Reel parents better than real

This is what happened to one of the couple, Gurmeet and Debina of Pati Patni Aur Woh. Soon the show will see the teenage group coming in the show where in the kid given to this particular couple refused to go with his real parents.

“Yes it’s true that the kid given to us got so attached that he refused to leave us and go to his real parents. That was the most difficult moment for us as we know what all things we had to do to get him back with his real family,” said Debina.

Elaborating more on that particular moment, the actress adds, “There were limitations for us as the kid was not ours but somebody else. The main factor was that we cannot yell at them neither can do anything that makes them cry so we had to behave in a very calm manner.”

“What ever he demanded from us, we tried and gave it to him and I think this is what made him feel more comfortable with us. His real parents were strict with him but we weren’t and thus he refused to go back to them. We had to trap him in such a manner that he gets out of the house. What was the idea is something you need to wait and watch,” she concludes.

Pati Patni Aur Woh has definitely got its share by gearing more and more eyeballs. Let’s see who at the end will become a dotting parent.

Elesh Parujanwala says , I am shocked by Rakhi's allegations

It's Elesh turn to get even with Rakhi Sawant now. The beau, selected through a reality show, has had a tough time since he got engaged to Rakhi especially after she leveled various accusations at him.

Talking about his incompatibility with the item babe, he says, “I tried my best to understand this woman, but failed. I tried to know her past, I tried to understand her moves. I tried everything, but failed.

On the contrary, Rakhi never tried to understand where I am coming from. Her notion about NRIs is so limited. I think it is based only on watching movies and TV. Rakhi needs to understand that real life is different from reel life."

To begin with, Elesh is amused that Rakhi did not want to stay in his hometown, Toronto after marrying him.

He elaborates, “Honestly, I never told her to settle in Toronto. She can always travel back and forth. What’s wrong if I suggested that if and when we have a baby, he/she should be born in Toronto? I have my parents there and they would be a support system to my family. Anything wrong with that?”

Hitting back on Rakhi’s accusation that he is financially not stable, Elesh says, “What does she mean by saying that I don’t have money? That’s all so stupid and unnecessary.

I am studying and have decided not to take money from my parents. I want to be an independent person. Am I doing something bad?”

Deeply hurt and angered by Rakhi’s attempts to malign his image he adds, "Frankly, I am shocked by the allegations. Anybody else in my place would have sunk into depression. Had it not been for the support of my family, I don’t know what would have happened to me.

I do realise people have their own reasons to try to make others feel small and bad in the eyes of the public, so that they can gain sympathy. Part of being in Bollywood, I guess. But I am hurt.

The controversy and the humiliation that I have been put through; the name calling to mar my character has hurt my family and me tremendously.”

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Sushmita Sen to reveal secrets of her past life

The new realty show 'Raaz Pichle Janam Ka' which is lined up to be on air on ndtv imagine in the mid or last of November will reveal the secrets of the beauty queen ex- miss universe Sushmita Sen in its very first episode.

You got it right , after judging the dance realty show ‘ Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena' now Sushmita Sen will be seen uncovering her secrets from the past life .

The new series ‘Raaz Pichle Janam Ka' is weaved on the concept of one's deeds in the last life which tend to hamper the present life. All the task will be done under the vigilant guidance of Dr Trupti Jain, who herself will take the participants back to their past lives and will help them resolve a problem in their present life, which is believed to be due to one's deeds in their past lifetime.

The audiences will see many other celebrities on the show , the names of which have been concealed. But in the effort of getting the celebrities in the show , the show producers also went up to Rekha, who once again declined the proposal of making any appearance in media. She is too traumatized by all the controversies which she has been a part of all her life to take a risk another controversy by revealing her secrets from the past life.

'Raaz Pichle Janam Ka' has the famous Bhojpuri actor and Bigg Boss -1 finalist ‘ Ravi Kishan as the host . It will be yet another string to connect the audiences to the show. The date and time slot for the show has not still been finalized.

After making the celebrities do 'Sach Ka Saamna' facing their present life truths , it will be more intriguing to watch the celebrities' deeds in the past lives. So, are you ready!

Tough time for Elesh

Celeb couples on NDTV Imagine’s Pati, Patni Aur Woh are experiencing all kinds of surprises! Recently, the couples were in for a sweet surprise when they were given two pre-teen kids and cute pets.

Juhi and Shilpa – true animal lovers – were more interested in knowing the schedule of the dogs, rather than that of the kids. Debina was so excited, that she made it very loud and clear to Gurmeet that she too wants a pet in their own house, whether he likes it or not. Mouni-Gaurav, Rakhi-Elesh were the unlucky ones who did not get pets. Elesh got a shock when they were given three daughters! His concern was genuine, as handling one woman was getting difficult for him, now he would have to handle four women at a time. This and a lot more is happening on the show. Watch Pati Patni Aur Woh, Monday-Friday at 10.30 pm on NDTV Imagine.

Elesh Parujanwala slams Rakhi Sawant

It has all along been Rakhi Sawant who has regularly taken digs at Elesh Parujanwala after she got engaged to him on Rakhi Ka Swayamvar. But for the first time the Canadian NRI has broken his dignified silence and slammed his once bride-to-be Rakhi. Elesh who had come to Mumbai to set up a business is deeply hurt by Rakhi's regular outburst and attempts to malign his image in front of the media.

Elesh said that he tried his best to understand Rakhi and make the relationship work but he has failed. He said he tried to know her past and adjust with her lifestyle but there was no cooperation from the item girl's part. He accused Rakhi of never attempting to understand him and having developed a notion about NRIs watching Bollywood movies. Elesh who is taking part in the reality show Pati Patni Aur Woh with Rakhi said she was unable to separate reel life from real.

Slamming Rakhi's argument that he wasn't financially stable he said he was studying and had decided not to take money from his parents and be independent. He said he was shocked when Rakhi even had problems settling in his home town Toronto. He said he wasn't wrong in asking her to settle there and have kids with her. Elesh said it was only his family's support that has not let him go into depression as any other man trying to have a relationship with Rakhi would surely suffer from depression.

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Rakhi's romance interrupted by real parents!

When Rakhi and Elesh got mushy in front of Kubair in NDTV Imagine’s Pati Patni aur Woh, the kid’s real life parents angrily interrupted.

Rakhi Sawant and Elesh Parujanwala, had to confront angry parents after they got intimate in front of their pre-teen kid Kubair on NDTV Imagine's Pati Patni aur Woh.

According to our source, "Rakhi happened to accuse Elesh of having a soft-corner for the show's hottie – Mouni Roy. This led to a huge argument between the two. It got so bad that they even decided to split up!"

However, the course of events took a sudden U-turn. Adds the source, "Unexpectedly, the whole environment changed and within some time they started coochy-cooing with each other. This angered Kubair's parents a lot. Apparently they had their eyes glued to the screens in the monitor room!"

What followed was a nice dressing down for Rakhi and Elesh from Kubair's parents. Says our source, "They strongly objected to Rakhi and Elesh's public display of affection. They frankly expressed their displeasure over their irresponsible behavior."

But Rakhi being an expert in tackling controversies, simply put the whole blame on Elesh. Says our source, "It was hilarious to see Rakhi smoothly slipping the noose over Elesh instead! She blamed him for getting naughty with her. What's more she also said she was just being a dutiful Indian girl who goes by every single wish of her betrothed!

Pati Patni aur Woh-fight between Shilpa & Lakshya’s parents

Today is the day when all the kids will leave their celebrity parents and go back to their own parents. It is an every emotional day also for all of them. The celebrities have gotten attached to their kids and the real parents are also anxious to meet their children.

Rakhi asks Elesh to maintain a reasonable physical distance between both of them. Kuber’s parents come with gifts. His mother blames Rakhi that she didn’t give him enough space as he is used to at home. Rakhi is quite sad at this allegation and tries to defend herself. His mother says that out of both of them Elesh is the clear winner as he was a better parent.

Then at Shilpa’s house, the real parents come to take their kid Lakshya and they are so unhappy with Shilpa and Apoorva’s behavior and the way in which their child was handled. A full on blame game ensues between both the parties. Shilpa who is an ex-play schoolteacher is also full of complaints about their kid and his unresponsiveness towards them. She also talks about the limitations set by the production house but the parents are not convinced at all. Apoorva tries his best to cool them down and make peace.

At Debina’s house, Kriti doesn’t want to go. When her parents come, then Gurmeet in a very polite way asks them to make their daughter more out-going and social, as right now she is very shy and hates parties. They ask her to make her more social.

At Gaurav’s house, Fateh’s parents are very happy with the way their child has been kept and praise Mouni and Gaurav a lot. They say that Fateh got the same environment that he gets at home, here on the show too.

At Juhi’s house, Kriti’s parents bring gifts and praise Sachin for teaching their daughter Sorry, Thank You and Welcome. They also say that Juhi and Sachin would make great parents and keep their children very happy too.

Pati, Patni Aur Woh tested my marriage: Juhi Parmar

How was the experience of being on a reality show with cameras capturing each and every moment of yours?

Ideally, when people talk of being on the camera 24/7, they say that they cannot be themselves. However, that doesn’t hold true for me. I do not believe in any sort of manipulation or diplomacy. I reacted very naturally to each situation. There were some situations that were created for us and even there, I reacted spontaneously, being true to myself. At the end of it all, the show was a mixture of both good and bad.

What got both Sachin and you to participate in the show?

In your normal life, when a couple fights, there will always be others, family or friends, to help out with issues and facilitate communication. However, in such a situation, when it’s just you and your spouse, you are compelled to find solutions to your own problems. It’s just been a couple of months to our marriage and we’re still in the process of discovering ourselves within it. We felt the show would be a place that would test our marriage as an institution. So we could either emerge with a strong relationship or a weak one. But thankfully, we have emerged super-strong with a better understanding of each other.

Were you considering having kids before the show?

No, not at all. Again, we have been married only for a couple of months now. Earlier, yes, I was considering it at some point in life. However, after the show, I have realised that parenting is a full-time job and the child becomes the sole priority! So, definitely not for the next couple of years.

Was it difficult letting go of the kids after a certain number of days because obviously there does develop some kind of an attachment?

It was difficult. But it’s not possible to have an attachment with each and every child. The connection with each child is very different. So you can’t connect in the same way with each and every child. For me, I think, the child I was most attached to was the first kid, the infant boy. When he left, I even cried bitterly. Unfortunately, with the toddlers, there was no attachment whatsoever. They kept howling for their mother and in fact, wanted to go back home as well. So the focus was not on forming a bond or anything with them but more of consoling them. I got attached to the girl child who came after the toddlers. She was a complete mama’s girl and I really shared something very special with her. When she left, I was extremely upset.

It is often said that once a child comes into your life, the equation between the husband and wife changes. Did you see a different side to your husband?

Once a child comes into the picture, the husband takes a backseat and the father comes in the forefront. Everything needs to be thought from the child’s perspective then. The child’s demands are considered top priority. We may not want to do something but we will end up doing it because the child wants to do it. For example, during the Diwali party, we wives had put up a show for our hubbies and I was extremely excited about it. But since our girl, being a little one, was tired and sleepy, we had to head back home. We didn’t want to but we did for the child’s sake. Even for me, my role as a wife took a backseat and the mommy role came first. Sachin’s transition would have probably shocked me if perhaps I hadn’t undergone the same. But we both realised that the child was a priority.

What was the most memorable moment during the show?

It is very difficult to point out any one memorable moment. There are so many. Perhaps, my strongest moment was when the infant boy left and I cried. It was really heart wrenching to see him leave. Another very special moment was when the girl child came up to me and told me that she liked me better than her own mom and that she wouldn’t leave me. It really touched my heart. It was actually a very sentimental moment for me because preceding this, the whole fiasco with the toddlers had taken place. Just that simple act of affection from the little girl meant a lot.

Out of the remaining couples, which couple do you think will eventually make fantastic parents?

Now that I, myself, am watching the show on air, I am actually quite surprised with the way the couples are dealing with their children. See, parenting comes naturally and no parent is bad. Each couple has a different way of dealing with their kids and no way is wrong. It is extremely unfair if I say that one couple is good and another one is bad. This was a different experience for all of us and we all dealt with it differently. For instance, Gurmeet and Debina bring their humour to taking care of the child and the child enjoys it. Gaurav has a different way of taking care of the child and so does Mouni. Rakhi, for instance, is constantly bubbling with energy and she completely entertains the child, which is also needed.

So, what after Pati, Patni aur Woh?

Well, I have returned to my show, Yeh Chanda Kanoon Hai which has now become a bi-weekly. Sachin, unfortunately, couldn’t take up any shows at the beginning of Pati, Patni aur Woh, because it required a long schedule of dates. So now he’s in talks for a number of shows.

Elesh gets his revenge on Rakhi

Elesh Parujanwala may have been the lucky suitor to win over Rakhi Sawant among 16 contestants on Rakhi Ka Swayamvar, but he has wisened up to one fact fast — Mother Mary she ain’t.

Elesh, who came to Mumbai with hopes of settling down with the controversy queen, has been at the centre of controversy himself, thanks to Rakhi’s outbursts.

The man is deeply hurt and angered by Rakhi’s attempts to malign his image with her accusations of his financial instability and his plans to relocate to Toronto post-marriage with her. So far, Elesh had maintained a dignified silence, but having been pushed too far, he now sets the record straight. There is a distinct sadness in his eyes and voice when he speaks about Rakhi.

Elesh says that he tried his best to make the relationship work. Talking about his incompatibility with Rakhi, he says, “I tried my best to understand this woman, but failed. I tried to know her past, I tried to understand her moves. I tried everything, but failed. On the contrary, Rakhi never tried to understand where I am coming from. Her notion about NRIs is so limited. I think it is based only on watching movies and TV. Rakhi needs to understand that real life is different from reel life.”

To begin with, Elesh is amused that Rakhi did not want to stay in his hometown, Toronto after marrying him. He elaborates, “Honestly, I never told her to settle in Toronto. She can always travel back and forth. What’s wrong if I suggested that if and when we have a baby, he/she should be born in Toronto? I have my parents there and they would be a support system to my family. Anything wrong with that?”

Commenting on Rakhi’s accusation that Elesh is financially not stable, he says, “What does she mean by saying that I don’t have money? That’s all so stupid and unnecessary. I am studying and have decided not to take money from my parents. I want to be an independent person. Am I doing something bad?”

Clearly, Elesh has realised that Rakhi has used his name to play to the gallery and get her nautanki’s worth of airtime. Getting more vociferous, he says, “Frankly, I am shocked by the allegations. Anybody else in my place would have sunk into depression. Had it not been for the support of my family, I don’t know what would have happened to me. I do realise people have their own reasons to try to make others feel small and bad in the eyes of the public, so that they can gain sympathy. Part of being in Bollywood, I guess. But I am hurt. The controversy and the humiliation that I have been put through; the name calling to mar my character has hurt my family and me tremendously.”

Jackie Shroff keen to know 'Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka'

They dreaded to come on 'Sach ka saamna', but our celebrities are not averse to unraveling the mysteries of their previous lives.

After Sanjay Dutt and Sushmita Sen, it's Jackie Shroff and Shekhar Suman who have evinced interest in the show. Sources say that the two have already signed on the dotted line.

When asked whether he's appearing on the show, Shroff gave us a strange reply, "bhidu kya?"

Shekhar Suman didn't reply.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Dutt, who was initially supposed to be the first contestant, will now be appearing at a later stage.

'Dutt didn't have dates now and so he'll be shooting at a later stage. It's now Sushmita Sen who'll come in the inaugural episode," said a source.

'Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka' is hosted by Ravi Kissen.

Neil Nitin Mukesh will be seen in NDTV Imagine's upcoming show Raaz...Pichhle Janam Ka

Barely had the buzz regarding the personal details of Sach Ka Saamna contestants died down, NDTV Imagine's upcoming show 'RAAZ… PICHHLE JANAM KA will uncover the hidden secret of past lives of well known Bollywood stars and common people as well.

According to our source Jail hero, Neil Nitin Mukesh has signed the dotted line. Talks are also on with Sushmita Sen and Karisma Kapoor, but no final decision has been reached. The names of Kapil Dev, Shekhar Suman and Jackie Shroff, Laloo Prasad Yadav, Saif Ali Khan and others are also being considered. Yesteryears diva Rekha declined apparently saying that enough has been said about her present life and she would not want people to talk about her past as well.

Bhojpuri super star Ravi Kissan will be anchoring the show. This Big Idea produced show will apparently air in November or December this year.

According to our source, "As opposed to popular belief the journey into previous lives is not based on hypnosis rather there is a proper science called Past Live Regression. Well known clinical psychologist Dr. Trupti Jayin will use conscious meditative techniques to recover past lives memories of the participants. It helps addressing fears, phobias and even physical ailments in our present day lives by finding their roots in previous lives. Hindu scriptures talk about karma hence what we did in the past may have a bearing on our current lives".

The channel is quite kicked about this home grown format and feels that the dramatic recreations of the images that flash in the minds of people undergoing Past Life Regression will make for interesting reality television.

When contacted Neil denied doing the show saying, "I had been approached but could not do as it is time consuming and right now, I'm slightly tied up. Otherwise its an interesting idea".

Marriage is definitely on the cards – Mouni Roy

Mouni Roy tells how her unplanned life is marvelous and how her new show Comedy Circus- Teen Ka Tadka on Sony, allows to pamper herself with amazing dresses!

Mouni Roy, who is presently seen in NDTV Imagine's Pati, Patni aur Woh along with beau Gaurav Chopra, will now be seen as the host on Sony TV's Comedy Circus- Teen Ka Tadka.

Why did you take up Comedy Circus-3?

Anchoring seemed appealing because of the nice clothes I'd get to wear (laughs)! No, but apart from that the show has done well in all of its seasons and it was only an honor that I'd get to be a part of this show. I have seen the performance of the participants and it reflects the fact that they belong to the cream of talent that this country has to offer.

Do you think you have it in you to be a participant?

(Sighs) Like I said, the show represents the top talents of our country. You need a lot of energy, passion, focus and dedication to compete with them. I'm not sure whether I want to pitch myself against them. But I would have loved to be a participant nevertheless.

Is it your conscious decision to stay away from fiction?

Well, it's not a conscious decision. But that, fiction shows aren't happening in my life is favorable to me. Daily shows completely exhaust you. They drain you physically and mentally. You lose your imagination and creativity by acting out the scripts churned out by other people day in and day out. The lack of variety makes your life dreary. You kind of lose sight of your motive. So reality show was a refreshing change and now again hosting is completely new. So I'm glad things have been automatically happening to me.

So will we be seeing you make wisecracks?

I don't know…depends on the script. If I'm allowed to I will.

Did you enjoy your Pati Patni aur Woh experience?

I kind of enjoyed it.

Didn't you find it tough?

To be frank enough, apart from the physical strain it was a cakewalk.

Seriously?

Yes, I had some of the best times of my life with Shaurya. He was definitely one of the cutest kids on the show. But the hardest part came after Gaurav left for work. Shaurya never liked the walker. So I was like…now within five hours I've got to cook, do the laundry but how do I do it with Shaurya acting so naughty?! It was very tiring to go running around the house!

What would you say was the most trying thing?

The fact that I was under constant surveillance by eight cameras around the house! Honestly, being under the microscope takes a toll on you. I knew that I won't jeopardize the safety of the child yet the cameras always made me more nervous about handling the kid. Further, I had to calculate my every move so as to be presentable in front of the camera. Probably in real life, you could just lose your cool with your baby around, but I couldn't do that.

Has being in the show changed your relationship with Gaurav?

Excuse me. I didn't get your question?

Has being in the show helped your relationship grow with Gaurav?

Yes, definitely. Here all the theoretical aspects that any couple considers a few years down the line in their relationship became practical for us through the show. We had to do tasks together, got to spend so much time together. So that has only helped my relationship grow with Gaurav.

So are you guys now ready to tie the knot?

Well, marriage is definitely on the cards but just not so soon.

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Mouni and Gaurav relationship going all right

Mouni and Gaurav relationship going sour had been the talk for a while but the actress clears the air on the same. In a recent press conference she talked how Pati Patni Aur Woh helped them to develop their rapport.

When asked about her experience in PPW, the actress quips, “To be frank enough it was a cake walk for us. The only problem was that there was lot of physical activity which was very tiring,” says Mouni.

There was a buzz that things are not fine between Mouni and Gaurav but she clears the air by stating that, “We had enjoyed a lot and learnt many things, especially cooking. All together it was a wonderful experience.”

When asked of marriage, Mouni quips, “Definitely it’s in our mind but not so soon.”

This shows how strong their bond is. Hope this put a full stop to the buzz of their split.

Rakhi Sawant , a super mom on Pati Patni Aur Woh

Rakhi Sawant in Pati Patni Aur Woh during the Baccha party that was organised, had really played a vital role for kids as she was to host the baccha mandali of all the celebs participated in the show. Our khabroo informs, "Rakhi was all geared up and had planned a lot of fun activities for the bachcha party, right from French fries to French toast and from strawberry milkshake to Chinese noodles. The super mommy Rakhi enthusiastically prepared an elaborate menu of everything that kids love eating."

"Ms. Sawant was back in action as she made everyone pray in a hip hop style to the towel Ganpati. They played musical chairs and learnt to make different objects with clay from their favourite Rakhi aunty. All this does not stop here, as on popular demand from the kids she also did a small jig with them," source quips. Khabroo goes on, " Elesh was no less than Rakhi as he started jumping all over the house pretending to be a monkey and added more fun to the party. The party ended with the kid of the week Kirti, by getting a cake for her birthday."


"All the kids had a good time with Rakhi aunty and Elesh uncle and were reluctant to go back to their respective houses the next morning," concludes the source. we must say that Rakhi had really made an effort by not just gifting the kids but also by managing them so well, isn't it?

Rakhi Sawant recently hosted a pyjama party for the baccha mandali of all the celebrity couples on Pati Patni Aur Woh.

The kids, who arrived with their celebrity parents, were dressed up for the occasion. They wore cute night dresses. From French fries to French toast and strawberry milkshake to noodles, Rakhi enthusiastically prepared an elaborate meal including all those dishes that kids love eating. The kids had a blast.

And it was not just Rakhi’s culinary skills that got the kids happy, she went ahead and amused the kids by making an elephant out of a towel, an art that she learnt during her housekeeping job.

Sawant even made everyone pray in a hip hop style to the towel ‘Ganpati’. And on a popular demand from the kids she also did a small jig for them. Elesh was no less as he started jumping all over the house pretending to be a monkey and to add more fun to the party, he started a pillow fight with the kids.

Well, the party just didn’t end here as Debina and Gurmeet gave a surprise to their kid of the week Kirti, by getting a cake for her birthday.

Ravi Kissen to quiz Sanjay Dutt on his past life

You’ve faced the truth on 'Sach Ka Saamna', now be prepared to unravel the truth about your previous life.

Soon NDTV Imagine will be launching a first of its kind show where celebrity contestants will come to know about his/her previous life. Tentatively titled as 'Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka ', this show will be hosted by actor Ravi Kissen.

A reliable source informs, "Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka is being hosted by Ravi Kissen. It's produced by The Ideas Box. The basic format of the show is that celebrity contestants will be hypnotised and then quizzed about their previous lives. The first celebrity on the show is Sanjay Dutt. Ravi Kissen has been finalised as the host. The show will air on NDTV Imagine. It's still not clear whether it will be a daily or a weekly show. The channel and the production are keeping the details under wraps."

Despite repeated attempts, Ravi Kissen remained unavailable for comment. We sent a text message to The Ideas Box vice president, programming head Sarita Joshi but she didn't reply. Imagine programming head Shailja Kejriwal too remained unavailable for comment.

The Ideas Box is the TV wing of Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Media, which has brands such as Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle and Karadi Tales to its credit.

Celebrity couples go all out to train and dress the toddlers for the show

As per the format of the show the couples are asked to fulfill their duties of parenthood along with the other social obligations like earning their living, entertaining relatives and taking part in other activities like parties and picnics.

This week the celebrity couples move on to the second stage of taking care of the toddlers with the challenging task of dressing them up for a fancy dress competition. All the couples were excited about dressing up their loved ones. Debina and Gurmeet decided to dress baby Lakshay as Hanuman, while Rakhi and Elesh dressed up little Sia like a pretty fairy in a cute pink dress. Apurva and Shilpa surprised everyone by dressing up Hunar like Basanti from the film Sholay. In the end, the parents were proud of their children. Now, we must say that all the couples seem to have taken up the responsibility of parenthood seriously.

Juhi-Sachin walk out of Pati Patni Aur Woh

There is lots of drama stored in for the viewers and lovers of the show Pati Patni Aur Woh. Recently there was new entry of bit elder kids in the houses of the jodi which turned out to be a nightmare for one of the couple, Juhi Parmar and Sachin Shroff.

“The couple this time got twins in the house who made their living even more difficult. Juhi could not take the stress and felt that channel and production house is being unfair thus she packs her bag and leaves the house with Sachin,” chirps the source.

Elaborating more on this high drama by one of the famous on screen bahu, our source adds, “Juhi was totally frustrated and could not handle the kids. She had been requesting the production house for some solution but when her plea was left unheard, she decided to take this harsh step. Sharad Kelkar came for the rescue of the duo and to solve the problem but Juhi was so furious that she refused to listen to anyone and just rushed out of the house with hubby and kids,” quips the source.

Though finally the channel managed to get them back! “The channel went to the couple and sorted out things. They with Sharad had a long conversation with Juhi-Sachin and finally they agreed to come back on the show but with their terms and conditions,” concludes the source.

Debina Bonnerjee, Gurmeet Chaudhary to marry by year-end

Gurmeet Chaudhary and Debina Bonnerjee, who played Ram and Sita in the mythological serial “Ramayan”, may tie the knot at the end of the year.
“We are very happy and excited about this (wedding). We are trying that it happens this year only,” Debina told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

“My parents were out of India. They returned just three days back. Now they want to meet Gurmeet and since my mom believes a lot in matching kundlis (horoscope), we will have to wait for all that before we fix up a date. Gurmeet also has to formally ask my parents for my hand,” she added.

The couple ran into each other five years back during a Mr & Mrs Bollywood event. They have been in a relationship since four and a half years, played Ram and Sita for “Ramayan” for two years, but decided to enter wedlock after doing NDTV Imagine’s ongoing reality show “Pati Patni Aur Woh”.

The show features five celebrity couples taking care of kids of various age groups at different stages.

According to Gurmeet, looking at Debina handling house chores as well as managing a child with ease, encouraged him to take their relationship to the next level.

“We have been seeing each for more than four years. After being on the show for a month, we know how our future would be. We got more time with each other, learnt that managing a house and raising children have to be a two-way effort. And looking at Debina doing it so well, I felt even more for her,” said Gurmeet.

Within the second week of the show itself, Gurmeet popped the question to Debina in true Bollywood style. He bent down on his knees, presented her a ring and asked her to marry him.

Debina, who was left “shocked”, however, gracefully accepted his proposal.

“I had never seen anyone going down on his knees and proposing to a girl - it was always confined to TV and films. But when Guru (Gurmeet) did this, I stood still for a few minutes.

“Whenever we used to visit a good restaurant, I used to tell him that this is how you must propose to me and everyone should look at us, etc. But I always thought he doesn’t take my suggestions seriously. When he actually went down on his knees on a national platform, I understood that he had been taking it seriously and that was the element of surprise for me,” said Debina.

Now the two actors are set to engage themselves in various activities in the runup to their marriage. And till then, they are only screening the work that is coming their way.

“We are getting a lot of work together but right now we need a break. We were shooting non stop for two years for ‘Ramayan’ and then immediately after that went into ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh’. So we need a break from cameras for a while,” said Debina.

Elesh makes Rakhi jealous

It’s been hardly a day into the toddler phase in Pati, Patni Aur Woh, and Elesh Parujanwala and Rakhi Sawant have already had their first petty Rakhi Sawant tiffs.

Rakhi had made it clear to Elesh that she wanted to go to work, while he should stay at home and take care of baby Sia.

However, Elesh was worried about staying at home and looking after the kid, especially cooking for the baby, but Rakhi was adamant and they ended up having a fight.

Rakhi went to work in the housekeeping department and learnt the art of folding towels in different styles as well as cleaning the windows.

Meanwhile, Elesh and Sia bonded well. Elesh, who put in his best, gave his little girl a bath, dressed her up and also took her to the play school. On returning home, a tired Rakhi was heartbroken at Sia’s indifference and complained that her absence from home did not allow Sia to bond with her.

However, that’s not all! She argued that Elesh is a typical male chauvinist, who wants her to stay at home. To take a closer look into this household, tune in to Pati, Patni Aur Woh tonight at 10.30 pm on NDTV Imagine.

Karwa Chaut Special in Pati Patni aur Woh.

While Juhi and Shilpa refused to keep a vrath, Mouni and Debina had a whale of a time as they performed the Karwa Chaut rituals in Imagine's Pati Patni aur Woh.

The festival of Karwa Chaut came too early for the celebrity couples who recently shot in Goa for the show on NDTV Imagine, Pati Patni aur Woh.

While the married ladies all over the globe celebrated the auspicious day on October 7th, the ladies in the Imagine show, Juhi Parmar, Shilpa Agnihotri, Rakhi Sawant, Mouni Roy and Debinna were asked to shoot for it much earlier.

According to our source, "This brought about a mixed reaction. While the unmarried girls Mouni and Debinna were thrilled to keep a vrat for their partners, Juhi and Shilpa who are already married refused to keep the vrat".

"Juhi and Shilpa felt that it was not proper of them to keep the vrat for their husbands on a wrong day. They had a talk with the team and came to a conclusion that they will not keep a vrat in the show", adds our source.

However, Mouni and Debina had a whale of a time, celebrating the occasion. The Karwa Chaut episode will be aired tonight.

As per our source, "Rakhi too did not keep the vrat and moved away from the rituals, saying that she did not have the energy to go on a fast after managing the kid as well as the home. Besides, she is a Maharastrian and they do not have a custom like Karwa Chaut. They observe only Vaad Savitri".

We spoke to Juhi Parmar who explained that, "Actually, this was to be my first Karwa Chaut after marriage. And above all, the day they asked us to shoot was actually not the Karwa Chaut day. I believe in performing the rituals on the right day, and so refused to fast when we shot on the show".

All the couples had a gala time as their family members had come to Goa to be with them during the occasion.

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Pati, patni aur protest

NGO launches signature campaign to protest ill treatment meted to infants on a reality show

Although the petition filed by Pune Childline, a NGO, against the television show Pati, Patni Aur Woh received a cold response, Dnyanadevi Anuradha Sahasrabuddhe, president of the organisation, is in no mood to give up.

On her request, Bal Sena, the NGO's child crusader unit, has started a signature campaign to protest against the treatment meted to infants on the show. The unit aims to collect 5,000 signatures by tomorrow.

"The channel has exploited the infants for TRPs. We will not rest until action is taken against the show," said Rucha Gadre (16), who collected 52 signatures yesterday. Gautami Joshi (13), another member, collected over 60 signatures from a single school yesterday.

Sahasrabuddhe said they will send the signatures and a handwritten letter by Bal Sena crusaders to the channel and other organisations.

Juhi Parmar's appeal to her fans

Juhi Parmar is pretty upset about the fact that she has been shown in negative light in NDTV Imagine's Pati Patni aur Woh. Here is she addressing her fans with her clarification

Juhi Parmar and Sachin Shroff, one of the couples taking part in NDTV Imagine's Pati Patni aur Woh are pretty livid at the recent newspaper reports that have spoken about Juhi not being the 'Pati Vrata Bahu' that she had been portraying for years on screen as Kumkum.

Juhi feels that her fans have been reacting badly to her negative image being shown in the show. "I want to clarify to my fans that I am the same Juhi who they have been idolizing for years now. I have always been transparent and blunt; a person who will not mince words and will say what comes to mind, even if it is before the camera. But Pati Patni aur Woh has been edited out in such a way that the entire situation is not brought in front of the viewers. We were before the camera for 24 hours in a day, and what you get to see is just 2-3 minutes of Juhi expressing her anger on something. But what triggered this, and what happened before is not shown at all", she states.

It was also reported in papers that an angry and grumpy Juhi made Sachin wear the empathy belly, courtesy her tiny back ache. But Juhi retorts to this news and says, "I had suffered a tail bone injury in my back, and have been living with a troubled back for nine years now. And this empathy belly weighs more than 15 kg, from the outside which was really dangerous for my back. When a woman is really pregnant, the belly is from within and your body is able to withstand the extra weight. But here the case was different. While Apoorva was allowed to put the empathy belly on, they argued that I should be putting on my belly in spite of me telling them about my back problem. That is why I asked Sachin to put it on".

"All they have shown is that Juhi gets up very late in the morning, but what is the reason for this? It is because she was taking care of Rudransh staying awake till 5 am in the morning. They did show a scene of Sachin sweeping the corridor outside, but they did not show for once Juhi cleaning at home, cooking at home etc", adds Juhi.

Juhi tells her fans that she loves them a lot, and they need to understand that this is a reality show which is simulated. "I am not finding fault with the makers of the show, as they cannot show all that happens in the house. Having said this, all would have been fine if they had shown both the faces of the coin. In fact, unlike all other wives who fed their husbands with old food, I made it a point to cook daily for Sachin. I would never allow him to do any chores at home. But this was also shown as a negative point. I used to ask Sachin to take care of Rudransh so that I could steal time that way and cook for him, and do other chores at home. But this was not brought into light", she retaliates.

"The same way, they showed my kid crying all day long when he was taken to the mandir. But do all know that we were forced to wake the kid up when he was sleeping, so that we go to the mandir? If it was my real kid, I would have gone according to my plan and my kid's schedule, but here we were forced to follow the schedule given by the channel", she says.

Juhi goes on. "There was this incident where I argue that I will not take my kid for maalish. This was shown, but the fact was that I refused to take him because Rudransh's mother had clearly instructed that he should not be given maalish during summers. They showed me arguing for this, but again I started arguing when they did not agree when I tried to convince them politely", states Juhi.

Juhi is also upset about the fact that the show depicts her as a dominating wife. In her defense she states, "I have never asked Sachin to help me in any work at home. In fact, we had a fight for this reason, where he asked me to allow him to share the work. Unlike others who just managed the kid, I wanted to manage my kid as well as my husband. As I have been portrayed, I am not a dominating wife.. If I was, why would Sachin be so much in love with me? Why would we be together and still in love, tell me? I have always been the person who would fight for my rights, and I did exactly that in the show too. I was also possessive about my kid, and was crying for hours after he left us. But what was portrayed was that I never had any feeling for Rudransh. At the end of it, not even once did Rudransh's parents complain about how we took care of him. They came to our house just once, to tell us where his night suit is kept. I am proud of the way in which I have been brought up by my parents; I had to fight my own battle in the show because Sachin is a person who always speaks less and does not get into arguments".

Last but not the least, she tells her fans that the only criteria for being termed as a good bahu is not by getting up early in the morning. "I have always said in my interviews that I am usually a late starter and need the morning tea to start my day. This is what happened here too, but do you judge a person by only this? What about the errands and work that she does all thro' the day?", questions Juhi.

Giving a preview of what is to be shown in the show, Juhi tells her fans, "This is just the beginning, there will be many things shown from now on where you will see Juhi very angry. But let me tell you, there were many impossible tasks given to us and I just showed my displeasure. I have always aimed to be a good wife and mother in the show".

We also talked to her hubby Sachin Shroff who categorically stated that, "Juhi never allowed me to do anything at home. She always managed stuff, and this is why I mentioned in one of the episodes that she has to entrust me with some job or the other. She is a perfectionist, and the angry reactions that came out of her were simulated, and the situations demanded that. Having said this, it was my mistake not to have openly told all that I will wear the empathy belly instead of her. Juhi has a severe back problem and I should have accepted this task myself before she asked me to do it. About Juhi being the dominating wife, it is certainly not that way. By saying all this, we are not speaking against the makers of the show. We are only trying to clear it out to our fans that the show showed only one side of the picture to them".

Baby blues for Rakhi, Elesh & others

A formatted reality show testing celebrity couples' parenting skills seems to be heading for trouble after a parent who had loaned her ten-month-old son to Rakhi Sawant and her 'fiance' Elesh Parunjanwala complained that her child was distressed after shooting.

"The first day after Jay came back from the shoot he was very upset. He could not sleep all night. Subsequently Jay got accustomed to his on-screen parents Rakhi and Elesh, and he would come back home and immediately start missing them. There were visible signs of distress at the very mention of Rakhi's name," said the child's mother Shilpa Budhraja, a home maker from Delhi.

Shilpa is one of the few parents who lent their babies for Pati Patni Aur Woh who agreed to speak to this newspaper after it emerged that the ministry of information and broadcasting as also the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights' (NCPCR) have taken up cudgels against the show asking for a ban. She added disingenuously though that they had not taken any money for their son's appearance on the show.

So why in the world would they loan their toddler for a gruelling TV shoot, we ask.

"My husband and I did this purely as social work. All the celebrity couples are either married or are preparing to marry. So we are helping them for the future," she said. Most other parents we spoke to refrained from comment citing contractual obligations.

"These parents who have lent their children are rich educated people. And since no money was exchanged in this show it was entirely their prerogative to shoot with us or take their child away whenever they deemed it necessary. Most parents were happy to have a paid holiday in Goa," said Shailaja Kejriwal, executive vice-president content, for NDTV Imagine.

The show, an adaptation of BBC’s Baby Borrowers, has five celebrity couples raising a child from infancy to teenage years.

The case of Pati, Patni... got national attention when the channel was served notice by the National Commission of Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), asking for the telecast to be stopped. Earlier, a Delhi-based NGO Uday Foundation, an organisation working on children’s health issues and advocacy complained to the Ministry of Women and Child development, the NCPCR, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Labour about the format of the show and its contents.

For now, though the channel seems to be sticking to its guns insisting the show has been successfully adapted in several countries before. However it is interesting to note that even the BBC show as well as a similar show in Canada was mired in controversy for the same reason -children’s development getting hampered because of separation from parents.

The matter has now reached the Delhi High Court and it remains to be seen what course of action will be taken in the next few days.

“We received several complaints from viewers and child rights groups about the show,” says commission member Dipa Dixit. “When I watched the show, it irked me to see the babies constantly crying. We have no idea what kind of psychological impact it can have on their minds. We are waiting to see what stand the court takes.”

The channel’s justification about ensuring full safety measures and having the parents supervise the proceedings in adjacent rooms finds few takers. “What does a child know about being watched on CCTV cameras? Are we waiting for anything fatal to happen,” asks Rahul Varma, Co-founder and managing trustee of Uday Foundation, adding that broadcasters should be banned from using children below three for reality TV.

“Babies as young as six months old are aware when they are weaned away from the mother. Then when they are reunited with their parents, they tend to become clingy; their crying spells could increase. Also some children can suffer from what is known as separation anxiety,” said child psychologist Priyanka Doshi. “While some kids are social and have no problems with strangers, others can panic in an unfamiliar setting.”

But it’s not just the participating infants who are troubled by the show but even teenagers who make an appearance in the third segment. Eighteen-year-old Delhiite Aditya Kumar whose reel-life parents are Gaurav Chopra and Mouni Roy recalls the tough time he had on the shoot. “Gaurav was often rude to me. He prohibited me from entering his room and gave me less pocket money as compared to the other teens on the show.” Kumar says he often got into spats with his reel-life parents. “They threatened me to watch what I say as I was on national TV while they themselves were busy romancing most of the time. Real parents don’t do that,” he says with characteristic teenage disdain.