Prajjal Saha
Media

Rajshri Films re-enters TV business after 20 years

The last two Rajshri movies have performed poorly at the BO. But that has nothing to do with its present interest in television productions, the company claims

Remember 'Hum Aapke Hai Kaun' and 'Maine Pyar Kiya'? The people behind the blockbusters are now venturing into television. Interested?

Rajshri Films is producing a new show 'Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki' for SaharaOne. The show will go on air from May 30 at 9 pm.

In an exclusive interview with agencyfaqs!, Sooraj R Barjatya, director, Rajshri Films, says, “For the last 4-5 years, we had been planning to get into television production. But we couldn't dedicate much time for it. Now, with my sister Kavita Barjatya taking the responsibility of handling television projects, we will start focusing on TV.”

Rajshri Films is looking at producing a few more television soaps and is engaged in talks with other channels.

Barjatya categorically denied that the company's venture into the boobtube has anything to do with how his latest films bombed at the BO. He adds, “We are also entering the regional films genre. We will release two regional movies – Bengali and Oriya – very soon.” He is also presently working on the script of a Hindi movie.

Incidentally, this is not the first time that Rajshri Films will be producing a television show. It made its TV debut way back in 1985 with a show called 'Paying Guest' for Doordarshan.

Talking about this new television show, Barjatya says, “Woh Rehne Waali... carries the Rajshri signature. Like our movies have been known for family drama blended with strong Indian ethics, the storyline of this television series is also on similar lines. This will be a complete family entertainment.”

The story of Woh Rehne Waali... revolves around a 19-year old girl Rani – the youngest among the four sisters of a rich family – who goes through several ups and downs in her life, both emotional and financial.

Rajshri Films chose SaharaOne to make its television comeback since “at SaharaOne, we could get the independence and freedom to work in our own style”, Barjatya explains.

Purnendu Bose, COO, SaharaOne Television, says, “We are banking heavily on this show. We are also promoting it very aggressively.”

Apart from the use of conventional media such as print and television, the channel is also looking forward to on-ground events and several below-the-line activities. SaharaOne has painted 5,000 auto-rickshaws around the country and five trains in Mumbai around the theme of the show.

Sooraj Barjatya is the second hot-shot director to produce content for SaharaOne after Ken Ghosh (of Ishq Vishq fame). The channel has also cast Bollywood stars – Karishma Kapur, Sridevi, Raveena Tandon and Hema Malini – as lead characters in its shows. In spite of this glamorous cast, the shows haven't been been able to rise on the TVR chart.

Bose explains, “There are several other things that needs to be taken care of, apart from the content of the show. At present, we are gearing up to work on these fronts.”

Woh Rehne Waali... will be aired at 9 pm, while Ken Ghosh's ADA will move to 9.30 pm. Hema Malini starer Kamini Damini is being taken off. Bose says, “The show is meeting its natural end.” © 2005 agencyfaqs!

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