Nissar Parvez - Secrets of his shows success

Nissar Parvez, director, 4 Lions Films, has directed and produced some popular love stories on TV ('Geet', 'Miley Jab Hum Tum', 'Dill Mill Gayye', 'Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon'). Some secrets on what's worked for his shows

' Casting: You have to get the right male and female lead. The audience has to be able to feel the attraction between them, some kind of sexual tension. They must look at the duo and say, "Oooh, they look so good together."

' Opposites attract: The male and female lead have to be as different from each other as possible. That is the only way sparks will fly.

' Keep them apart: The leads cannot be friends or lovey-dovey from Day 1. Sure, the audience wants them to be together and married but what really works for a love story is when they are not together and the audiencestays curious about how they will become a couple.

' The point of view: The story should mostly follow the girl's point of view.

' Hero: He has to have a larger-than-life quality; the ability to do what no ordinary man can or would do.

' Sacrifice: A key element. One of the two lead characters must have the capability to sacrifice something dear to them at some point in the show.

' Focus: Even while the parallel leads or secondary characters are given screen time, they must somehow allude to or discuss the main leads in either a positive or negative way. In love stories, everything is about the protagonists.

' Screen space: Do not take the leads away from the screen for too long.

' Believe in it: As a director, I have to believe in the story completely and be convinced about every aspect. But I cannot write or build the story in accordance with what the audience wants. That is a complete no-no.

http://www.livemint.com/2012/02/10201411/The-pecking-order.html?h=A3