MUMBAI: Sahara TV is firming up its plans to leverage its mega serials starring Bollywood stars during the forthcoming summer vacations. Also, the free-to-air Sahara channel will showcase the serials before the 14 July 2003 deadline when conditional access system will become a reality in the metros.

Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor's TV debut Karisma The Miracle of Destiny will launch on 28 April on Sahara TV. The serial will be aired Mondays to Thursdays at prime time. According to Sahara Media and Entertainment head Sumit Roy, the serial will be of a finite duration and will not exceed 262 episodes.

The second attraction of Sahara TV will be the Sridevi starrer Hamari Bahu Malini Iyer that will go on air by end May or first week of June.

This serial too, will be aired Mondays to Thursdays at prime time, in conjunction with Karisma The Miracle of Destiny and will be telecast for a finite 208 episodes.

The end of the year will see the debut of Amitabh Bachchan in the capacity of an actor in another mega serial. Roy refused to divulge details about the Bachchan starrer.

"We will be in the top bracket of entertainment channels within a year," promises Roy.