No show for bubbleheads

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Imagine an actor as serious as Irrfan Khan breaking into Rajasthani folk dance or the reserved Ajay Devgn cracking up with his college friends. There’s one person who can make this happen — the mast mast girl Raveena Tandon. She’s back on the small screen, this time with a talk show named Issi Ka Naam Zindagi — a tribute to Bollywood personalities who have made a mark in their lives.
“We always tend to look at the juicier side of a celebrity’s life. On this show, we go beyond the usual spicy gossip like who they are seeing or sleeping with, and look at the other side of their personality. It’s not a show for bubbleheads, but for those who believe in substance. It’s a show not just about their successes, but also their struggles,” says Raveena who’s just finished shooting an episode with actors Vidya Balan, Ajay Devgn and Irrfan Khan.
Raveena’s first guest was Vidya who was overwhelmed to have her family on the show. “Apart from the fact that she is a fabulous actress and a wonderful person, Vidya comes from a very regular, close-knit Indian family. Her father became emotional on the show and reminisced about days when Vidya had to struggle to make it big in films. It was a touching moment for all of us on the sets,” says Raveena.
The show has had its share of crazy moments too. Raveena said that Ajay ended up cracking jokes and spoke extensively about their college days. “Ajay was anything but quiet and reserved on the show. And it was fun to see that side to him. Since we both happen to be from the same college, he would keep telling me to talk about our college days and I would have to remind him that he is the one who has to do the talking,” she says.
What really got Raveena excited was the spontaneity of the show; the fact that it does not have a real script. “It’s all about being yourself so much so that you hardly realise that cameras are on around you,” says Raveena.
As far as Bollywood is concerned, Raveena is waiting for a strong substantial script to come her way. “I am still waiting for some good scripts, something on the lines of Daman or Satta. I’m way past the mast mast days now,” she laughs.