Twinkle Bajpai

Chop and change of the lead player has become a common practice these days. After Smriti Irani opted out of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Manava Naik quit Teen Bahuraniyaan, now it is Twinkle Bajpai’s turn. Twinkle, who was first noticed as a singer on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa around two years ago, shot to fame as the youngest daughter, Lakshmi, in Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan. But the news now out is that she has been ousted from the show because of her tantrums. Her replacement? Gunjan Walia.

Unlike other coy small-screen stars reluctant to spell it out, Twinkle made it clear that money matters played a major role in the rift. “I was not being paid well for Betiyaan. I feel that as the main lead I deserved more than what I was getting. But the production house (Creative Eye) was not ready to give me an increment; they were not even willing to talk about an increment. The biggest problem with Creative Eye is that it never wants to pay good money. I was working with them for more hours than I was asked to. They were not willing to pay me more and that was the reason I did not want to continue.”

Twinkle also revealed that she had decided to quit the show, before the show quit her. “I was just too fed up with their work schedule. I had given them a notice on March 12 or 15, that I did not want to continue. I have also been messaging them continuously that they should look for other options. March 27 was my last day with the show.”

The one thing the actor-singer is worried about is that her squabble with the production house should not spoil her rapport with Zee TV, with whom she has had a long association. “Creative Eye was spoiling my name and rapport with the channel so I spoke to the channel personally. Instead of spoiling my name with the channel with whom I was working for three-four years, it is better to quit Betiyaan and Creative Eye; and be with the channel.”

Though this pretty young actress has already started receiving offers, she says she will be very careful this time around. “There have been a few offers but I want to wait until something good works out. Till then, I’m just relaxing at home because I’m too stressed out and tired after Betiyaan.”