Kyonki I constantly require to re-invent and reinnovate"
Why did you decide to make a Muslim social like 'Khwaish' for Sony?
Though I have been producing television serials for the last several years, I have not produced any Muslim social till today. With 'Khwaish', I am taking an entirely different step, as a producer. I kept in mind the audience in Pakistan and was keen on presenting them with a fresh show.
What is 'Khwaish' all about?
Directed by Muzammil, 'Khwaish' is like a Cinderella story of a Pakistani girl called Afreen,
who goes to Dubai with dreams and how her dreams change when she meets Kabir there. It is about two Indian Muslim families settled in the beautiful desert city of Dubai. It is a typical middle class set up like 'Kkusum', albeit with a thriller angle. The serial will take a U-turn after the thirtieth episode, though each episode will have its own high point, besides its own twists and turns.
What is the USP of 'Khwaish'?
The USP of 'Khwaish' is the script. The casting of the serial will work because the actors in the
serial suit the characters that they play. Sumeet Sachdev plays the role of Kabir Khan, while Priya Ashok Bathija, who had earlier acted in 'Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' is playing the role of the protagonist in 'Khwaish'. The best thing about Priya is that besides having a vulnerable face, she can look like a Hindu as well as a Muslim. Priya went through a gruelling workshop before the serial went on the floors.
What message do you intend to drive home through 'Khwaish'?
I wanted to make a Muslim social, which represents the Muslims of today in an authentic manner. The underlining spirit of the serial is that religion does not matter because the norms and cultural ethos remain the same, whether you are a Hindu or a Muslim.
In any case, 50 percent of the Indian audiences are Muslims whereas in Pakistan, the main base is that of Muslims.
Is it true that 'Khwaish' is the first Indian serial to be shown legally on television in Pakistan?
'Khwaish' is the first Balaji serial to be telecast in Pakistan even before it's telecast in India, because it has Pakistan as its background. We are shooting for the serial in Dubai because right now Pakistan is not willing to let Indian serials be shot in Pakistan. There will be a ten-episode gap between the telecasts in Pakistan and India.
How do you propose to bridge the cultural gap between India and Pakistan with 'Khwaish'?
In Pakistan, the bindi is not at all a part of their culture. However, after the illegal telecast of 'Kasauti Zindagi Ki', most of the women there had started sporting a bindi because it had become a style statement there.
The Pakistani audience has accepted our culture and characters. The bridge between India and Pakistan is our rich culture and heritage. By the way, the ratings of the illegal telecasts of our Hindi serials are higher than the ratings of the legal local telecasts there in Pakistan!
Is there any plan at Balaji Tele-films to make male-centric serials?
We want the market trend to change, though right now, only women-oriented serials click with the audience. I want to change the current market scenario and make male-centric serials too. I want to break the monotony of female-centric serials. Market research says that men watch only serials like 'CID' and reality shows, unlike women who prefer daily soaps.
I hope to get into that genre too, soon.
On what basis do you decide on the channels where you show your serials?
We should get the onus for the success as well as the failure of our shows on different channels. Though we brook no interference, we work in tandem with the channels.
When we are readying a script at Balaji, frankly we do not think in terms of which channel we should give the script to air the serial. I do not do a mathematical calculation when the script is ready. Once the script is ready, we decide on the channel based on how it will be able to convey the serial. I want to make the kinds of serials, which the people like and then choo
How tough is it for you as a producer to make shows within the same parameter?
I know that we have been playing in the same parameter. I want to break the mould. It is tough to play within the same parameter and yet churn out something different, like we have been doing at Balaji.
se the channels accordingly.
To what extent does competition faze you?
Today, I am aware of the fact that soaps are not the flavour of the month, but a habitual addiction. If there's a boom, there will also be a bust. As a producer, I find it quite a challenge job to push the envelope a little more. The more the producers, the more is the excitement in a competitive space, because we are constantly required to re-invent and re-innovate.
Have you decided to make more films after 'Shootout At Lokhandwala' clicked in a big way?
The phenomenal success of our production venture 'Shootout At Lokhandwala' has prompted us
to concentrate on making films too, besides TV serials. Though I am the creative head for all my shows, my uncle Ramesh Sippy is at the helm of affairs when it comes to making a decision as far as films are concerned, because I have not been successful earlier as far as films are concerned.
How would you strike a balance between films and TV?
As far as television is concerned, there are people who are better than I am andhence I do not have to look into each aspect of the production of our serials. 'Khwaish' is Nivedita Basu's baby. If the ratings go down, then I step in as the troubleshooter to get things done.
We heard about your plans to make Tamil serials in Sri Lanka! Do tell us more about it!
We are making inroads in Sri Lanka too. The dubbed versions of our serials like 'Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki' and 'Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' are big hits in Sri Lanka. Since the local actors there felt that they may not get work because of our serials clicking among the masses, the broadcasters there invited us to make serials in Sri Lanka with local actors. We are in the process of making serials in Sri Lanka with fresh scripts. To begin with, we will make the serials there in Tamil instead of Sinhalese, since then we can show it in other Tamil speaking countries too, like Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia and South India.
Is it true that you are planning to launch a satellite channel of your own?
Television will undergo many changes in the next two years and we should be able to gear ourselves for the changes. A lot of new channels are going to spring up. Though I know that it is tough to start a satellite channel, I wish to grow. Though it is too early to talk about it now, the next stage will be a television channel. We intend beginning with the South, because there is a great demand for our serials down South.
With TV becoming as big as cinema, is there a possibility of your dad Jeetendra staging his comeback as an actor with a Balaji serial?
My dad does not want to face the camera. He is doing a central role in our Bhojpuri film 'Gabbar Singh'. We had to cancel the schedule and postpone it at least six times because my dad did not wish to shoot and we had to convince him to do the role.
Do you now plan to make films in South Indian languages too?
We have plans to diversify by making films in South Indian languages too. However, only after we are able to establish Balaji Telefilms as a sound film Production Company by making Hindi films, will we think of taking up production of films down South, especially Tamil films.
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