It’s a classic case of TRP-hijacking. Zee’s prized serial, Betiyann, which goes on air next week has supposedly been vandalised from another soap on the girl-child Paraya Dhan, which goes on air mid-October. Apparently writer Rekha Mody offered the idea to Zee who put her on to Dheeraj Kumar’s company Creative Eye. Rekha pulled out due to creative differences with Zee and Creative Eye, and offered the project to Star who readily agreed. And now Rekha has sued Zee in the High Court.

According to Star source Shailja Kejriwal, “Zee has appropriated Rekha’s plot, characterisations, everything. It’s not fair to the poor girl. Zee had sent us a legal notice asking what we were doing. But Paraya Dhan is Rekha’s concept. They’ve even taken our title Betiyann. We decided not to fight for the title. But it’s wrong of them to take poor Rekha Mody’s concept and project.”

Zee’s spokesperson Ashish Kaul has another story to tell. “We had to protect our interests. We sent a communication to Star informing them that the title Betiyann is with us and that we’ve spent considerable time and money on the concept. Thankfully, Star changed their title. The matter ends there for us. As for Betiyann being similar to Paraya Dhan…can’t two channels think on similar lines? The biggest differentiation comes through the art of storytelling. Otherwise the drama is all the same. When a producer approaches us, certain criteria have to be fulfilled. We’re convinced Dheeraj Kumar holds the title rights for Betiyann. I’ve no idea what Star is making. They’re masters of the game. They’d never want their product to look similar to our product. I don’t know how far Rekha Mody intends to take this. But for us the matter ends there.”

Speaking from the High Court Rekha Mody explains, “Zee is lying. Betiyann is my concept, my serial. I’ve ample proof. Zee had sent an injunction-notice for Paraya Dhan to Star. How did Zee know our serial was similar to theirs? I pulled out of Zee with Betiyann because there were too many creative disputes. They imposed their writers on me….When I opted out they said they’re going ahead with my project without me. I had worked for years on the project. I know about the struggle of the girl child. And I wanted to have my say. I first decided to make it for Rakhi Tandon, then Zee. Finally, I found my comfort level at Star. How can a large corporate house like Zee be lying through their teeth? They took my entire property. I left so many serials of Balaji Telefilms to concentrate on Betiyann. Earlier Zee and Creative Eye had done something similar to a serial called Jai Santoshi Maa. I’m a very small writer. I don’t have anyone’s backing. Zee and Dheeraj Kumar have lots of money to fight. I don’t. I run my family’s kitchen. But I won’t let 10 powerful people grab my creativity and make it their own.” Rekha Mody plans to fight it out till the end. Will Betiyann be allowed to go on air next week?