KKK 3 in, dailies out

Two prime time TV shows axed to make way for the show.

Starting next week, Khatron Ke Khiladi Tiguna (KKK 3) will displace two prime dailies on Colors. Bairi Piya produced by Ekta Kapoor for the 8.30pm-slot and Yeh Pyaar Na Hoga Kam produced by Dheeraj Kumar for the 9pm-slot, have been given marching orders.

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That’s not all, some shows will also get shuffled around. Paresh Rawal’s production, Laagi Tujhse Lagan, currently in the 9.30pm-slot, will be shifted to the 8.30pm-slot to vacate the 9pm-10pm slot for Priyanka Chopra’s TV debut, KKK 3.

According to Ashwini Yardi, programming head of Colors, the channel pulled the plug on the shows because their storylines had come to their logical conclusions. “In fact, Bairi Piya’s story had come to an end a while ago. The shows had pretty decent ratings but we needed the 9 pm-slot vacant and the rest of the menu was already full,” she adds.

The channel informed the producers in advance about their shows being axed. "It was extremely amicable. Ekta and Dheeraj agreed with the channel’s call," says Yardi. Buzz is that, most men will appear on the show bare-bodied. Wouldn’t that irk conservative groups? "No way! The men are fully-clothed during all the stunts, except during water-based stunts, of course," he adds.

‘My show will not end abruptly’

Producer Dheeraj Kumar, whose company Creative Eye produced the show Yeh Pyaar Na Hoga Kam, with actors Gaurav Khanna and Yami Gautam in the lead, says that his team was in the know about the development.

“Any producer, whose show is pulled off air, feels a pinch for his baby but I have a reason to be happy. My show will culminate and not end abruptly. We were informed about our show’s exit well in advance so that we could be prepared with a clear climax,” says Kumar.

He adds that he feels the show has done exceptionally well, given current standards. “My show lasted more than six-eight months. That’s a big deal, because these days, there’s no guarantee that a channel will will run a show beyond two months."