I wanted to make film based on `Saraswatichandra`, says Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has said that he actually wanted to make a film based on the subject but later felt television was a better medium.

Mumbai: Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who has adapted popular Gujarati novel `Saraswatichandra` into a TV serial, said he actually wanted to make a film based on the subject but later felt television was a better medium.

"I think today TV has a bigger reach than films. There are almost double or triple audience for TV than for films. It is a wonderful love story. I felt TV was the best medium to explore it. I wanted to make a film on this. But I felt doing a TV show would be better," Bhansali told reporters here last night. The show `Saraswatichandra` was launched last night on its sets put up in Filmcity, in suburban Goregaon. "It is a very special day in my life, in my almost 20 years of career. It`s for the first time that I am coming up with a TV show. This show means a lot to me. We have been working on it for a year or so with utmost honesty. We are proud of what we have created," Bhansali said. "The TV show just happened. I don`t know how and when...It just happened. I am happy it happened," he said. Bhansali, who is known for creating dramas on a wide canvas like `Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam`, `Devdas`, `Black` and others, has brought the same grandeur to his debut TV show, his first production for the small screen. The show is based on the popular Gujarati novel `Saraswatichandra`, by Govardhanram Madhavaram Tripathi. It is set in the early 20th century and revolves around two Gujarati families. "We have adapted a different version of the concept for the TV show. Considering the audience`s taste and today`s times, we have made certain changes and have retained certain aspects from the novel. But we can`t talk about it in detail as we want people to watch the show. All I can say is, I think the changes were needed," Bhansali said. Considering that Bhansali is a filmmaker himself, there have been occasions when he provided suggestions for the show. "I have been providing suggestions, at times they are taken and at other times not taken. I think they understand TV more than me...So they consider suggestions accordingly. Overall my experience has been wonderful...I have learnt a lot," he said. On the time span of the show, Bhansali said, "Depending on how the show is perceived by the audience we will decide on its time span." Actress Rani Mukerji, who worked with Bhansali in films like `Black` and `Saawariya` had come to launch his debut TV show in Filmcity last night. Talking about Rani, Bhansali said, "I am happy that she is here to launch the show. It feels special. I must say there is no such actress like her (Rani), she is spectacular. It is fun to work with her. I owe a lot to Rani. It`s great to have a friend and an actress like her." The show will go on air from February 25 -- Monday to Friday -- at 7.30 PM on Star Plus. PTI