Popular detective serial Karamchand on Sony from Feb 10

Mumbai, Feb 8 (UNI) The carrot munching detective Karamchand and his assistant Kitty, who took the small screen by storm two decades ago, are back on Sony Television from this Saturday with new stories.

The new series produced and directed by Pankaj Parashar will have the veteran actor Pankaj Kapur playing the same role, which made him a household name, and Sucheta Khanna instead of Sushmita Mukherji as Kitty. It will be aired at 2100 hrs every Saturday.

Addressing a press conference here, Kapur today said there were no major changes in the character except the fact that he had aged by 20 years.

''With age, the attitude of the character will also be different.I took up the role again due to my friendship with Pankaj Parashar, who was keen to test how the serial would work in present times where audiences have several choices as compared to what the situation was 20 years ago when there was only Doordarshan. I see it as an interesting exercise of revisiting the character I have played earlier and it is part of my growing experience as an actor,'' he added.

The seasoned actor expressed his disappointment with the kind of content being aired on television in the name of entertainment nowadays and said that it is nothing but misrepresentation of Indian culture and people.

''I am surprised that such stuff is accepted by the audiences.

Perhaps, it is because there is no alternative programming,'' he opined.

The noted actor said he was working in television for the last 22 years, out of choice and not necessity.

''It is only television where one gets to essay a variety of roles. Television is a powerful communicative medium which is expected to grow in the years to come. I do not relate to any of the television content being aired now. Hence, I am doing selective work. After all, there is life beyond Sindoor, Saas and Bahu,'' he observed sarcastically .

Kapur recounted that the 1980s was the best period on television, as content ranging from literature, comedy and experimental stories were aired and all were successful.

''I may direct a film some day,''he revealed and added that his forthcoming releases as an actor are Blue Umbrella, Dharm, Halla Bol and an English Film 'Good Sharma'.

Karamchand in it's second avtar has been planned for 30 episodes with each episode being of 45 minutes duration.

To a question on why the original Kitty Sushmita Mukherji was not on the show, Kapur clarified that it was the director's prerogative.

UNI