TV's four-legged stars

A man’s best friend is a dog, and this is evident in several serials currently on air. When producer Vipul Shah was casting for Chhanchhan, he’d claimed to have auditioned 100 dogs before zeroing in on four! For producer Rajan Shahi, a dog proved to be instrumental in bringing an emotional connect with the viewers in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Read on for more interesting doggie tales...

When Sanaya Irani was told she would be a dog trainer in the serial she was very happy. Reason: She loves dogs and even has them at home. “I was really excited, especially after seeing the cute Puch Puch who comfortably fits into my hands,” smiles Sanaya. However, she admits that it is difficult to shoot a scene with them. “Dogs will be dogs,” she sighs. Nevertheless, she enjoys shooting with them and “it’s the director who tears out his hair,” laughs the actress. However, when she goes home, her pets go crazy smelling her because of the proximity she has had with the dogs in the serial!

After shooting with Chiku, that’s what the dog is called in Anamika, Annie Gill (Rano), an animal lover, has decided to have a pet herself! “I love cats, dogs — even the ferocious ones — and snakes. When we were told that we will be having a pet in the show, all of us were delighted.

Chiku is a very sweet dog. And though in the show it is shown as a he, it’s actually a her!” she informs. Chiku, she says, does everything she is asked to except jumping from the bed. “She is very scared and becomes upset when told to do that,” says Annie. Chiku has been given a separate room and the actors have to wait till she gets dressed! Asked whether she will go in for a dog like Chiku for a pet, Annie says though she would love to, she cannot afford to have somebody like Chiku because it is very sensitive to loud noises.

The entry of a new character Indrani Devi in the form of Sushmita Mukherji has brought with it a pup too! Called Madonna, the dog will be in every frame with Sushmita as she will be carrying it everywhere. “She’s very cute but she’s not small. She is one-and-a-half-year old,” informs Sushmita, who herself has a pet, a Labrador at home. Madonna is a Chihuahua and by nature a very scared animal. “When I met her she was trembling. I sang to her and spoke to her till she felt totally relaxed with me,” says the actress. Ask her if she will carry it home and she laughs, “I already have a dog which is huge, Madonna will be scared!”

Disha Wakhani whose character Dayaben gives shelter to a dog, Sheru, in the show, is wary of them in real life. “I was bitten by one when I was a child and though I am not scared, I keep away from dogs,” she says. No wonder, she was taken aback when she was told that they are getting a dog and her character has to look after it. But one look at the ‘sweet’ dog and Disha’s anxiety was gone. “It did take me a day to get familiar and comfortable, but now I love him,” smiles Disha who has realised that even dogs can be temperamental, moody and expressive!

It was the little boy Naksh’s (Shivansh Kotia) demand for a pet that brought a dog Poochu in the serial over a month ago. The dog which was around for over five episodes had everyone dancing in attendance. “It was treated better than the lead actors of the show,” says a source. Karan Mehra, who plays Naksh’s father in the serial, took to it instantly. “I love dogs, so much so that I have one at home called Luv,” smiles Karan who has had pets since he was a child. “Dogs are friendly to humans and give love unconditionally. They, however, need to be constantly pampered,” he says.