The Grandeur of A Multi Starrer

Karisma Kapoors debut on television is significant. For unlike the rest of her like Madhuri Dixit and Govinda who have anchored shows, shes the first star who will play a pivotal role in a 250 episode prime time daily. Karishma, the Miracle of Destiny has the lavish packaging of a multistarrer, and the channel Sahara TV are leaving nothing to chance to ensure that serial gets its due publicty and exposure. Karisma has been fortunate in that, as the last time a marquee name did a pivotal role for a TV serial, that was Shabana Azmi in Anupama on a channel which was largely unseen, hence here was a performance which went unnoticed. However, the attention that Akashdeep, the serials helmsman and the channel are according the star and the daily serial, it is very reminiscent of Star Plus and Amitabh Bachchan prior to the launch of KBC. What remains to be seen is: will Karisma do to Sahara what Amitabh Bachchan did to Star Plus?

Karisma Kapoors debut on TV will not be perceived as being the first Kapoor on the small screen. For in the mid 90s, Shammi Kapoor had played a negative role in a serial called Shikast, which was telecast on In Mumbai; while Rajeev Kapoor (Chimpu) produced a serial called Vansh for Doordarshan. Karisma herself earlier forayed into television as SABe TVs brand ambassador. And now as she plays a pivotal role in Karishma: The Miracles of Destiny, she is the second actress after Shabana Azmi to be in that unique postion to do television with her film career intact.

It would do a talent like Karismas grave injustice to even consider that her TV foray would be her swan song for films. Perish the mere thought. For the actress will continue to do films. But it will be television that will be that much richer in glamour, grace and talent, for Karisma has chosen wisely to do a eponymous serial which offers her the scope to play a range of ages, as she plays a grandmother and then again the granddaughter. If prosthesis plays an important part in aging a youthful face, sheer acting prowess alone can make all the difference between a young woman and an older woman played by the same actor. As many other top stars (including Madhuri Dixit and friend and costar Govinda) who have made their television bows (albeit unsucessfully) as game show hosts, reality TV anchors, and the like, Karisma prefers to do it the best way and one shes comfortable in - playing a dramatic role of a woman of substance. For Karishma - The Miracles of Destiny sweeps through the life of a rural woman and goes into a modern girl. As the serials producer and conceiver Akashdeep says, Karishma is a journey of a woman from the ages of 22 till 67. This multi track story is an author backed role for Karisma.

Akashdeep who is also the creative head for Sahara TV met the actress in connection with 25 films (in five parts) that Sahara TV are venturing into with directorial heavy weights like Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, Tinnu Anand, Priyadarshan and others. The telecast of these films are part of Sahara TVs drive to get on par with channel leaders like Star and Sony. The channel will telecast these films as part of the channels enhancement programme when it goes digital in October. These films could usher in an altogether new trend, since they will have an overseas relase, a five part premiere on TV and then a theatrical release in multiplexes acorss India.

Should all go well, If we have a bank of episodes and a promotion and publicty campagn in place, we hope to go on air this November, and not in 2003 as has been reported, says Akashdeep. The latter was looking for a big star who could do a role across ages. When approached, the actress it seems told him that If everything is right, Ill give it a shot. Anyway ever since her recognition among the parallel cinema fraternity with Shyam Benegals Zubeidaa, Karisma has been selective about the films she does. Akashdeep adds, I am making her do what she knows best - acting, looking good, emoting, etc. I am not telling her to anchor a show. Look at Govinda, such a popular star, but he wasnt accepted as a game show host.

The value add-ons for Karishma are to begin with co-stars who include another big screen name Sanjay Kapoor along with Arbaz Khan, Arshad Warsi, Jugal Hansraj, Sheeba, Apoorva Agnihotri, Vijay Raj, Pawan Malhotra, Salil Ankola, Parmesh Sethi, Reshma Seth and Reshma Modi. The other big screen marquee names associated with this venture are music director Anu Malik, lyrics by Javed Akhtar, Manish Malhotra will enhance the look of the serial which is being directed by Anurag Basu (Balaji Telefilms Koshish ek Asha), written by Sachin Bhowmick, screenplay R Talukdar with dialogues Naeem Aijaz. The serial will have 52 songs by nine music directors including Anu Maliik.There is a likelihood that Ramesh Sippy will head the team as creative consultant. Karisma - The Miracles of Destiny has been conceived and created by Akashdeep who had earlier got Govinda to do Jeeto Chhapar Phaad Ke on Sony TV. The inclusion of high profile film professionals is consistent with Karisma Kapoors star draw and status. The serial will be shot in foreign locations like New Zealand, more stars and other locations will further enhance Karishma - The Miracles of Destiny .

To be aired at prime time five times a week, Karishma may be a small screen venture but this 250 episode daily primetime serial has the ambience of a multistarrer.

After courtroom trial, Karishma...
set for viewers test

WILL she or wont she? Even as Karishma: The Miracle of Destiny goes on air on Sahara Manoranjan, Monday to Friday, 9.30 p.m., speculations are rife whether Karishma Kapoor can pull off one of the biggest and most expensive wagers of the small screen.

After emerging victorious from a real-life messy courtroom drama, the long-awaited serial has finally entered viewers living rooms. Though it may be too early to say, the question is: Can Karishma do for Sahara what Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi did for Star Plus?

Even as British author Barbara Bradford had taken Karishma to court on charges of plagiarism, the producers were going ahead with the shooting of the serial that is reported to be paying Karishma Rs 1 crore a month.

A few weeks ago, it was extensively shot in Dubai. In March, there was an 11-day shooting stint in New Zealand and in August, the unit is preparing to leave for Spain for another spell of overseas shooting of the serial that revolves around Karisma, whose character goes through a dramatic transition in a story that spans over five decades.

With a star cast comprising Bollywood discards like Arshad Warsi, Arbaaz Khan, Jugal Hansraj, Sanjay Kapoor and Vikas Bhalla, viewers are hotly debating whether Karisma would be able to rewrite her own destiny in films the way Bachchan did with KBC.