Juhi Parmar with the new cast of ‘Kumkum’

Soaps these days seem to be on the leap-trip. But while Balaji's 'Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' has reportedly postponed their leap by a few months, BAG Films' 'Kumkum' has taken a 20-year leap this week.

The afternoon daily starring Hussain and Juhi Parmar, will continue to revolve around their characters Sumeet and Kumkum respectively, the only difference being that the love story will turn mature.

The couple will play parents to three grown-up children - Dhruv (Vivan Batena), Sharman (Gaurav Khanna) and Aashka (Chahat Khanna). The other new entrants to the serial are Karishma Mehta (as Siya Grewal) and Sayantani Ghosh (Aantara, Dhruv's lady love).

Anuradha Prasad of BAG Films says, "If we had continued with the existing story, it would become clichd. A mature love story is the USP of the new 'Kumkum'." Rajesh Chaddha, supervising producer, adds, "We have completed 780 episodes without any leap! This is an achievement. We have taken the leap in the 781st episode."

However, protagonist Juhi Parmar shares her predicament, "We are in a catch-22 situation. If there was no leap, we would have been accused of stretching the story! Now that the leap is happening, we are asked the reason for it!"

Explaining the need for a smooth transition, writer Rajesh Joshi explains, "The writer has to remember that the serial is a journey of every character. You can't suddenly show Kumkum and Sumeet as grandparents! My aim was to ensure a gradual blend of the new and the old."

The serial's lavish set has been redesigned by Aroop Adhikari. The new track has been sung by Sonu Nigam and Pamela Jain.