A welcome change for Nikkhil Arya

We have recently heard that the television heartthrob Nikkhil Arya is an unusually changed man off late. The usually chirpy livewire has become calm and a quiet man as seen on the Star Plus' Kyunki Saans Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (he plays Nandini's hubby, Aseem Gupta). "This could be a direct result of his changed personal lifestyle which includes a little of meditation, yoga, classical music training and a conscious effort to stay away from the opposite sex" - says an amused source close to the actor. In fact he also seems to be on an exercise spree and has lost oodles of weight. When contacted, this is what he had to say, "First of all, thank you very much. I've been getting a lot of good reviews ever since I've joined the show. But as of now I have nothing to say, you will just have to wait and watch, maybe more pleasant surprises coming your way soon." Whatever be the reason, we are not complaining after receiving a head spurning performance from Nikhil as a rich, businessman Aseem in the show. In fact, the special track that was introduced in the absence of Smriti Irani, also got the TRP's ticking over. Guessing what Ekta will have in store now for the show with the return of Smriti also! Swetta Keswani flies to Goa for her film! Actress Swetta Keswani has packed her bags and has headed for the fascinating beaches of Goa. She's is all set to re-unite with NRI Director Kruti Majmudar and British Actor Emily Hamilton at the IFFI, Goa for the screening of her latest cinematic endeavor, The Memsahib. Having already received rave reviews in three film festivals in the US: Pittsburgh 3 River Festival, Stonybrook Festival in New York and Dances with Films, Los Angeles, this English film, also starring Parvin Dabas and Murli Sharma, is all set to make its Indian cinema debut. Swetta, who plays Dabas's sister, and the sister-in-law and confidante of Hamilton's character, serves as a companion and guide to the young Memsahib as she discovers and comes to terms with her new life, as a wife and a princess in a foreign land - India 1850's. But their world is drifting towards revolution, and when differences of resolve ignite between the prince (Parvin Dabas) and his fellow Noblemen (including Murli Sharma), betrayal is close at hand. A fresh view of Swetta, de-glam, sans make-up, and without the characteristic Hindi cinema 'bling', promises to give the audience a unexpected treat. Swetta exclaims, "I hope audiences will appreciate this entirely different performance from me - I'm really looking forward to the screening!" We wish her all the best! Nausheen plans a comeback Nausheen Ali Sardar, who had become a household name during her Kkusum days, is expected to make a comeback on the small screen sometime soon. The grapevine is that she might return in Anuj Saxena's next venture after Kulvaddhu. Nausheen (Kkusum) and Anuj (Abhay) were the hit pair of Sony's TRP raker primetime show Kkusum. After about two years when the Balaji show went in for a generation leap, the actor decided to opt out of the show. Later Mansi Joshi Roy became the new Kkusum while Nausheen went on to do Kaalchakra for Star but somehow failed to recreate the magic this time. Though she tried to re-enter Kkusum, but producer Ekta Kapoor once again replaced Mansi with Shilpa Saklani and not with Nausheen. Nausheen since then has been largely out of news. Now it seems the actor has completed three films during her absence from television. The buzz is that two of her films Marathon and Vivash will release in 2007. Let's see which way the scales turn. Would she make a comeback with Anuj and sizzle again or would her films take her career to new heights. It's a game of time, let's wait and watch. Mona does a play! Mona Ambegaonkar the famous CID girl has been taking it easy post pregnancy and has also been saying no to the biggies of tellywood like Ekta Kapoor. So all her fans missing the lady in action can chance an opportunity to catch her on stage. Yes, Mona has taken up a play titled Got To Be Aishwarya which is written and directed by ace theatre director Bharat Dhabolkar which has the likes of Ananya Dutt and Tom Alter. "I liked the play and have been a theatre artist for a long time. This is the first time I get to do a play with Bharat and I play a positive character called Anuraddha Chawla who is a stylist by profession," says Mona who was last seen in Mangal Pandey and White Noise. The two hour play is about a girl who comes to the city in search of her parents and a career and who all she comes across in the process. So here's one actor who is getting back to her first love, theatre.