Its out in the open, Star Plus' Kumkum is set to shut shop by the end of its mega 1000 episodes. BAG Films came to this conclusion when the shows TRPs not only fell but the meat was lost as well.

This long running daily had to infuse more characters to increase sensation, the latest addition being Shweta Kawatra. The show is not in its anticlimax phase with little scope for the protagonist Juhi Parmar. In fact it was rumoured that she took up Star One's Antakshari as she had prevised the possible demise of the show.

Juhi often mentions that she is only known for Kumkum and her liaison with co-star Anuj Saxena. She had to create an image of her own and to do so she had to break open from this telly saga. However it seems to have worked wonderfully for her as the prime time slot on Star One puts her in a better spotlight that an afternoon show. Luckily we won't miss Kumkum as it has gone astray already.

Finally a closure that is welcomed.

It's not that the dashing Jas Arora has not essayed a role of a father on a TV show before. He was last seen in Star's Prithvi Raj Chohan, where he played the protagonist's papa, warrior king Someswar. And now he's been roped in to play papa again to Barkha Bisht in Aruna Irani's Doli Saja Ke for Sahara One.

The role (a cameo of sorts - almost 20 episodes) was earlier slated to be enacted by Anuj Saxena but he recently quit it on grounds of inordinate delays.

Coming back to Jas, he was a rocking model in his hay days and has also tried his luck with Bollywood. Though his films (Dushman, Chalte Chalte and Monsoon Wedding) were a hit, it failed to foster his career.

This tall, fair and handsome hunk still has girls drooling over him. As a papa - maharaja he still is quiet acceptable but as a lovely lady's dad…….we are skeptical, unless he dons some silver streaks.

Not only the TV audience, even the star cast of the super hit comic show, Sarabhi v/s Sarabhai is looking forward to it's new season. But if insiders are to be believed then this wish seems to remain unfulfilled.

Money is cited as the main reason behind the non return of this Star One show. According to a very highly placed source in Hats Off Production, the channel feels that cost of the show is too high given the low viewership of the fledging new channel. Talks to find a middle path are still on. The source further ruled out any chance of show coming on back on any other channel as well.

Hope both the parties reach an amicable solution soon, lest we miss out on a quality mirthful serial, which anyways are an extinct.

Coming May will see a heat of a different kind ! As KBC wraps up to be replaced by Ekta's Kasturi, we think the later will set a new kind of competition. For a long time now, the show like the Janus is being torn between 'keep it under wraps and stimulate constant hype.'

Initially, the show promised a new starcast. However, from the number of actors who've auditioned for the same, tell a different story altogether. Be it either Eijaz Khan, Sanjit Bedi from the older generation (that's what they are in Balaji terms), or the mid wingers Shabbir Ahluwalia or Manish Raisinghani, or the young entrants Mouni Roy and Pulkit Samrat.

There have been quite a few changes in the main male lead, earlier it was Eijaz Khan, who specialises in cameos and short stints with Balaji whilst juggling his movie career. He was then taken over by Manish Raisinghani, who had to pull himself off the show as he had no dates to spare for Kasturi. Now the buzz goes that the lead has been handed over to the hapless Sanjit Bedi, who was bad in Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka and not so good in Viraasat.

And who will be the lead protagonist Kasturi in the show? Keep watching this space for more.