of trousers, and I am willing to take the list up to fifty things as it’s her fiftieth. From mothers’ day onwards that is tomorrow, she gets her first gift and then everyday till her birthday she’ll get about fifty gifts.

Q. From your busy shooting schedules, how much time do you remove for your mother?
A. My parents stay in Delhi and I stay in Bombay so I don’t really get much time but I do make it a point to meet them once a month. I spend at least 5-6 days with them and right now I am here in Delhi for a show for the next seventeen days so she is going to see me everyday after the show.

Q. What does the word ‘Maa’ means to you?
A. For me it just gives me a sense of comfort and security and warmth. The moment I hear that word, I feel like I have been wrapped in cotton wool and kept so safely and secure.

Sonu Sood
Q. Tomorrow being mothers day, what surprise are you planning for your mom?
A. Actually I lost my mom one and a half years back but I will always miss her. For me everyday is a mother’s day and I always will cherish those moments that I have spent with her. I still have lots of letters which she wrote for me to inspire me. I will go through them again and of course I have the most precious possessions of her which was her diary; the diary which she used to write from the day I was born, so that will be a very special day for me.

Q. What does the word ‘Maa’ means to you?
A. ‘Maa’ is someone who got you in this world and with her wish and blessings you survived and with her prayers your dreams come true. I think you exist because of the word ‘Maa’.

Vikrant Massey
Q. Tomorrow being mothers day, what surprise are you planning for your mom?
A. I gift my mom a saree every year as she loves wearing sarees.

Q. From your busy shooting schedules, how much time do you remove for your mother?
A. No matter what, whether I am busy or not I do spend most of my time with my mother. I wake up and I do spend time with her before I leave for my shoot and after I pack up I go and I spend time with her. You would be surprised to hear but till today my mom feeds me with her own hands at times.

Q. What does word mother means to you?
A. Everything, it means the world to me.

Jay Bhanushali
Q. Tomorrow being mothers day, what surprise are you planning for your mom?
A. I am just going to gift her with something and at night we will be going for a dinner with my whole family.

Q. From your busy shooting schedules, how much time do you remove for your mother?
A. I meet her after my shoots and spend time with her at home.

Q. What does word ‘Maa’ means to you?
A. ‘Maa’ means everything for me. Hearing the word ‘Maa’ refreshes me and generates a king of positive energy in me. My mother means a world to me.

Star One’s Dill Mill Gayye gets a new Dr. Riddhima in the charming Jennifer Winget in which the babe would again be pairing opposite Karan Grover after Kasauti Zindagi Kii. Let’s see what the actress has to say about her new assignment and many more.

Q. What new shades have you planned to give to the character of Riddhima, you would be portraying in Dill Mill Gayye?
A. I have just started working on this character and I think since this character has been loved and appreciated by everybody so much, there is no requirement of giving it new shades. The character of Riddhima is so sweet and lovable that nothing needs to be changed or nothing new needs to be added. I am just going to try my best to keep the essence of the character and hopefully will try to make it more lovable.

Q. The character of Riddhima is changing for the third time now, so what is the reason behind that?
A. I don’t know the reason, all I know is for me it is a new show and new beginning and I don’t know why it’s being changed for the third time and I would not want to get into it.

Q. Your acting is surely going to be compared with Sukriti Khandpal. Does this worry you?
A. No, it does not worry me. I give respect to both the actresses who played Riddhima before. They have done a fantastic job and people have really appreciated them for that and I just hope to continue that.

Q. You are working with Karan Singh Grover for the second time after Kasauti Zindagi Kii, Please share you off and on-screen chemistry with him?
A. It was a pleasure to work with him as we have always been very good friends since Kasuati. And it is actually exciting to work with him again. And when I shot with him the first day we just picked up from where we left.

Q. Is recession affecting you life in anyways and what advice would you like to give to our readers about dealing with the recession?
A. Well it’s not really affecting me in any ways. But I think everybody has been hit by it so wise thing to do is to take care of what you have and invest wisely, hold on to the investment that you have got and just keep working. That’s the best thing to now.

Q. Given a chance, what would be that one thing, which you would like to change in the television industry?
A. I think as earlier we used to have seasons of some sitcoms. Like in some foreign serials also we have seasons. I would want someone to try out with.

Q. Any interesting incident, you remember happening on the sets of DMG?
A. Today it was just my third day so as of now nothing interesting incident has yet happened. And the only interesting thing is that I am working with Karan again and we are really happy working together. And for more interesting stories you will have to wait because I have just started the show.

Q. Which team would you be cheering in this IPL?
A. Knight Riders would definitely be on my priority list and I will cheer for it because I think they have a very good team and they have all the right qualities to be appreciated.

Q. Tell us something about your future projects. With many tele-stars making big in Bollywood, do you too have plans to step into the world of Bollywood?
A. Right now I am only doing and concentrating on this show. If you talk about other future plans, I think I don’t plan my future and I believe in living in present. Yes, why not even I would like be in Bollywood but only if something interesting comes my way.