Latest news with #Dastaan
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Parmeet Sethi on Archana Puran Singh being more famous and successful than him; reveals his sons often tease him as 'Archana's husband"
In 1995, the film ' Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge ', directed by Aditya Chopra , captured hearts across the nation, making Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol household names. Alongside the iconic duo, Parmeet Sethi made his debut as Kuljeet, Kajol's proud and arrogant fiancé. However, as years passed, Parmeet gradually stepped away from the limelight, and his presence faded from public memory. In contrast, his wife Archana Puran Singh rose to significant fame, especially as a beloved judge on various reality shows, with her infectious laughter becoming her trademark. Despite Archana's widespread popularity, Parmeet recently revealed that he isn't bothered by it-even as their sons often tease him in their vlogs for being known primarily as 'Archana's husband.' Finding Humour in Comparisons Talking to SCREEN, Parmeet expressed that he finds comparisons between himself and his wife quite amusing. He acknowledged that the public tends to recognize the person who is more active and visible in the industry. Since Archana serves as a judge on one of India's biggest shows, ' The Great Indian Kapil Show ', it is natural that she is better known among audiences. Reflecting on Past Fame by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Sethi reflected on a time when he was more widely recognized than his wife. He mentioned that during his work in shows and films like 'Dastaan' and 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge', people would often spot him and excitedly identify him as Kuljeet. At that time, Archana was less active in acting and remained somewhat in the background. He acknowledged that such fluctuations in popularity are normal and added that if he were to start working in daily soaps today, he would become a familiar face in every Indian household, with people recognizing him by both name and appearance. Choosing a Different Path Parmeet shared that he made a conscious decision to move away from acting and focus more on writing and directing, as he finds these roles more enjoyable. He isn't particularly concerned with being recognized or famous, and therefore takes such matters lightly, often joking about them. Parmeet also expressed that he has no issues with his wife being more famous and successful than him, viewing it as a positive thing. He emphasized that there is no tension between them over this; instead, they share a mutual understanding and enjoy their relationship. A Secret Marriage In 1992, Parmeet Sethi and actress Archana Puran Singh tied the knot but chose to keep their marriage hidden for around eight years, only revealing it publicly when Archana became pregnant with their first child.
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘What's wrong with my wife being more famous, successful?' asks Parmeet Sethi: ‘Archana Puran Singh is the judge of the biggest Indian show'
Back in 1995, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol became everyone's favourite after the release of Aditya Chopra's Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge. While Raj and Simran became a household name, so did the character of Kuljeet, played by actor Parmeet Sethi. The romantic drama marked his acting debut with him playing Kajol's arrogant fiance in the film. Over the years, Parmeet took a backseat as an actor, and people eventually forgot his name. Meanwhile, his wife, Archana Puran Singh gained immense fame through her appearance as a judge on reality shows like Comedy Circus and The Kapil Sharma show. Her laughter became her identity. With Archana being more famous among her audience, Parmeet recently shared if it ever bothers him with his sons often joking about him being recognised as Archana's husband in their vlogs. In an exclusive conversation with SCREEN, Parmeet said he finds the comparison between him and his wife 'extremely funny'. He said, 'You need to understand the public. I at least have the understanding that the person who is working more, seen more, is eventually recognised more. That is a given. Archana is the judge of India's biggest show (The Great Indian Kapil Show). So its obvious that people will know her more.' He recalled the time when he was better known than his wife. 'There was also a time when I did shows and films like Dastaan and DDLJ, when people knew me, would spot me and be like, 'Arey yaar, yeh toh Parmeet Sethi hai, Kuljeet hai yeh toh'. At that time, Archana was a little bit in the background because at that point in time she was less active as an actor. These ups and downs are very normal. If today, I decide to get into daily soaps, I will reach every Indian household and people will know me by face and name.' Watch the full interview here: Parmeet said he took a conscious decision of leaving the screen and going behind the cameras as it is something he enjoys more than acting. 'I am not very obsessed with wanting to be recognised and known by others. I mostly enjoy writing and directing, so these things don't really matter to me. I laugh at it. I take it very lightly, hence we joke about it. Also, what is the problem in my wife being more famous and successful than me? It is a great thing. What's wrong in this? Archana and I don't have anything such in between us. We enjoy ourselves and we have that understanding.' Parmeet Sethi married actress Archana Puran Singh back in 1992. They kept their marriage a secret for at least 8 years until Archana got pregnant with their first child.
Khaleej Times
09-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Meet the woman behind Pakistan's top-rated TV shows
Momina Duraid had no plans to become one of the most coveted storytellers in Pakistan and the diaspora today. Luck and circumstance turned her life around when she ended up at the forefront of Hum TV Network and began a journey she now believes is all heart. A professional banker, she married Duraid Siddiqui, the son of Sultana Siddiqui, a veteran TV producer. At the time, Sultana Siddiqui made private productions, and Momina was on a year-long break from her banking career. "I was always interested in social entrepreneurship, and my mother-in-law was working on a project that was along the same lines," she says in a chat with City Times. " Fair and Lovely Qismat Ke Sitaray was a project focused on stories of real women's lives, and Mummy (Sultana Siddiqui) asked me to pitch the project. My pitch got approved, and I was heavily involved in the production. I was pretty young, so I didn't have many inhibitions either. I remember having comments and pointers about it for Noor ul Huda Shah's script without realising what an established writer she was. After our meeting, Noor Aapa (sister) said to Mummy about me, 'Keep her involved with you; she will help you.'" As Duraid Siddiqui was involved in the business and commercial side of establishing Hum TV, Sultana Siddiqui tackled the marketing forefront as well as research. When it came to programming, Momina stepped in. "I kept telling them I'm only doing this for a short while," Momina Duraid remembers fondly. "But then Dastaan changed everything for me." A series based on Razia Butt's novel Bano, Dastaan became a raging phenomenon, especially in the diaspora. It starred Fawad Khan and Sanam Baloch and was based on the story of partition. Momina Duraid looked back at how she would sit with Samira Fazal (the writer who adapted the novel for screen) and talk for hours. "Script development to me is very intimate. Different people may have different processes, but to me, that's how the best stories come forward. I also remember sitting in The Lighthouse (a market in Karachi) looking for the perfect fabrics and laces for costumes in Dastaan. That's how much I like to be involved in my projects and it shows how much love and sweat and work goes into what we do." Momina recalls the various emails she got from all over the world after Dastaan. "I realised the true power of storytelling then." Hum TV tells very female-centric stories and Momina explains how that works. "The man running the show, Duraid," she states, "is someone who naturally empowers women. He gave us the space that we needed. We have also been fortunate enough in that we have never had to sell our projects to anyone, so we have never stepped into the commercialism gambit. We made what we wanted, what struck our hearts. We've never gone through a formula." Hum TV produces over 700 hours of programming per year, and while Momina has set up a very professional editorial team that oversees content, she is also personally involved in various projects. "I have been a lot less involved in the past two years, but what I try to do, at least once a year, is have a project that I can tell my grandchildren about." Momina has also made sure that she imbibes the same values to her team as she got from her mother-in-law, who has produced classics like Umar Maarvi and Zindagi Gulzar Hai. " Parizaad went to a lot of channels who rejected it, and my script department brought it to me," Momina says, referring to a blockbuster hit drama that told the story of a man who was rejected by society due to his dark skin. "My team knew it would click with me." Tan Man Neel o Neel, the recently-ended critically acclaimed show starring Sehar Khan and Shuja Asad, is part of a trilogy produced by Sultana Siddiqui. The trilogy tackles yet another subject most producers wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole: mob violence. Momina executive produced Tan Man Neel o Neel, and the thought process was entirely Sultana Siddiqui's, she revealed. She believes it is the responsibility of the more prominent and successful writers and producers when it comes to telling daring stories. "Don't find a shortcut," she adds. "It's very easy to make formulaic shows. It's more difficult to make a message-oriented, something that is socially responsible. Very few people can handle such a project as well. We have very few Farhats, Mustafas and Hashim Nadeems who will take time on it and will keep improving it," Momina says, appreciating Farhat Ishtiaq (Humsafar), Mustafa Afridi (Sang e Mar Mar) and Hashim Nadeem (Parizaad). Momina also referred to Jafaa and how it tackled domestic violence. The show became a huge talking point when it came to how educated women also faced violence at home and were gaslighted constantly. "We were mindful that we didn't show the slaps or the hits. And that's not easy; these provocative images can get ratings on television, and those ratings are directly related to financial gain. It is tough to say, 'no I'm not going to do that, let me find another way to say this.' It was also easy to turn Mohib's character into a stereotypical character. But making his character people understood was difficult, and it took time and effort to build such a story." The producer says there is a balance you have to strike when it comes to eyeballs. 'There's a fixed point chart you need to create; you build traffic and then you talk about what you really need to. There's such a concept called 'transmedia' where you embed important messages in a wholly entertaining package. At Hum TV, what we try to do is that even in entertaining shows we try to give it as much honesty and conscientiousness as possible. Yes mistakes also happen but we try our best.' Netflix approached Momina Duraid around five years ago for producing a show and Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo, a novel written by Farhat Ishtiaq, was approved. "It is our very own drama on a platter to the world," Momina said.. "I wanted it to be a true picture of who we are and what we do best." When would the audience be able to see it? "The camera has closed on it," she answers, "and it's in the post process."
Khaleej Times
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
How Momina Duraid became a leading storyteller in Pakistani television
Momina Duraid had no plans to become one of the most coveted storytellers in Pakistan. Luck and circumstance turned her life around when she ended up at the forefront of Hum TV Network and began a journey she now believes is all heart. A professional banker, she married Duraid Siddiqui, the son of Sultana Siddiqui, a veteran TV producer. At the time, Sultana made private productions, and Momina was on a year-long break from her banking career. "I was always interested in social entrepreneurship, and my mother-in-law was working on a project that was along the same lines. Fair and Lovely Qismat Ke Sitaray was a project focused on stories of real women's lives, and Mummy (Sultana) asked me to pitch the project. My pitch got approved, and I was heavily involved in the production. I was pretty young, so I didn't have many inhibitions either. I remember having comments and pointers about it for Noor ul Huda Shah's script without realising what an established writer she was. After our meeting, Noor Aapa said to Mummy about me, 'Keep her involved with you; she will help you.'" As Duraid was involved in the business and commercial side of establishing Hum TV, Sultana tackled the marketing forefront as well as research. When it came to programming, Momina stepped in. "I kept telling them I'm only doing this for a short while," she remembers fondly. "But then Dastaan changed everything for me." A series based on Razia Butt's novel Bano, Dastaan became a raging phenomenon. It starred Fawad Khan and Sanam Baloch and was based on the story of partition. Momina looked back at how she would sit with Samira Fazal (the writer who adapted the novel for screen) and talk for hours. "Script development to me is very intimate. Different people may have different processes, but to me, that's how the best stories come forward. I also remember sitting in The Lighthouse (a market in Karachi) looking for the perfect fabrics and laces for costumes in Dastaan. That's how much I like to be involved in my projects and it shows how much love and sweat and work goes into what we do," she says. Momina recalls the various emails she got from all over the world after Dastaan. "I realised the true power of storytelling then." Hum TV tells very female-centric stories and Momina explains how that works. "The man running the show, Duraid," she says, "is someone who naturally empowers women. He gave us the space that we needed. We have also been fortunate enough in that we have never had to sell our projects to anyone, so we have never stepped into the commercialism gambit. We made what we wanted, what struck our hearts. We've never gone through a formula." Hum TV produces over 700 hours of programming per year, and while Momina has set up a very professional editorial team that oversees content, she is also personally involved in various projects. "I have been a lot less involved in the past two years, but what I try to do, at least once a year, is have a project that I can tell my grandchildren about." Momina has also made sure that she imbibes the same values to her team as she got from her mother-in-law, who has produced classics like Umar Maarvi and Zindagi Gulzar Hai." Parizaad went to a lot of channels who rejected it, and my script department brought it to me," Momina says, referring to a blockbuster that told the story of a man who was rejected by society due to his dark skin. "My team knew it would click with me." Tan Man Neel o Neel, currently a show starring Sehar Khan and Shuja Asad, is part of a trilogy produced by Sultana. The trilogy tackles yet another subject most producers wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole: mob violence. Momina executive produced the show, and the thought process was entirely Sultana's, Momina tells Khaleej Times. Momina believes it is the responsibility of the more prominent and more successful writers and producers when it comes to telling daring stories. "Don't find a shortcut," she adds. "It's very easy to make formulaic shows. It's more difficult to make a message-oriented, something that is socially responsible. Very few people can handle such a project as well. We have very few Farhats and Mustafas and Hashim Nadeems who will take time on it and will keep improving it," Momina says, appreciating Farhat Ishtiaq (Humsafar), Mustafa Afridi (Sang e Mar Mar) and Hashim Nadeem (Parizaad). Momina also referred to Jafaa and how it tackled domestic violence. The show became a huge talking point when it came to how educated women also face violence at home and are often gaslighted. "We were mindful that we didn't show the slaps or the hits. And that's not easy; these provocative images can get ratings on television, and those ratings are directly related to financial gain. It is tough to say, 'no I'm not going to do that, let me find another way to say this.' It was also easy to turn Mohib's character into a stereotypical character. But making his character one that people could understand was difficult, and it took time and effort to build such a story." Momina says there is a balance you have to strike when it comes to eyeballs. 'There's a fixed point chart you need to create; you build traffic and then you talk about what you really need to. There's such a concept called 'transmedia' where you embed important messages in a wholly entertaining package. At Hum TV, what we try to do is that even in entertaining shows we try to give it as much honesty and conscientiousness as possible. Yes mistakes also happen, but we try our best.' Netflix approached Momina around five years ago to produce a show and Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo, a novel written by Farhat Ishtiaq, was approved. "It is our very own drama on a platter to the world," Momina says. "I wanted it to be a true picture of who we are and what we do best." When would the audience be able to see it? "The camera has closed on it," she answers, "and it's in the post process."
