MUMBAI: The Sridevi starrer Humaari Bahu Malini Iyer (HBMI) is set to debut on Sahara Manoranjan on 5 January 2004.
Sahara, which urgently needs a hit series to make it to viewer consciousness, will debut the much awaited sitcom in the New Year.
HBMI went on the floors early in January 2003, and was scheduled to launch by mid 2003, but the legal hassles that held up the telecast of another mega show Karishma - The Miracles of Destiny, held up HBMI's launch as well.
The show, produced by Boney Kapoor's Sri Devi Productions and directed by Satish Kaushik, chronicles the life of a south Indian girl married into a north Indian family, and is expected to showcase the former cine star's flair for comedy.
Although the Karisma Kapoor starrer Karishma has been unable to wean viewers to Sahara, the network is currently buoyed up on news that its thriller serial Parcchaiyaan has bagged the Gold Award in the Best Promo for Drama category at the Promax and BDA awards.
Meanwhile, one of Sahara's leading serials, Zindagi Teri Meri Kahani (ZTMK) too has donned a new avatar, dumping several of the earlier leading characters in favour of a much younger set. Sources associated with the show say that ZTMK, which went in for the new look from 14 November, was begging for a younger, more vibrant look.
They opine that the earlier characters were getting 'overgrown' and that the series, which had turned into a daily after 60 episodes as a weekly, was begging for a younger, more vibrant look.
Consequently, a bunch of young artistes, Manmeet, Sucheta, Kunal, Sanjay Jog, Muskaan and Rupali Ganguly were brought in, while Mrinal Kulkarni, Salil Ankola, Arun Govil and Iravati were bowed out.
Sudesh Berry, one of the earlier protagonists, however stays and is paired opposite Rupali. Although the A V Telefilms produced series has not taken a 'leap forward' a la several Balaji Telefilms' serials, it will incorporate a 'thriller' element too along with the 'youthful' angle.