How did you feel when you were awarded the Phalke Ratna recently?
I had tears in my eyes because I was indeed happy and thrilled that the person who had brought me to films five decades ago with his film Ganga Jamuna handed over to me the Phalke Ratna award in front of my colleagues and peers from the industry
What is Doli Saja Ke all about?
Doli Saja ke is one serial that sets out to trace the struggle of a daughter to gain the love of her father. It is the story of young and beautiful Anupama whose birth coincides with the death of her mother. The loss of his beloved wife leads Vikramjeet Kapoor to blame Anupama for the tragedy and she grows up with the kalank of being a manhoos, which is further fanned by her stepmother Maya.
As she grows up, she too starts believing in the myth.
Why are you just producing and not directing your serial?
I have absolutely no time for direction. As it is, I am committed to act at least for five days a month for Ekta's Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki. I am also in talks with Zee to make a serial for them.
As a director, it is very essential to remain awake right from 6:00 am to 2:00 a.m I get tired very fast since I am now 62. I feel I should not do injustice to my health at this stage or else all of a sudden one fine morning, I will be gone!
Is Doli Saja Ke inspired by any real life incident?
To tell you the truth, I was inspired to make Doli Saja Ke after I watched Nutan in Sujata eight or nine times when I was a child, and Sharmila Tagore in Anupama.
I decided to strike a balance between both the characters and created the story of the protagonist ‘Anupama’ of Doli Saja Ke. Though Sujata dealt with the subject of apartheid, Doli Saja Ke has a story line, which is similar to Anupama in which the father does not like his daughter.
Why did you choose Sahara One as the platform to air Doli Saja Ke?
It is not for the first time that I have made a serial for Sahara One. Earlier, I had produced the serial Zameen Se Aasmaan Tak for them. The idea was in my mind soon after my earlier serial Vaidehi was off air on Sony TV.
Were you upset that Sony pulled your serial Vaidehi off air at the peak of its popularity?
No comments.
Is it true that you are planning to rope in Akshay Anand in place of Anuj as the father?
Anuj has not left the show. He has told me that he is trying his level best to adjust his commitments and dole out dates for our show. Even if Anuj does leave the show, what is the big deal? Does not a show like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi still run in spite of the fact that you have seen different Mihirs at different points of time?
Why did you cast new comer Barkha Bisht and not your all time favourite Sangeeta Ghosh in the role of ‘Anupama’?
I cast Barkha Bisht as Anupama after she did two look tests and auditioned for the role. I felt Barkha was the right choice because Sangeeta has a dominating personality, which Anupama is not.
Sangeeta already has the image of a sex symbol. Sangeeta has always played strong characters in my serials. Even when she played a handicapped girl in my serial Mehendi Tere Naam Ki, she projected a strong character.
I would die to cast Sangeeta if I get a good role for her. She in turn would also die to do a role in my serial. I would love to cast her in my serials if she suits the role because let's facts, she knows my hang ups and I know hers.
Will you also act in Doli Saja Ke?
I plan to act after a few episodes of Doli Saja Ke are on air.