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Newsy entertainment!

Host Barkha Bisht tells us how gossip becomes news

THE 'NEWSMAKER' Barkha Bisht

Gossip always gets attention. And if it has anything to do with the world of entertainment, it seems to get more than its due. Who is seeing whom; who is rumoured to be the home-breaker; who is likely to feature in which film; the hottest tele-series couple; celebrity birthdays, etc. always seem to have a ready audience.

Popkorn Newz, the new show on Zoom, hopes to ride on this weakness of the viewers. Host Barkha Bisht says, "Reporters are working every day to get newsy bits related to our Bollywood and television actors to keep the flow of news fresh."

And not just a fresh flow of these tittle-tattle, the Monday to Thursday show that started in mid-November also aims at making news "entertaining", at times with a surprise element. "For instance, we celebrated tele-actor Rajeev Khandelwal's birthday on the show by bringing in his mother. He was so touched," says Barkha.

Also, the show's hour-long weekend version, aired at 8 p.m. on Saturdays and at 12.30 p.m. on Sundays, claims to provide you with a round up of the week's biggest entertainment news with a segment called the Popkorn Rating Points.

It rates the "Top 5 most happening celebrities" of the week in categories like best dressed, cosiest couple spotted, and most seen at parties, etc.

"It is really tough getting such information on a daily basis," adds Barkha.

In "Doli Sajake"

Seen as Udita in the Balaji Telefilms youth-based soap for MTV, Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi, Barkha, besides hosting the show, is also busy shooting for Aroona Irani's next serial, Doli Sajake on SaharaOne. "It is scheduled for next month," she says.

"Meanwhile," Barkha adds, " I am enjoying my role as a host of this show. It is a new experience for me. It allows me to be myself. Also, I look different here." Well, for a reality hunt winner, (that is how she bagged the role of Udita), it makes all the difference.

SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY

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