MUMBAI: Rajan Shahi is among the most well-known producers in the TV industry. Week after week, Rajan Shahi's shows from Anupamaa to Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai have dominated the TRP numbers. However, in addition to his shows, the well-known producer is renowned for being a "no-nonsense" person who takes no lightly when it comes to anyone creating any kind of disaster on the sets of his shows.
(Also read: Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’s Pranali Rathod and Harshad Chopda reunite for co-star Shreyansh Kairav’s birthday party)
Viewers of the show were shocked when the producer fired Pratiksha Honmukhe, the parallel lead, and Shehzada Dhami, the lead of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. This further sparked a great deal of conjecture among supporters and the press alike. Some claimed that a "no affair clause" had been added, while others said that the actors' relationship was the reason they were fired. Rajan Shahi responded to all of these rumors and revealed the specific reasons behind his decision to fire Shehzada Dhami in an interview with a popular news outlet.
Regarding Shehzada's "problematic attitude" that was observed during the show's first outdoor shooting, Rajan Shahi said, ''We should always go positively on shoots. We had gone outdoor for the first schedule of the show and an incident happened there where in that actor (Shehzada Dhami) misbehaved with the crew of the show. I did not like that attitude and the way he spoke. A person should have a texture, a way, a humility in the way he speaks. That night, I sat with everyone together including all the actors and made all of them understand for almost 3 hours, I quizzed him about his attitude. Why to think of yourself as a star? There have been stars before you. No one is bigger than the show, not even the producer.''
Further, he revealed what was the channel's reaction on Shehzada's behavior in the first week of the show. Rajan Shahi said, ''I spoke to the channel that day and they asked me to replace him, stating that it had only been a few days of shooting. But the next day when I spoke to him, I thought of giving him a chance. But cutting the whole story short, the attitude that kept on changing, that was the problem.''
He talks about how he still sees veteran actors like Anita Raaj, Shruti, Sandeep, and Sikander concentrating on their scripts when he visits the set of the television show. Then, he talks about his visit to Anupamaa and shares that he saw Rupali and Sudhanshu working on their scripts while on the Anupamaa sets.
Rajan Shahi then says, ''So, the humility towards work in him was missing. Sabse pehle star attitude, main star hoon, sab mujhe star bole. I gave him a lot of margin, but I kept quiet. However, after a point I realised that it was a DNA problem, a manufacturing defect that cannot be changed. He thought that he is the lead so he can control the show. But unfortunately, this cannot happen in Yeh Rishta.''
The producer revealed how many people contacted him to warn him to the issues that would arise after casting Shehzada, ''Unfortunately, this was the first time that we did not cross-check a lot. We went for the outdoor shoot in just three days and all of these tantrums began there. However, after the first schedule got over, a channel head from a renowned channel called me and said that she saw the promo and it was very nice. However, she later told me that I had made a mistake and I may have to face problems.”
She said, ''This person is not a good person, however, now that the promo is out, maybe he will change. I still thought of giving him a chance, But, then I got a call from a production house stating that because of this person they had to face a lot of problems. Then, an assistant of mine who is now a very renowned director told me that I made a huge mistake and how could I sign a person like this.''
He then adds, ''Then one fine day after observing all this and his problematic behavior I decided that I am not going to work with this actor.''
Even though Rajan Shahi has discussed the issue for the first time, Shehzada and Pratiksha have chosen not to speak.
(Also read: Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai: REALLY! Abhimanyu and Akshara want to reconcile?)
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Credit- Free Press Journal
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