Everything seemed to come straight out of an actual wedding ceremony. The invitation card (printed in true Indian style), the 52-seater air-conditioned bus waiting at Andheri station to ferry the baraatis (in this case, the media), the wedding stage at the studios, and even the laddoos being distributed!Last, but definitely not the least, the bride -- Divya Dutt in bridal attire (though by the time we reached the sets, she was in a blue salwar suit, ready for the next shoot).
Clueless about what we're talking about? It's Shanno, lead protagonist of Star TV's popular Shanno Ki Shaadi, who is all set to get married.
After keeping viewers glued to their TV sets in anticipation for more than a year, Shanno (played by Dutta) is scheduled to tie the knot with Arjun Sadarangani (Vikas Bhalla). The wedding is supposed to end the tension surrounding the challenge posed to NRI Sadarangani to complete seven tough conditions for marrying Shanno. But whether the marriage will actually take place or not is a question no one is ready to answer.
Says Dutta, while relaxing on the sets, "I shot for the haldi (turmeric) ceremony some time ago and look at the amount of interest this has generated. I don't think there will be half this curiosity surrounding my real-life marriage! Ever since I began playing this role, friends and relatives have been asking about when Shanno will marry. Let's hope all their questions are answered this Sunday."
The set was decorated with flowers and a stage for the ceremony. While shooting, all her friends and extras in the serial were putting haldi on her in the usual way. "We have become like a family on the sets. So much that, after the shooting of the haldi ceremony, some of them came forward to help me remove the haldi from my arms!" Dutta exclaims.
Set against the backdrop of beautiful Punjab -- green fields, flowing streams and scenic landscapes -- Shanno Ki Shaadi is about a clumsy Punjabi girl whose extended family is keen to see her married. At 26, they feel she is over the hill and must get married immediately.
"I can relate to the role," Dutta says. "I am a Punjabi and would like my wedding to be in the same lavish manner. Like Shanno, I love family occasions and am very attached to my parents. And, believe it or not, I am as clumsy and bubbly!"
In the serial, Arjun Sadarangani came into Shanno's life accidentally. Cupid struck both, but that was just the beginning of their woes. They had to struggle through endless problems to finally marry.
Will Dutta be dressed in the traditional red Punjabi attire during the ceremony? "Of course," she says. "I can't think of a bridal outfit that is not red in colour. The dress I am wearing was designed by Kalpesh from Seasons. It was a nice outfit, but I had a tough time managing it while shooting. It was so heavy that I found it difficult to move -- leading to a number of retakes. But I enjoyed it and would like a similar dress for my wedding."
According to the latest track running in the show, both Shanno and Arjun are scheduled to go to America after their marriage. Does that mean the cameras will follow them there, or is it adieu to the audience? "How can it be goodbye now? This is just the beginning!" Dutta exclaims. "Just wait and watch."
Unfortunately, the groom, Vikas Bhalla, arrived on sets almost four hours late, by which time the baraatis had left. But his absence was in keeping with the suspense of the serial -- will Shanno finally marry?
To find out, watch Shanno Ki Shaadi on July 16 at 10 pm on Star Plus.
Text: Srabanti Chakrabarti
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