Dubai-based Anjalika Gupta wouldn’t have missed her brother’s wedding celebrations in Delhi for the world. Her flights were booked and the shopping sorted. All was good until a fateful telephone call. The voice at the other end informed her that she had won the Pehla subscriber contest and her favourite TV star, Barun Sobti, would be visiting her in her home in Mirdif. And what girl in her right mind wouldn’t put off her travel plans for a day to spend some time with the golden boy of television?
“It was a dream come true. I thought I had won tickets for the play but having him visit my house was unbelievably good. So now I am off to Delhi tommorrow,” said Gupta, who looked flushed from all the action on Sunday. The contest conducted by Pehla Media & Entertainent was a part of their anti-piracy drive to curb the use of unlicensed satellite feeds on dish TV.
Unlike Bollywood stars, television star Sobti wasn’t tardy, walking in and warmly hugging Gupta before settling himself on her couch. He brought along his colleagues, TV stars Akshay Dogra and Utkarsha Naik, who were a part of his play Do Fool Char Maali staged in Dubai last weekend. Like two old friends, there were no signs of awkwardness between the star and his fan.
“Anjali, the reception to our play was unreal. The energy that you get from the viewers while you stage a play is just so different. Each time we spoke, we had fans hollering for more … loved it,” said Sobti. He even let her in on an on-stage disaster. The temporary sets were about to fall down and Sobti had to do some improvisation and call for a break.
“We could hear the hooks giving way. All I knew was that we had to sort out the situation. Fortunately, viewers went along with it. They were just hollering for more. Nothing prepares us for that kind of love,” said Sobti.
Such a frenzied reactions from fans [mostly women] are expected. Viewers will recall his decision to quit the hit serial Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Do evoked extreme reactions from fans, with hate mail pouring in and dramatic threats that they would set themselves on fire if he didn’t change his decision. The serial — TV’s answer to a Mills & Boon romance — saw Sobti playing callous, smouldering business tycoon Arnav Singh Raizada, who discovers love in the dainty Khushi Kumari Gupta.
“It’s going to be my sixth million time that I am going to say this: it was my health issues that made me quit. I had no film offers in hand at that time,” said Sobti. His fan Gupta was quick to put things into perspective.
“It was a pleasure to watch them on screen and they were so graceful together. They bowed out gracefully and the serial ended in a dignified manner,” said Gupta who watches Hindi TV serials daily with her mother from 7-11pm.
In July, Sobti will make his Bollywood debut in Main Aur Mr Right, romancing former VJ Shenaz Treasurywala in the romantic comedy.
“Working in a TV serial or a film isn’t very different. You just have to give it your all in front of the camera,” said the actor. Bringing to mind the old adage that the camera adds ten pounds, both Sobti and Dogra turned their faces away from the goodies that came along when refreshments were served.
“We just had tea,” they said in unison.
But after some prodding they took a tiny bite of some baklava. Our guess: it was their lone sugar treat of the week. With no starry airs, it was endearing to hear them discuss their shopping plans in Dubai. After their visit to Gupta’s residence, mall-trawling was at the top of their agenda.
“We have been busy rehearsing all week, but now it’s time for some fun. I want to buy at least three sunglassses. I saw so many good ones, the golden-rimmed ones will look fantastic on the big screen,” said Sobti. His parting message?
“Piracy is like cheating. Each time you download a song or a movie illegally, you are eroding the fabric of our entertainment industry,” said Sobti.
* Sony is telecasting the Pehla home visit on May 17.
