It isn’t too difficult adapting a blockbuster film into a 260-odd episode television series. There isn’t really a need to break one’s head writing a script and the cast and crew always have a DVD to fall back on. But then it isn’t an easy job either, as t2 found out at the shoot of NDTV Imagine’s Seeta Aur Geeta — TV’s much-talked-about take on the 1972 Hema Malini box-office winner.

On a cloudy Friday morning at the imposing Future Studios in Mumbai’s Goregaon area (the more famous Film City is located a short distance away), the second floor is abuzz with activity.

“Yeh waala thoda oopar kar le taaki face pe shine na kare,” shouts out one lightman to another. An ever-attentive spotboy pours out endless glasses of tea and coffee. A unit hand takes 15 minutes to adjust the leaves of a potted plant. As director Maqbool Khan, a veteran of many a saas-bahu soap, shouts out “Lights, camera, action!,” the entire unit miraculously goes silent.

Act 1, Scene 1

Small-screen actor Rituraj (who plays Seeta’s fearsome Chacha) and Gujarati film veteran Naresh Kanoria (who plays the family lawyer) exchange a few lines at the carefully done up entrance to the “mansion”. The 30-second shot is okayed after six takes.

Act 1, Scene 2

Word has been sent to Anjori Alagh, the two-film-old actress who plays the dual roles of Seeta and Geeta. Anjori is in her make-up room a floor above, but arrives in a bit to say a quick hello. Dressed in a red sari with a green border and silver mojris, but sans any make-up (“It’s my Seeta day. I have all rona-dhona scenes today,” she laughs), Anjori who starred in Vikram Bhatt films Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee and 1920 and is the daughter of corporate honcho Sunil Alagh and actress Maya Alagh, seems to be pretty popular with the unit. Equally popular are three kittens that run amok. “We found them on set the other day,” Anjori says excitedly as the kittens patiently await their turn for a cuddle. The atmosphere is light and fun, in spite of the sombre shots being canned.

t2: Seeta Aur Geeta goes on air in two days time (the first episode was aired on Monday evening). How are you feeling?

Anjori as Seeta with Sulbha Arya, who plays her grandmother

Anjori: Oh, I am a bundle of nerves right now. I was telling my mom last night that I can’t believe that the show is going on air so soon. It’s like someone would feel before a film release. The only difference is that with a film you know by the same evening ki picture chalegi ya flop hogi, but on TV you have to wait a good two weeks to get the TRPs. It’s agonising. (Laughs nervously.)

t2: No misgivings about moving from films to TV so soon?

Anjori: See, it isn’t that my film career is finished. In fact, I have only just started out. It’s true that I would have liked to do a lot more. But maybe I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. I didn’t really get good offers and some films that I had signed on got shelved. Then Seeta Aur Geeta came along and I decided that ‘this is it!’ No way was I going to pass up on a dream offer like this. But I am pretty sure of the fact that this is the only thing I am going to be doing on TV. After that, it’s back to films.

Act 1, Scene 3

Maqbool walks in to say hi. “Oh, tumi Bangali meye? I am half-Bengali,” he smiles. It is evident that the director and his actress share a great rapport.

Maqbool: Anjori is a great actor. I am glad we decided on her to play the central roles. She is extremely dedicated.

Anjori: If you are shooting from 6 in the morning to 1 in the night, you don’t really have a choice; you have to be dedicated! Nowadays, I only go back home to sleep. My mom sees so little of me that she actually comes to the sets to meet me! Shooting for television really toughens you up. Believe me, if you can take these shooting schedules, you can cope with anything in this world.

Act 1, Scene 4

Naresh Kanoria and Sulbha Arya in a wheelchair (she plays Seeta’s helpless grandmother) enact a scene where Kanoria’s character is meant to walk out in a huff. The no-frills scene hardly requires more than two retakes.

t2: Your father (former CEO and managing director, Britannia Industries) is hailed as one of the best brains in the business of brands. Were you never tempted to follow in his footsteps?

Anjori: Although I did feature in a lot of commercials as a kid, for a long time, I thought that acting was never really an option for me because I knew that my dad would flip if I ever uttered the A-word. I went to study business management at Stanford University, but an acting course that I pursued there made me want to shift gears as far as my career is concerned. My dad was a little disappointed, yes, but both my parents have been very supportive since then. And I still have my business management degree. I will definitely use it sometime.

t2: Do your parents advise you on career?

Anjori: A lot and all the time! (Laughs). From life to career to everything.

t2: Growing up, did you ever realise the celebrity status that your parents enjoyed?

Anjori: Not really. When you are a kid such things don’t matter. I did enjoy going to my mother’s film sets and getting pampered silly, but with my dad I only knew that he worked in a biscuit company. The only thing that excited me was the fact that we got to do biscuit tastings every few months!

t2: You spent many summers in Calcutta…

Anjori: Oh yes! My dad is from Calcutta. My grandparents still live above Flurys on Park Street. Although I haven’t been there in some time, I have such vivid memories of the city. Saturday Club, Tolly Club, Park Street, the drive down Red Road… I love Calcutta!

Act 1, Scene 5

It’s 1pm and Anjori is called for her first shot of the day. The two-minute scene involves her, Sulbha Arya and Sushmita Mukherjee as the evil aunt (a role that Manorama essayed to perfection in the film). Abused by her maami, Seeta breaks down as her grandmother consoles her. Maqbool seems pleased with the efforts of all actors and shouts out ‘Cut!’

t2: The upbeat Geeta and the deadbeat Seeta. Does the show present the ideal platform to showcase your talent?

Anjori: Oh, without a doubt. The kind of diverse emotions I am made to go through in a single day are amazing. I am so lucky to have been given an opportunity to be part of India’s first TV version of a film. I feel blessed!

Act 2, Scene 6

As she waits for her shot, Anjori sips piping hot tea to soothe a sore throat. Rituraj stops by and the two engage in good-natured banter. The next shot seems to be an important one — Seeta, pooja thali in hand, is escorted by maami to meet the lawyer. A demure Seeta fumbles, much to her maami’s agitation.

t2: You seem to share a great rapport with your co-stars…

Anjori: They are all such darlings! We spend so many hours together and we have bonded like family. They help me with my lines and give me a lot of feedback.