Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan, the legendary youth show created by Vikas Gupta and BBC for MTV will be remembered as one of the most famous youth-based shows that gave a new meaning to friendship!!
Yes, it’s now been two years since the show came into our lives!! On 21 July 2014, KY2 hit the small screens and went on to get into the history books for the kind of popularity it garnered. Even today, the show, its makers, cast and the larger than life characters are so well etched in our memories..
Truly, 'Kaisi the yeh Yaariaan'......
Tellychakkar.com decided to give our loyal readers a run down the memory lane, in the form of past memories and unknown facts related to the show.
To begin with, do you all know that Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan was earlier titled Humko Ishq Ne Maara and was to launch on Channel V?
Well, though the channel liked the concept and the post research analysis was also in favour of it, the channel did not take it up further. And the fact remains that the maker and creator of the show, Vikas Gupta had pitched the concept to nearly all the popular GECs before launching it on MTV.
Oh well, wonder why Vikas posed a long hair look for almost the longest time possible, when he was working towards pitching the concept to channels years back?
That was because of a ‘mannat’ that Vikas kept, to NOT cut his hair till the time KY2 got launched.
Yes, this is true!! Vikas Gupta, the person who brought KY2 into our lives gets into an exclusive conversation with Tellychakkar.com. And we take his help to get to know more on the various facts pertaining to the show!! Yes, this read will provide all of our readers with good memories on the occasion of KY2’s two years anniversary.
Says Vikas, “Yes it is true that my ‘mannat’ of getting my hair cut happened only after three long years. The day KY2 launched on MTV, I was at Tirupati to seek God’s blessings and to get my hair chopped. The show went on to become the #1 show on the channel.”
Wow!! Did you all know this, loyal fans of KY2?
Talking about the rage that KY2 created in the minds of viewers, Vikas went on to say, “KY2 became the optima of friendship in the country. There used to be Remix, Hip Hip Hurray, and I used to love both these shows from childhood. And then for a long time, there was no such show on TV. KY2 with a core of friendship was the USP.”
Do you all know that Krissann Barretto was supposed to play Nandini earlier?
Vikas talked of his ‘very’ important casting process on KY2 stating, “Richa Yamini, the Creative Director on the show from BBC, wanted Krissann to play Nandini. However, when I saw Krissann, I knew I had gotten my Alya. Niti Taylor was my first choice of Nandini from the time I thought of making KY2, because she had done an episodic for me on Yeh Hai Aashiqui. She was fantastic as an actor. She turned magical as Nandini on KY2.”
“For Navya, Veebha Anand was an immediate choice. But Veebha wanted to do only lead roles. And trust me, I had a tough time convincing her. I used to take her out for lunches and dinners, sit through and convince her to play the role (laughs). We had kept her character by the name of Navya Naveli, as per Amitabhji’s (Bachchan) grand daughter. Veebha is such a fantastic actor, that she brought it so much to the role. That’s how Navya happened,” continues Vikas.
Do you know that Manik was initially to be played by Utkarsh Gupta?
“Yes, the most interesting part was that Manik was supposed to be played by Utkarsh Gupta. Utkarsh happened to be a dancer from Dubai, but I found him too young to play Manik. On the other hand, Ayaz Ahmed was to play Dhruv. When we called Utkarsh from Dubai to test for Manik, I did not find Manik in him. Parth Samthaan was supposed to play a vampire in Fanaah that was happening at the same time. He was very much inclined to playing that role. However, when we were not getting a hero for KY2, I sat and spoke to Parth. I explained to him about the character and how this show will prove to be the underdog. He then trusted my words completely. That’s how we got Manik,” exclaims Vikas.
Also, the name of Manik is very close to Vikas’ heart, as Vikas’ father has the same name.
Vikas continues, “Later, I cast Utkarsh as Dhruv. For Cabir, I thought of bringing in a completely gay character. That character was a bit old. That was the time when Ayaz Ahmed was doing Splitsvilla. It was again tough convincing Ayaz as he had done a very clean character for Do Dil Ek Jaan at that point of time. However, the best part of Ayaz is that he takes up a challenge and gives his best. And trust me, he played it with such finesse and the right amount of manliness, that he received all the acclaim.”
“Charlie Chauhan, according to me is the most under-rated actress among everyone else. She has so much of fire and potential in her. When the thought of Mukti came, I thought of only Charlie as she had the amout of madness that was needed for the character,” says the man.
“Krissann was someone I did not cast. She came on board to play Nandini, but then she was later chosen to play Alya. This is how the Fab Five came,” states the maker.
On the idea involved in casting for KY2, Vikas avers, “I wanted to pick up actors who would understand the vision of the Fab Five. They have created a cult for all on KY2, and have so beautifully translated the bond of friendship. Everything about KY2 has been so magical.”
On bringing in faces from Hip Hip Hurray, Vikas states, “Our idea was to cast the entire older cast of Hip Hip Hurray into KY2. But unfortunately, it did not happen. However we got Kishwer Merchant to play Manik’s mom. We got Rushad Rana to play Raghav. Then we got Mehul Nissar to play chacha. Hip Hip Hurray has always inspired me; so the idea was to get at least three-four from it. Everyone who came on to the show gave their best.”
Applauding the efforts of all, Vikas quips, “Richa Yamini has been such an amazing support on the show; she’s great with screenplays and scenes. The channel spent the kind of money that was required for the show. The director Shashank, entire crew and cast have become so legendary. Even after two years, the show is so known. The love for the KY2 team will never come down.”
Do you know that few of the colleges have something called the ‘Fab Five’ Clubs wherein boys and girls pose to be real sensations?
Well, that’s the kind of inspiration that the show has given all!!
On a parting note, the creator and maker Vikas Gupta shares with all, “Lets try to remember the positives of KY2; we have had happy times, a lot of off drama on the show. We have had a great bonding, and the show’s success speaks volumes. Professionally Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan is one of the favourites that I have created. I had a wonderful time making it, and it is the same with all the people who have been part of it, whether it be the crew, cast or the viewers!! We are all happy that KY2 happened in our lives. Hope we can retain the same values of friendship in our life and live happy.”
Phew!! Dejavu feeling, right? That’s the aura and magic of KY2!! Hail KY2 and its ‘happy’ memories’....
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