Fast Forward - 20 years plus

It will be yet another 20-year leap on the small screen. Only this time, it's not a Balaji soap taking the jump. Kumkum — Pyara Sa Bandhan of B.A.G. Films, the most popular afternoon soap on television, will go bees saal baad from Monday with bahu becoming saas and pita becoming nana on the STAR Plus show.

"More than anything else, it is the demand of the audiences to see something new," says Anurradha Prasad, managing director of B.A.G. Films. "We have had a very successful run on TV with Kumkum being the only serial to sustain 780 episodes without a leap. Now, after three-and-a-half-years, by taking the leap we will be able to churn out a whole new story for our viewers to follow and their interest in the show will be renewed."

For STAR, it is making most out of a successful brand. Says Shailaja Kejriwal, senior creative director, STAR India: "Beyond a certain point in a daily soap, the story ends. So rather than taking it out and starting a new soap, we have this option of the Gen-jump, where the story becomes new but we don't lose out on the brand equity. If we had shut down Kumkum, we wouldn't have used the brand we created all these years."

So, while all the old characters continue to be part of the Kumkum family, a whole new generation has been introduced. Dhruv (Jatin and Kumkum's son) has now grown up into the dashing beta of the house while Sharman and Aashka, Kumkum's twin kids with Sumeet, are the pampered twosome in the Wadhwa family. Taking the story forward will be Dhruv's love story. While he is in love with Antara, an orphan he met in the US while studying, the family wants him to marry Siya, daughter of Sumeet's best friend.

With new characters comes a new set of actors. Playing the pivotal Dhruv will be Vivan Bhatena, Mr India 2004, who was seen as a VJ on MTV before doing TV serials like Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Time Bomb. "The best thing about this jump is that the new generation will be more real in their approach," says Vivan. "So it will be less drama and more character-based progression."

Antara, of course, is being played by our very own Sayantani Ghosh, who has signed a one-year contract with B.A.G. Films. "I am really looking forward to seeing how the national audience accepts me," she says. "My character of the US-returned girl in love with Indian customs and rituals wins over the hearts of all the members of the Wadhwa family. Hope it does the same with the viewers."

Playing the twins Sharman and Ashka will be Gaurav Khanna and Chahat Khanna (who are not related in real life). "Well, they must be unidentical twins," laughs Gaurav, who's already appeared in serials like Siddhanth and Bhabhi. "I play a Casanova kind of guy, who is too much into girls. Somebody has to do the tough job, you see! But I am also the darling of the family and, of course, Kumkum's favourite son."

Chahat, a veteran among the younger crop of actors, has acted in movies like 7 1/2 Phere and The Film. "This is the first time I am doing a serial and I am happy that I don't have to do something over the top," she confides. "The nature of television acting is changing and it's becoming very real, closer to life, making the job easier for us."

But where does all this fresh blood leave good old favourites Kumkum and Sumeet, one of the most successful romantic couples on TV? "It's not that we will stop loving each other on screen," declares Hussain, who plays Sumeet. "It's just that our romance will become more mature in flavour. Having successfully played the roles of beta, bhai and pati on the show, now the challenge will be to be a great pita."