Nausheen back in Kkusum!

Nausheen Ali Sardar will be back as Kkusum. The actress had signed off the serial a year ago, because she did not want to play mother to someone her own age. Manasi Joshi Roy was her replacement.

Balaji Telefilms Creative Deputy Director Nivedita Basu confirms, "Nausheen was the original Kkusum and she is coming back."

When asked the reason, she replied, "It was a mutual decision. She wanted to come back. She has been always recognised as Kkusum. And it's good for the show too, because the viewership is dipping."

The change in actors, Basu explained with a typical soap's defiance of logic, would happen without any fanfare or twist in the storyline. "We are not having any dramatic change -- we will just show the replacement in an episode. We will not have any story changes."

Basu believes Nausheen's comeback will boost the show's flagging TRPs. "After Nausheen joins the serial, the TRPs will go up as people relate to Kkusum through Nausheen. A chunk of the audience stopped watching the show after Nausheen left. So I assume that, after she comes back, people will connect to her. Also, the chemistry between Abhay (Anuj Saxena) and Kkusum and the kids will be better."

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Nausheen refused to comment because "nothing has been finalised yet." She adds, "I am not talking to them. I will take time (to make a decision) as I have other commitments."

Manasi admitted she was out of the serial. "Nausheen is coming back," she says. "It's a job for me. I did my job and now, if they want a change in the show, I have no problem. They informed me in advance."

When asked why she was being dropped, Manasi says, "They feel it's for the betterment of the show. They wish to bring the old person back. They think that might help the show."

"I am an actor, and I did my job to the best of my ability. If the producers of the show feel they need to change my character for the betterment of the show, they have every right to do so. It's their prerogative and I wish them all the best," she says.