'Chandrakanta' makes a comeback on TV with generation leap

The new story has been adapted from Devaki Nandan Khatri Khatri's second novel 'Chandrakanta Santati' by Sunil Agnihotri, who also directed the original.

"The focus has now shifted to the next generation but the fantasy elements remain the same. The shape-shifting aiyyars, love, betrayal and royal politics will be played on a bigger canvas this time. We have introduced some changes from the original novel to make it more appealing to the young audience," Agnihotri told PTI.

The director, known for giving TV hits like 'Yug' and 'Betaal Pachisi', says he did not want to do a saas-bahu drama and instead decided to bring back the show that went on to become one of the most successful serial on Doordarshan.

"Fantasy as a genre has always done well and I think people are tired of saas-bahu shows. People now want to remake Mahabharata. The new show is technologically more advanced," he added.

Shikha Swaroop, who played Chandrakanta in the original serial, is returning in the second part as well. Vindu Dara Singh, Big Boss winner, is playing Abhimanyu while Pundit Jagannath is portrayed by Rajendra Gupta. Puneet Issar will be seen in the character of Shiv Dutt, Mamik as Badrinath, Kruttika Desai will be Naintara, Rupa Ganguly as Roopmati, Raja Chaudhary will be seen as Tej Singh, Nishigangha Wad plays Kalavati, Santosh Shukla as Virendra Singh, Sonia Rakkar as Padmini, Vinod Kapoor as Chandi while Shailendra Singh replaces Akhilendra Mishra as Kroor Singh.

The new show is titled 'Kahani Chandrakanta Ki' will start airing on Sahara One in March this year. Agnihotri is also working on a contemporary love story 'Laut Aayi Noori, an emotional love story.