Hrithik ’s a real Hero!

I’ve been really busy the last few days, what with the schedule and then my son has been ill. We’re just taking him to the doc, getting more tests and hoping for the best. It’s so hard on him, with the little one coughing and wheezing and needs all our attention.

On another note, as far as Tere Mere Beach Mein goes, there has been electric responses and even more anticipation for Hrithik and Kangana this Saturday. This probably is the most inspiring episode as it has stories of both of them overcoming their speech impediments, growing up to finally turning into the star actors they are today!

I was not very sure initially about how comfortable Hrithik would be talking about a topic so personal to him but he was a sweetheart and spoke straight from his heart. It was quite moving when Hrithik shared the tough times he had seen as a kid. One could understand how deeply Hrithik felt about this when he offered to share his personal number with a kid on the sets who faced similar issues. He definitely is a real Hero!!

Our second guest, Kangana was equally a surprise with not many people aware of her fighting spirit. She spoke so candidly about her struggle in this industry because of her unconventional looks and the fact that she spoke in a peculiar accent. Despite facing constant comparisons with other actresses, it’s credible that today she has carved out a niche for herself in the industry.

Baki story break ke baad. I will be back on the blog soon, an in the meanwhile you’ll enjoy the next episode of Tere Mere Beach Main.

PS: Keep sending in those comments. Wake up those of you who have gone to sleep!

God Bless
Love
Farah

A Miracle!!

Hello, hello today’s blog is being written from the set of ‘Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega’. I can write a blog only on the different locations from which I’ve written a blog. But honestly, at home, I get NO time to do anything but be with the true entertainers, my babies!

New words are being said everyday, new dance moves and new expressions and newest of all, temper tantrums and feet stomping! The ‘terrible two’s’ are approaching…and by that I don’t mean my in-laws!

But I can go on all blog talking of my trio, so let’s come back to Tere Mere Beach Mein. Something wonderful happened last week! Iqbal who was the Main Hoon Na participant on the Priyanka – Vijender episode found his long lost parents, thanks to them spotting him on our show! Just like Iqbal missed his parents, they too never gave up the hope of finding him. An extraordinary story of strength, hope, prayers and a miracle!

We learnt that Iqbal’s father had slipped into coma when he had run away at a tender age of nine and on recovering from coma, has left no stone unturned to find his son –registering police complaints, placing his picture in missing columns in leading papers for years, searching through all the jails in the country and even going to Dubai coz he had heard that kids are sold there and made to do very hard labour and are exploited. Can’t think of a happier moment when I got the news – now I know why I decided to do this show in the first place!

Coming to this week’s episodes, John Abraham and Yuvraj Singh are the celebrity guests on the topic of male eye candy and role reversal of sexes. It’s about how today the man is the object of desire – what a fun! John is my absolute sweetie pie, hunky piece of steak, object of desire. This Saturday’s (September 19) episode was actually the first pilot episode we shot months ago – which was then tested and previewed. So really grateful to John & Yuvi for making it so entertaining and getting our show passed.

The Sunday (September 20) episode has Karan Johar and Sonam Kapoor talking about weight loss and the problems they faced when they were fat. Yes, they were FAT…I know it – coz I was thin in those days! Karan makes for a great guest, I don’t have to do anything – he takes over…

And on a serious note, I read an article that actually bitched about me giving out cheques to our Main Hoon Na guests – saying how cheap that we’re doing charity on television. Darlings, what have you ever done – on or off TV???

Love and God bless

Farah

Happy to be home

Hey, I’m back from the back of beyond of Italy…& happy to be back! I missed watching Priyanka – Vijander and Bipasha – Shilpa too – but my phone bills are surely going to be high, what with all the lovely texts and calls I got…

This week we’ve got two great episodes – Saturday is Kareena with surprise surprise – Imraan Khan. I must say I do get unusual pairs together..They talk about love in today’s generation. I totally understand – so what if I’m a generation older, my husband isn’t! Kareena of course I know well but Imraan I haven’t met since Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander days. I was assistant and he was I think seven years old playing young Aamir. The conversation wasn’t exactly stimulating then but this time it was very chilled out, funny and totally sporting…Sand and all (off key too!).

On Sunday, one of the most compelling episodes of the show – Ritesh Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi & Sreeranth talking about the one big mistake of their lives! Ritesh about the visit to Taj with Ramu, Vivek about his famous press conference and Sreesanth about the infamous ‘slapgate’ event. Also the common man segment was so inspiring and positive that your heart melts at the end. Bloody Ritesh put me on the spot too and made me talk about the Ashutosh Gowarikar meltdown at the Screen Awards. What did I say?

Well, watch the show…how else will we keep up with the great TRP’s we’re getting?

Lots and love and talk to you’ll next week..

God bless!

Farah

Second Chance

Sitting in an Italian café on the island of Bari listening to U2 and writing this blog (handwritten of course), I’m here to shoot for my brother Sajid’s film but somehow U2 going better with the ambience..

Thank you all for the absolutely terrific response to the 1st episode, I was flooded with texts, calls and mails (which I couldn’t access due to my phobia of computers). We’ve got some great reviews too, and unanimously the Salman-Salma aunty episode won hearts. In fact I think Salma aunty was such a star that I’ve told Salman to put her on the ‘WANTED’ posters, she’ll be a big draw.

For the last segment, where we get the common man on, frankly the feedback was mixed. A lot of people thought that it was very touching and a new format, whereas a few told me it was boring. Well we try and in the next episodes some of their stories are extraordinary. In fact next week when we have Shahid and Genelia, the topic being 2nd chances- the common man story was so inspiring that sweet Genelia broke down crying and I had to stop the shoot and comfort her and get her some tissue. I think even Shahid had got teary eyed- I couldn’t see properly- my eyes were welled up too.

Back to Shahid, he was so candid and sporting- he did not even want to know what the topic was beforehand. I also asked him some questions about when he was down and not doing so well, how did it feel to have a more successful girlfriend and he spoke so honestly and so highly for Kareena that my respect for him went up many notches higher.
Of course the poor boy then had to do a romantic scene…with ME!!!

Now I do have to get back to location scouting…speak with you all next week. Do let me know how you all are liking the show, like I said, negative comments will be edited.

Ciao-gracias!

Ghar Ka Beta

As I watched my two daughters cry and walk around in my heels, looking  soooo cute an heart wrenchingly beautiful  I wonder why people in our country are  obsessed with having sons? Of course I can’t think of my life without Czar (my handsome handsome boy), but I wonder if I had three daughters, wouldn’t we still be happy? Aren’t daughters as a sex more caring, more loving, more giving? And this topic being so close to my heart was the one I chose for the Bipasha and Shilpa episode in ‘Ghar ka Beta’. For everywhere I look, I see daughters doing all that once was ‘traditionally’ a son’s responsibility.

When I look around in my industry, most of the heroines I worked with have one thing in common – they are all fantastic daughters. Whether it was, a Madhuri, who took her parents everywhere and really looked after them, or Rani whose whole world consists of her family.

But I didn’t want the usual suspects for this episode. Part of the USP of Tere Mere Beach Mein is also that we show  stars in a  new light and in the most unexpected ways. I was discussing this with my friend Bhavna Pandey (Chunkey’s wife) and told her that I already knew I wanted Shilpa Shetty  because she is what you call an “Adarsh Beti”, but who would be the other? And Bhavna told me an extraordinary story of Bipasha and what all she has done for her family. I jumped (not very high at my age). I knew Bipasha just as we all kind of know her – tough, glamorous, bidass, sexy. I didn’t know this soft side of hers. I texted her instantly and she immediately agreed.

The day of the shoot is always tense when heroines are shooting together. I have been witness to legendary fights – however both our girls were so chilled  out, ‘no asking what she is wearing?’ or ‘why am I in segment 2?’ etc. Kudos to this new generation!!

To the channel’s delight both wore extremely short and sexy dresses. I have never seen so many production assistants on the floor, suddenly all wanting to be there. Bips was first, we stared on a lighter note about  how she was a ‘gunda’ when she was young, she roamed with a hammer in her purse, etc. Then we showed her a message her parents had recorded, of how proud they are of her and have never felt the need for a son – aren’t  my eyes filled up – till I saw Bipasha . She was so overcome that tears were flowing out. Putting the thought of the channel’s joy behind me – I could not believe what a softie she is. More tears followed when John spoke – I mean I get teary eyed just looking at John, but he spoke from the heart.

Shilpa started with her usual laugh and giggle – one video message from her parents and she crumbled too. What’s with all our strong tough girls, including me? I think we take ourselves so much for granted that when someone appreciates us we just get overwhelmed.

Now I can’t tell u everything that happened – you have to contribute to TRPS too… Just to say that if ten people also after watching this episode stop hankering for son and appreciate their daughters, I am home!

God Bless

Love

Farah