Rani Mukerji's brother turns TV producer

It's Bollywood star Rani Mukerji's brother's turn to enjoy the spotlight. Raja Mukerji, who has been waiting in the wings for long, makes his television debut as producer with an afternoon daily, Prratima, based on a Bengali novel penned by Tarashankar Bandopadhyay. The serial goes on air on Sahara Manoranjan from 23 August. Sahara has had its share of mega scale productions like Karishma-The Miracles of Destiny and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. Prratima, though not in the same league, will follow the channel's tradition of taking up unconventional themes. The glamour touch will not be forgotten - the show is being directed by Ashok Gaikwad who has his hands in two more projects- Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand (Star Plus) and Kkoi Dil Mein Hai (Sony). Raja's wife Jyoti Mukerji plays the title role. Based on a woman's struggle, the serial draws a parallel between a woman who revolts after being pushed too far and the transformation of the peace loving goddess Durga into a vengeful Mata Kali. Why Jyoti? "Why not?" asks the proud hubby. "Jyoti (currently seen in Kabhi Aaye Na Judaai is the best female actor on Indian television." Other cast names include Anuj Saxena, Kiron Kher, Nigar Lipstick Khan, Shishir Sharma, Vinita Malik, Mansi Salve and Ekta Sharma. Says Raja, "Prratima is a family soap, but at the end of the day, it will have several unexpected things which have not happened in the dime-a-dozen saas-bahu sagas being aired currently." Haven't we been hearing about Prratima for quite a while now? When asked about the delay in the proceedings, Raja offers, "I started working on this show somewhere in early 2003, but got an approval only after eight months. Thereafter, I started shooting and was supposed to come up with it in March this year. But I got entangled in a few things which pushed us back." And weren't Anang Desai, Vivek Mushran and Kunika an integral part of the original cast? Where are they? "Yes. I had shot the pilot with them. That way, Rajesh Sethi who directed the pilot was supposed to don the director's hat. But the channel wanted some changes," he says matter-of-factly. At the moment, Raja is ready with a bank of 32 episodes, armed with a sanction of 100 episodes from the channel. Kiron Kher will for the first time play vindictive mother-in-law to Jyoti who is locked in matrimony with Saxena. Raja says he would prefer to be called as the Concept-n-Creative Director of the show. "The production credits should go to my mother Krishna and wife Jyoti. My sister Rani has been a pillar of strength all along. She has been my biggest critic as well; this continuously motivated me to do better work." So, will we see Rani in this show? "Nahin yaar. I wouldn't prefer that. At least, nothing for now," he concludes. While Jatin Lalit have rendered music for the title track of Prratima, Alka Yagnik has lent her voice. Let's see if this one can set the cash registers of Sahara Manoranjan ringing.