No TV for Hema Mailini

“Ravi Chopra tempted me with a double role on television. But I’m not enjoying the experience it’s too much hard work. I am the wrong person to be on TV”

With these words, Hema Malini made it very clear that she wasn’t happy with Sahara One’s show, Kamini Damini, in an interview to hitlist on Tuesday.

She may just have ruffled some feathers over at Ravi Chopra, producer and director for the show, believes that the actress needs to realise that working daily is not exactly a bed of roses. Here’s what Chopra had to say:

Q. Are you happy with the way Kamini Domini has shaped up?
A,Yes, I am satisfied with the end result. Those who have seen the show love it, but unfortunately the channel hasn’t done enough publicity for my show. I would say whatever success it has got is on its own merit.

Q. What is your reaction to Hema Malini’s statement that she is not enjoying the television experience?
A. I have great respect for her as a person, and she is also working on my next project. But one thing I need to make dear is that television is a hungry medium. There is a lot of hard work involved and the shooting pattern is very different from that of films. Hema/i knew well in advance how the schedules would be. I can’t help it if she can’t cope with it. Television requires much more discipline than films, and there’s not much I can do if she collapses after eight hours of shooting. She gets tired very easily because she is doing many other things. I really have no control over what makes her happy and unhappy All that I know is that she was the only person I had in mind when I decided to do Kamini Damini. The show is very much inspired by her amazing acting in Seeta Aw Geeta. AH I can tell her is that, she needs to be tougher if she wants to make a mark on television.

Q. You have cast Pankaj Dheer opposite her on the show, but she doesn’t seem to have taken to him either?
A. I’m having problems handling ten schedules for one filmstar, how does she expect me to cope with the logistics of two superstars? “I think Pankaj fits the role as her husband perfectly, and I have no issues with him.

Q. Will you ask the channel to get more publicity for the show?
A. Why should I waste my time doing that? 1 am doing my work as a director. Finally, it’s up to the channel to decide what their priorities are.