01 December 2004

HAPPY TOGETHER : Jas Arora (with co-star Rui En) says he gets along fine with her.

Byline: Sheela Narayanan
BOLLYWOOD BUZZ
sheela@sph.com.sg

J AS Arora is one relieved actor.

The 29-year-old Bollywood resident told The New Paper that shooting the second season of the MediaCorp sitcom, Achar!, was ‘like a dream’.

Compared, that is, to last year’s storm in the masala teacup when he apparently fell out with former co-star Steph Song.

Steph was replaced with singer-actress Rui En.

The 23-year-old has been nominated for the Most Popular Newcomer category for this year’s Star Awards.

The actors’ spat in the first season didn’t do the sitcom or Jas’s reputation any damage.

Achar! did quite well in the ratings with 538,000 viewers tuning in to its debut episode last year.

But there won’t be any spicy off-screen falling-out between the new leads.

‘We rehearsed about a week. I guess my producers tried to play it safe to make sure Rui En and I got along fine,’ said Jas ruefully.

Jas took 40 days out of his tight filming and modelling schedule to shoot Achar! 2.

‘It’s just great to come to the set this year,’ he said.

As for Rui En, he has only good things to say about her.

‘She is a sweet girl, simple, not too complicated.’

‘We are all very professional,’ said the Delhi-born actor.

Rui En said she didn’t let last year’s baggage get in the way.

‘I felt it wouldn’t be fair to let all the bad press affect my performance or the way I am with the cast.’

‘I kept an open mind. We are all professionals. We are here to work, not to make friends,’ she said.

But she said it turned out quite well anyway.

‘It was very relaxed since it was a sitcom and we (the cast) were always goofing around.

‘It was comfortable,’ said Rui En.

That’s a weight off Jas’ mind, that’s for sure.

He said with a grin: ‘I just hope without the controversies, we get a higher viewership.’

Achar! 2 will debut tomorrow over Channel 5 at 8.30pm.

Source: The New Paper

Categorised in Achar, The New Paper.