Going up in flames
Will Shria be lucky in love this time around? Or will her new suitor prove to be another flop?
Shria (Kajal Maharaj) has had the worst luck when it comes to relationships on Imbewu. So it’s no surprise that after her marriage to her fiancé Jason (Byron McNeil) was called off just a month ago, the no-nonsense, fierce and career-orientated Shria has dived head first into her work. But like a moth drawn to a flame, Shria’s eyes find those of a new suitor who’s about to not just turn her world upside down – he’s going to burn it to the ground!
“Shria’s latest suitor is Kellerman (model and acting newbie Wade Cowan), a washed-out character and failed actor who is now taking on the role of Maluju Oil’s newest angel investor,” says Kajal. What Shria doesn’t know is that Kellerman is actually her father Sunil’s (Jack Devnarain) enemy. “A relationship begins to blossom and the chemistry sizzles between the two when they keep bumping into each other at Maluju Oil’s office and in meetings. Kellerman is, in every sense of the word, Shria’s rebound to her failed relationship with Jason,” explains Kajal, whose character isn’t hanging to her ex and her failed relationships. Shria is ready to get back on the horse right away.
MAN ON A MISSION
But a love-struck and swooning Shria doesn’t know is that Kellerman isn’t the sweet, charming and caring man that he portrays himself to be. His biggest reason taking on the job of acting as an investor is revenge. “Kellerman wants to take revenge on Sunil for refusing to pay him more money than Sunil already has. I won’t reveal what enmity (hostility) he has against Sunil, just know that there is a lot of bad blood between the two of them. And Kellerman has now found the perfect and easiest target – Shria – to get what he wants. He plans to use Shria’s vulnerability and emotions against her, to selfishly swindle her for all of her money,” says the actress.
EATEN BY GUILT
With her new relationship underway, Shria is suddenly overcome with a sense of guilt from keeping it a secret from her mother Nirupa (Jailoshini Naidoo). “Shria doesn’t just feel bad about keeping the relationship a secret, she feels guilty because she knows that Nirupa wouldn’t approve of her moving onto another relationship so quickly after her marriage was called off.”
Kajal adds that “as a mother, Nirupa only wants what is best for Shria. She doesn’t want to see her child get hurt again. So looking at the situation from Nirupa’s point of view, Shria decides to keep the relationship to herself and by not mentioning it, Shria finds the that thrill of being in a secret relationship can be quite addictive.” But with the guilt of her secret clawing at her, Shria decides that she can’t lie to her mother anymore and eventually ends her relationship with Kellerman, knowing that it’s easier than fighting with her mother. Nirupa doesn’t take no for an answer and won’t stop until Shria gets rid of Kellerman anyway. “So this way, she’s saving herself the heartache of a fight with her mom over the heartache of losing a lover before it gets serious.”
A FATHER’S PROTECTION
While Shria decides to apologise to her mom for lying to her and keeping her in the dark about Kellerman, Sunil – who doesn’t yet know that Kellerman is only using Shria to seek revenge on him – tries his to stop Kellerman from going anywhere near his daughter. But then Kellerman sees another opportunity to coin it and he blackmails Sunil to pay him off in exchange for staying away from Shria. Sneaky!
“Kellerman is a fake. He is an actor who’s basically paid to put on a façade and carry out certain responsibilities, and Sunil, as an old player in this game, sees right through him. To make sure that no harm befalls his daughter Shria and to make sure that she is protected against Kellerman, Sunil pays him off and warns him to stay away from Shria,” explains Kajal.
CONMAN EXTRAORDINAIRE
Kellerman is no fool and knows that be
ing in a relationship with the rich Shria is the only way that he can make even more money out of Sunil. So ignoring his promises to Sunil after accepting Sunil’s money, Kellerman still decides to go after Shria and makes a bold move in a bid to get her back in his life. To make Shria fall for him again and reignite that spark, he goes to extremes and whips her off on a holiday to Dubai. He also wants to make their relationship public, explains Kajal. “But the way to Shria’s heart won’t be as easy as he thinks because not only will Kellerman have to try his ultimate best to get Shria to agree to continue their relationship, he will have to go through both her protectors – Nirupa and Sunil – first. Especially after Nirupa voices her concerns about how a secret affair is rather unusual and question whether Shria will be happy.”
Kajal says that she understands where her character’s parents are coming from. “Nirupa’s biggest worry about this secret relationship is the effect that it is going to have on Shria’s emotional state (following her failed engagement that she was praying would end with a trip to the alter and a happily ever after). But she also questions the implications that it will have professionally, especially considering the fact that Kellerman came into Maluju Oil unannounced to them as a business associate,” Kajal explains. What Shria’s folks don’t know – at least not Nirupa – is that Kellerman won’t just give up.
IN THE FUTURE
Knowing full well that there’s a lot of pressure on her new relationship, not least from herself, Shria’s future in the romance department is murky. It’s going to be full of tears and high-voltage drama, says Kajal. “The audience are going to be glued to their screens with every episode. What Shria herself doesn’t know just yet is that her relationship is going to be the least of her worries – her business life is going to take over and she’s going to have to hold on tight!”