Is Shabbir the last ace in Laagi’s pack?

After the lead actor of Laagi Tujhse Lagan quit, and the TRPs of the daily soap nosedived, the makers have turned to Shabbir Ahluwalia. The director says he's a perfect fit. Mishal Raheja, whom Ahluwalia replaces, shrugs, 'I don't care'

Last seen on Guinness World Records -- Ab India Todega, doing the dirty work on field while host Preity Zinta sat pretty on set, Shabbir Ahluwalia is being looked upon as the man who could salvage the diving TRPs of daily soap on Colors, Laagi Tujhse Lagan.

Shabbir Ahluwalia

The show that's a unique cocktail of gangland policies and kitchen politics took a hit after lead actor Mishal Raheja, whose measured performance as Dutta Bhau had won audience favour, quit the show. Once Hindi television's most dashing smuggler, Datta bhau made a dramatic entry on the show when he landed on a ship, fought policeman who were harassing damsel Nakusha (Mahhi Vij), and rescued her.

Raheja eventually quit in his quest to make it big in film. The production team tried keeping the serial afloat by introducing a new character, Diggu aka Digambar (Ashish Chaudhary) and focussing on Nakusha's relationship with him. Vij attributed distracted audience attention to the IPL season, while the makers engaged in negotiations with Raheja.

Is slated to play Datta bhau in daily soap Laagi Tujhse Lagan,
replacing actor Mishal Raheja

Now, Ahluwalia seems to be the last ace in Laagi's pack. The actor might just fit the bill. He rose to fame as Vansh in Kavyanjali and followed it with several Balaji serials, a key role in Shootout At Lokhandwala, and a winning stint on reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi last year. Laagi ufffd marks the toughie's return to a daily soap after a long interval.

Ahluwalia answered our phone call but when it came to confirming the news, he asked to be called back, and then went incommunicado. Vij, however, said, "I am looking forward to working with Shabbir. I am lucky to have worked with great actors. I know we cannot get Mishal but Shabbir is a good actor and he can mould himself to fit the bill. He will do justice to the character. I am dead sure he's going to put up an impressive performance."

Director of the show, Yash Chauhan,u00a0 said, "I think Shabbir is a perfect fit. People love him. We haven't started shooting with him but as soon as I get a go ahead from the production house, we will start."u00a0When Raheja was asked if Ahluwalia would make a difference to the show, he said, "The audience will be the judge. Personally, I don't care because I have moved on. I hope it works. I haven't watched the show for long. All the best to the team. I love them, and miss them a lot." Duttta Bhau was last seen on the show when he and Nakusha were suspected to have drowned in the ocean. Nakusha was later rescued by villagers but the story track made no mention of Dutta Bhau, leaving open the possibility of his return in a new avatar.u00a0u00a0