The 'badshah' of small screen thinks big

He can aptly be described as ``The Badshah of the small screen''. At a time when many others are struggling to present Indian classics in popular mainstream format, actor-turned-producer Sanjay Khan has not only made it big in the world of television but in the process has also established himself as a brand.

``I have always been associated with Doordarshan and my preference is for the national broadcaster,'' says this award- winning serial-maker who became a household name with ``The Sword of Tipu Sultan'' -- his first mega-venture for the small screen. Soon followed ``The Great Maratha'', ``Jai Hanuman'' and ``Shohrat'' and Sanjay Khan's creative capabilities came to be recognised not only nationally but also internationally.

The veteran producer, who is back with another historical serial -- this time on the revolt of 1857 and the little known heroes who started the first war of Indian independence -- proudly declares: ``Doordarshan has earned over Rs. 200 crores as revenue over the past 12 years from just one single company -- my Numero Uno International Limited.''

The grandeur and innovativeness projected by him in his serials has firmly established him as a TV moghul in India. One reason why he has been so successful is that he makes no distinction between producing a serial and a film. Treating both ventures as equal, Sanjay has always believed in investing lavishly on the sets and costumes as also in the post-production effects. ``Such a format is normally there only in cinema,'' he admits. ``But then that is what makes them so rich''.

Sanjay, who at present is making another serial based on the life of the mythological character -- Karna -- says ``the loyalty of the viewer is always with the programme and not the channel''. Giving the example of his ``Jai Hanuman'' -- a highly popular mythological serial which ran for 182 weeks -- Sanjay Khan says the intrinsic strength of a story or an epic also matters a lot. ``That is why I decided to make a series on the first war of Indian independence -- it has never before been told in a popular mainstream format.''

Excelling as he does in narrating a great story from history or mythology in such a manner that the characters come alive inside the viewers' homes, Sanjay's ``Maharathi Karan'' is already being lapped up by advertisers. ``There will be 104 episodes in all and we have already shot 14.''

While Doordarshan still remains his mainstay, in-house productions are now being telecast on private channels also as part of his company's revised business strategy. ``Jannat'' -- a Muslim social drama -- and ``Hrithik: The man behind the star'', a two-part programme on the life of Bollywood heart-throb Hrithik Roshan, who also happens to be Sanjay Khan's son-in-law -- have been received very well on other channels also.

With innovation and creativity as buzzwords, Sanjay Khan is now looking at the international market, specifically as he has been able to achieve a tie-up with internationally acclaimed production houses like Hallmark Entertainment. ``We are co- producing a film -- The Thief of Baghdad -- for the global audience,'' Sanjay informs. ``We will also be formally involving ourselves in the making of the popular Alladin series, again by Hallmark.''

And now that the small screen has become too small for him, Sanjay is exploring the possibility of making an international film on the evergreen hero of Indian epics, Lord Rama.``When the West can make films such as `Ben Hur' and `Ten Commandments', why not India?'' he asks. ```Maryada Purushottam Ram', as we have titled the film, will have a popular star-cast, with Amitabh Bachchan playing the role of Dasharath and Jackie Shroff playing Ravana.''

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