Amitabh Bachchan makes a paan

In this week’s episode of Lift Kara De, Karan Johar has none other than superstar Amitabh Bachchan
as his guest. What is more interesting is that all the studio audience, Bachchan’s fans, turned up looking like one of the characters played by the star. There’s Anthony from Amar Akbar Anthony, Vijay Dinanath Chauhan from Agneepath and a Shahenshah lookalike to name a few. Some of them even narrated lines from his films
. When asked about what prompted him to wave out to his fans every Sunday, from his bungalow at Juhu, Bachchan revealed that it started when a fan of his came to meet him all the way from Vadodara on foot. This was post the accident that he had met with on the sets of Coolie. So touched was the superstar that as soon he was intimated of his arrival, he personally came out to greet him and since then the tradition continues. He confessed that whenever he is in Mumbai he still waves out to his fans every Sunday! On the show Bachchan even made a paan and whoever narrated his dialogues the best got the special paan - wonder if it was a paan Banaraswala?

Chetanya to debut in RGV film
Chetanya Adib, who plays Anandi’s father in Balika Vadhu, is all set to make his film debut in Ram Gopal Varma’s Rakta Charitra. Chetanya has been pencilled in to play a negative role. The actor got noticed by one of RGV’s associates who introduced him to the director. “He asked me to send my pictures first, did a look test and then I was on board,” says Chetanya. In this intense political drama, Chetanya claims to be playing a key character in the film. Incidentally, the actor has also been a part of popular serials like Saat Phere andWoh Rehnewali Mehlon Ki earlier. Now that he has a film in his kitty, Chetanya wants to be careful about the roles he chooses on the small-screen. “I have been getting numerous offers but they are similar to what I am doing in Balika Vadhu. I want challenging roles,” he informs. Even in Balika... his role as Bapusa will see some changes as he tries to avenge the humiliation meted out to him by Maasa and Mahavir Singh. “So far, my role was that of a simple, humble villager and had no variations to it but now he will have shades of grey to his character,” he informs.

Priyanka Chopra to host Greenathon
Priyanka Chopra is all set to host a live telethon show The Greenathon to be aired on NDTV India and Profit on March 6 and 7. Last year, the show was hosted by Preity Zinta. An entertainment-packed show, it had performances by popular film stars like Madhuri Dixit. The 24 hour show educates viewers about global warming and appeals for donations that are used to provide solar power in villages. It raised close to two-and-a-half crore last year. Says Namit Sharma, Business Head, Television, Wizcraft that is co-producing the show with NDTV, “This year the money will be donated to Nobel Prize winner Pachauri’s The Energy And Resources Institute that helps in electrifying villages.”

Taarak.. completes 300 episodes
The numero uno show on SAB TV, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, has completed 300 episodes recently. The team threw a party to celebrate the occasion. All actors from the show including Shailesh Lodha (Taarak Mehta), Shweta Bhosle (Anjali Mehta), Dilip Joshi (Jethalal) and Disha Wakani (Daya Bhabhi) were seen at the bash. Anooj Kapoor, Business Head, SAB, said, “The show has been an all-time favourite and is already the world’s longest-running daily family comedy show.” “We believe in spreading positive messages and meaningful entertainment that can be enjoyed by the entire family,” says producer of the show Asitkumarr Modi. The show based on popular Gujarati columnist Taarak Mehta predominantly revolves around ‘Jethalaal’ (Dilip Joshi) who is an uneducated Gujarati businessman and finds a great friend and philosopher in his neighbour Taarak Mehta.

Science Mein Twist
Science Mein Twist, an easy and enjoyable way of learning science, has been launched on NatGeo recently. The show co-produced by Miditech with the department of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences is a 10-part series that combines curriculum and science that can be applied in everyday life. Talking about the show Niret Alva, chairman, Miditech says, “The show is made for youngsters, which is why we have tried a fun and interesting way to approach science with two kids 16-year old Khyati and 13-year old Avik anchoring it. We are hoping to set a benchmark with this show.” Topics from sound to space and from genetics to geo-sciences will be covered on the show. As for choosing Avik and Khyati as hosts, Niret says that they needed a boy and girl who could explain things without being geeks. “They play scientific pranks on one another, meet experts, visit labs, factories and even go on a trek,” says Niret. The weekly show started airing from February 8 at 4.30 pm.

Sameer’s a mill- owner in City Of Gold
Sameer Dharmadhikari, who is currently playing the role of King Gangadhar in Jhansi Ki Rani, will soon be seen in Mahesh Manjrekar’s film City Of Gold. The film, based in Mumbai, deals with the aftermath of mill closure. Sameer plays the role of a mill-owner. Talking about the film, Sameer says, “I got a call from Maheshdada that he was doing a film and he wanted me in it. I agreed immediately because if Mahesh is making a film, I know it will be good.” He was impressed with the story that deals with many issues faced by Mumbaites. “There are many parallel tracks besides the mill issue, which I am not completely aware of,” reveals Sameer, who plays a London returned MBA and a shrewd businessman. The actor’s last release was the National award-winning Marathi film Nirop, which he produced and acted.