BY VICKEY LALWANI

If Rajeev Khandelwal is to be believed, the script of Kahiin To Hoga is the villain of the piece. Rajeev's threat to quit the serial stems, allegedly, not from a paucity of monies paid to him, but the proposed storyline, say sources.

According to insiders, the kahaani mein twist has Sujal raping his sister in law Charu, in a mad rage, after he discovers that Kashish married him merely to avenge Piyush's death.

This is where Rajeev's annoyance lies, say our sources.

When contacted Tuesday afternoon on the eve of his departure for Delhi (for a function on World AIDS day) and later the Maldives (for a show), Rajeev claimed he was unaware of any such track being planned. "However, if such a track exists, I would prefer not doing it." Or was he feigning ignorance?

When asked to clarify, Ekta Kapoor too dismissed it off as rubbish. "There is no such rape coming up."

So is Rajeev doing the serial or not? The latest grapevine is that Star has managed to convince him to stay by offering him another show.

Said Rajeev, "There is no Star show which has come as a bonus to resolve the issue. As it is, I have several offers. The Kahiin To Hoga matter is still in limbo. I have yet to meet Shobhaji and a few Star officials. That will happen when I return from the Maldives after six days."

On the other hand, Ekta said, "I have stopped thinking about this. Let the channel take a call. I have Rajeev's dates till 15 December. I have a few scenes of his, to use for now. Plus there are lots of other things happening in the serial."

What will be interesting to watch out for is:
a) Will Rajeev stay on as Sujal stay and rape Charu?

b) Will Rajeev leave and the new Sujal commit the heinous act?

c) Will Rajeev stay and no rape happen, thereby hinting that the track was changed to suit his convenience?

d) Will Rajeev leave and the new guy commit no rape, thereby hinting the script was changed perhaps because Ekta's last portrayal of rape in Kyunki... (Ansh raping Nandini) ran into rough weather? (The National Commission for Women has issued a show cause notice against Ekta Kapoor and Star Plus, saying, ''Ekta Kapoor should stop depicting women in a demeaning manner in her serials.'')

Let's wait and keep watching KTH, huh?

Rajeev Khandelwal photograph by Vicky Ahuja