Stars set for Navratri!

It's that time of the year again. Navratri is around the corner and TV stars are busy shopping and packing their bags with the ethnic stuff to fly off to destinations as varied as Dallas and Delhi, California and Kolkata. Dandiya aficionados? Not really. Not many of the television artistes who twirl and sway at these Navratri events are too fond of the night long festivities, but the offers to make their appearances come with an attractive compensation. And the adulation, of course. While Mandira Bedi may be just one of the few who does not particularly enjoy showing her face on these nights, a whole lot of others seemingly cannot wait for the event to begin. Says Mandira, "Last year, I avoided going for these appearances. I am paid well for such nights out, but money has never been my only criterion for endorsing anything. Last time, I was not in India. But this time since I am here, I think I will be cajoled into being there for three nights, at least." At the other end of the spectrum is the exuberant Shweta Tiwari, "I am definitely going. And this time, I'll be making appearances on all the nights. I am going to Kolhapur, Kolkata, Rajkot and Surat. But the sad part is that I am so tied up with Kasauti... at the moment, that I don't have any time to shop before I leave." The Balaji actor couple Hiten Tejwani-Gauri Pradhan, will be making a 20-day tour to the US, mixing business with pleasure. It would be recalled that Gauri and Hiten had to leave on different dates (which had a huge gap between them) when Ekta took the Kyunki... track to Switzerland recently. Says Hiten, "Gauri and I will be going to the US. A promoter is making all the arrangements. We are going to shop a lot before we go. Our outfits will comprise mainly of Indian stuff. All the staying arrangements are made by the promoter, obviously in the best of hotels. During this trip, we will not be making only appearances at Navratri functions. We will also be attending some personal functions which is a part of the promoter's package." Can the other hot couple from the Balaji stable Rajeev Khandelwal-Aamna Sharrif be far behind? The Jodi No.1 is locked up and ready to utilize all the nights, commercially. The duo will be seen together in Jodhpur and Bhopal, while their remaining seven appearances will comprise of different destinations. Karisma Tanna is traveling with the same promoter, "It will be great fun. I will be donning ghagra cholis and salwaar kameezes. For a function or two, I will wear a short skirt too," she informs. Last year, Karisma had just a few invitations restricted to Indian cities. Apparently, her roles in Kyunki..., Kkoi Dil Mein Hai and Des Mein... has pushed her market value over the last year, thereby increasing her popularity overseas as well. It is an established fact that Balaji actors receive the highest number of invitations for the Navratri dos. Buzz is, this time Balaji House is not too excited at the fact of its artistes going out for such long periods, but we hear that these artistes had given a nearly six month notice to the production house. So, either the episode banks have been built or the tracks will be changed.... but that's nothing new, is it? Sangita Ghosh, who we hear is the costliest actor currently on Indian television, also seems greedy for more. Think of it, who doesn't want quick and easy money especially if it is going to be a bomb? "I may not make nine appearances, but at least five," she says. Do these guys actually dance to the disco beats? Not really. While Mandira says she just shakes a leg, Sangita says she just waves out to her fans and goes up on the dais to say a few words. "It can be embarrassing at times, when the fans come very close to you and try touching you." Neither do Hiten and Gauri gyrate much, nor does Karisma who actually is crazy about dancing. Yet, none of them refrain from saying a firm No to dandiya appearances. Apparently, it's a case of making hay while the Navratri moon shines!