'No Dilip-Madhubala, a real love story'

MONDAY, 09 APRIL 2012 22:52

PIONEER

Producer Saurabh Tewari ends speculation surrounding his new show on Colors. By Divya Kaushik

This might come as a disappointment for those who had hoped the small screen would unravel the not so pretty side of the Dilip Kumar and Madhubala romance, the intensity of which has been a guarded secret by the film industry.

TV producer Saurabh Tewari's forthcoming show on Colors will have nothing to do with the classic romantic tale. "It is not cross-border, not Dilip Kumar-Madhubala. But a real passionate story, set against a family background and the resultant conflict drama," he said.

Ending speculation, Tewari added, "I don't know how the rumour spread that our new show would be based on Dilip Kumar and Madhubala's love story. We never said that. In fact, the show is still in its initial stages, and nothing concrete can be spoken about it now. Many elements are still being worked out."

His new love story is slated to go on air. But not next month as claimed.

We asked why the producer, who has given us clutter-breaking serials like Balika Vadhu, Na Aana Iss Desh Lado and Baba Aiso Var Dhundo, was doing a love story and what was so different about it.

"Love stories are a pulse of Indian TV today. They are evergreen and viewers of all age groups and social strata watch them. This genre is tried and tested. I have struck a fine balance between a romantic tale and family drama. If a show only focusses on a romantic story, you will get the kind of repetitive shows you had in the erstwhile Star One.

"Only a certain segment of the audience, say between 15 and 21, will be interested. And no channel or producer wants such a limited reach today. Meanwhile, the Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak type of stories just suits a mainstream film, not television. Shows on the small screen cater to all age groups. So we need a Romeo and Juliet with a Hum Aapke Hai Kaun type of background," explained Tewari.

His new show, featuring Drashti Dhami (popularly known as Geet from Geet Hui Sabse Parayi) and Vivian D'Sena (who featured in Pyaar Ki Yeh Ek Kahanii), keeps this fact very well in mind. "It is a passionate love story. So the cast as been chosen carefully. Both actors got famous for romantic roles," said Tewari, who has already begun shooting for the show, "which is totally based in 2012."

He is confident of success, claiming there can be endless love stories provided each differs in treatment and narrative.

"Around the world, you can work upon only six genres. That doesn't mean every film or show is similar or a copy. We need to reinvent the wheel. For any successful show, it is important the narrative be strong and innovative. To give an example from Bollywood, Sanjay Leela Bhansali made Devdas which was grand, classy, reflecting his taste and style. Anurag Kashyap too createdDev D. Both were based on the same subject. But we got two different movies. This sort of differentiation needs to be made for the small screen too. Our serials should be different from one another. And as a producer I really work hard on that," he said.

When we contacted the channel, the spokesperson excused himself saying, "no comments." The female lead Drashti Dhami too denied being part of the show.

Wonder what the surprise element is all about, when love stories are dime a dozen on channels. And most of them are somewhat referenced in contemporary social issues.