Unrest on the sets of ‘Maayka’

The cast of the serial ‘Maayka’ (Zee) has revolted against the channel’s decision to change the production house from Classic Productions to Dheeraj Kumar’s Creative Eye. Apparently, the channel changed the production house because the unit caused undue delays and went over budget.

However, the actors feel that that channel has been unfair to Classic Productions. Actor Urmila Kanitkar, (Raaji Malhotra) says, “We’ve nothing against the channel but they need to understand that their staff is trying to create misunderstandings between the higher authorities and the production house. If they change the production house, we will quit the serial. It’s our choice whether we want to continue working with the new production house.” 

Anjana Sood, creative head, Classic Productions throws more light on the issue. She says, “Right from the beginning, channel representatives—executive producer Gautam Hegde and the creative head Pearl Shahi have been interfering. They’ve been pushing their agenda.

They would create misunderstandings between us and the higher authorities.” Incidentally, Pearl’s husband Rajan Shahi was the director on the show. Anjana adds, “We had written several letters to the channel asking for their intervention. Instead we got a letter saying that we were no longer producing the show.”

Ashish Kaul, senior vice-president, Zee Enterprises Ltd, says, “It is not about individuals. The people accused of creating misunderstandings are professionals and work in the interest of the company.

The fact is that we were unsatisfied with the show’s production quality and creative aspects. If the actors walk out, then we will blacklist them. And if there are so many problems, then we wouldn’t mind taking the show off air.”

p_sapana@dnaindia.net