"Nausheen to surface in Star show"

Sony's loss is going to be Star Plus' gain. Nausheen Ali Sardar, Sony's Kkusum before she opted out rather than sport grey in her hair, is moving to Star Plus, in a role crafted for her in Ashim Samanta's new weekly show Kaalchakra. Touted as the 'next big thing' from the Star Plus stable, Kaalchakra (Star's K fetish continues) will be a one hour weekly mystery drama, to be shot in Mumbai, Baroda and Mahabaleshwar, the hill station near Pune. Star is weaning Nausheen away from Sony in style. The actor, known as Sony's face thus far, will, sources say, be cast in a 'triple role' - one positive, one negative, one with several grey shades in between. The leading entertainment channel had formally announced the induction of Nausheen into their parivaar at the Star Parivaar Nite hosted at NCPA on 11 June. Details of the show she would feature in, are however, being held tightly under wraps. Indiantelevision.com however found out that the Samanta produced and directed show will be scripted by veteran writer Mir Muneer, and will also feature Mohnish Behl, Mukul Dev and newcomer Manav among its cast. Nausheen had opted out of Balaji Telefilms' Kkusum, Sony's channel driver at that time, in which she had been essaying the title role. The lady had said she was uncomfortable playing a character way above her age, when the plot shot ahead by 18 years. "I didn't want to play a mom so early in my career. I would definitely be uncomfortable playing a mother and calling youngsters my age as beta/beti," she'd reasoned. About Kaalchakra, Ashim, son of veteran filmmaker Shakti Samanta, says, "We have 90 episodes for this drama series which will keep the viewers on the edge of their seats. While the shooting of the show will go on the floors in the first week of July, I expect the telecast to begin by August end. As far as the time slot of the show is concerned, keeping in mind the genre of the show we are looking at a post 9.30 pm position." This will be a big test for Samanta since he hasn't done any other shows on Star Plus. Earlier, he had produced and directed Dil Vil Pyar Vyar for Sony (1999) and produced Durga (2002) for ETV. On the film front, he has been associated with eight movies, some of the better known ones being Paley Khan, Main Awara Hoon, Aakhree Baazee and Aamne Samne. "I approached only Star Plus for this one. They approved it in a week's time," says Samanta.