The phenomenon of big-screen movie moguls hitting the small screen started way back in the late 1980s when Ramanand Sagar (director of the hit film, Aankhen) started Ramayan. B R Chopra (Naya Daur, Gumrah) followed it with Mahabharat.
Recently, the Barjatyas started their small screen opus called Pyaar Ke Do Naam ? Ek Raadha Ek Shyaam.
Now B R Chopra turns to the small screen again with his big-budget, multi-starrer soap, Viraasat.
Viraasat seems to follow old wine-in-new-bottle technique -- it deals with the clichéd theme of the clash between two families. Starring Rohit Roy, Sangita Ghosh, Amar Upadhyay, Aman Verma, Kiran Kumar and Deepak Kajir, Viraasat is the story of Rohit Lamba (Roy) who studied abroad.
After returning to India he has joined the family business. He falls in love with a rival family's daughter Priyanka Kharbanda (Ghosh) without worrying about the consequences.
The Kharbanda family, headed by Kailash (Deepak Kajir), has two children, Kunal (Amarr Upadhyay) and Priyanka. The Lamba family, on the other hand, is headed by Raman Lamba (Kiran Kumar), who has two sons Rishabh (Aman Verma) and Rahul (Rohit Roy).
"My role is a perfect blend of Akshaye Khanna in Taal and Aamir Khan in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak," says Roy.
Ghosh was initially skepetical about her pairing with Roy. She says, "I have worked mostly with Varun Vadola in serials and our onscreen chemistry really clicks. But despite my initial reservations about Rohit Roy, we had a great time working together and all those who have seen the rushes praise our onscreen chemistry."
Though Amarr Upadhyay has been seen fleetingly on TV in CID and Kasauti Zindagi Kay, this will be his first major role in a long time. "I play an IAS officer, who has a pivotal role in the quarrel between two families," he says. "I heard that many actors were short-listed for the role, but ultimately, I bagged it! I have been working with Raviji (Chopra) for a long time now. In fact, a number of my ad films were directed by Raviji. I feel Viraasat will be the mother of all soaps!"
Aman Verma, who is on a break after Indian Idol 2 winded up, says, "Raviji is like a father figure to me. If I am in any trouble, he is the person I will go to. My character, Rishabh Lamba, can do anything for his family -- now whether he is the hero or villain is something for the audience to judge!"
Viraasat will be aired on Star Plus from June 12 at 9 pm, Monday through Thursday.
