'My bond with STAR is strong'

TV soap queen Ekta Kapoor says that the exit of many creative members from the channel does not prod her to leave it.

TV soap queen Ekta Kapoor intends to go on working with STAR Entertainment India even though the channel's former CEO Sameer Nair has moved to NDTV, carrying with him a lot of the creative team members.

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"My relationship with STAR is very strong. However, my rapport with them is purely of a content provider. I work on a few basic preconditions. My work has to get its creative freedom and my software has to be rewarded well in terms of pay and audience. If STAR continues to fulfil these preconditions, I'll definitely continue to work with them," Ekta told IANS.

"As for the other channels, including NDTV, I'm definitely open to working with them. So, no, I won't be cutting down on the content for STAR. I'll just be working more to give software to the other channels."

Does that mean more working hours?

Laughed Ekta: "You'll be surprised to know this. But I've started going out with my friends almost every night. I recently reconnected with my old school friends. After years and years they are back in my life. Some of them are mothers, others are just married, or about to getting married.

"My best friend from school, Shweta, got married in January. And my two closest friends, Shabina Khan and Neelam, are back at the centre of my life. We couldn't meet that often. But lately we're the inseparable threesome again. I love going out to dinner with all my friends at least once a month. Then I enjoy getting back to my work. I really enjoy doing television, and that enjoyment hasn't diminished over the years."

What about her own family nest?

"Here we go again. Let me tell you all my astrologers say there's no man for me in the next three years. When it has to happen, it will happen."