Over two decades ago, Chandrakanta was aired on Doordarshan. Now a new version of the fantasy drama, Prem Ya Paheli — Chandrakanta, is coming up. Interestingly, Sudesh Berry, who will be playing the role of Maricha in the new Chandrakanta was approached to play the lead role in the earlier one. However, he turned it down as he was pursuing his film career then. When he was offered a role in the new version, the actor took it up because he thought it’s destiny to be approached again for a role in the serial. The actor confirms, “I was offered the hero’s role opposite Shikha Swaroop, but I was a bit busy so recommended other actors. I never knew then that 25 years later I will be part of the new version of the same fantasy drama. I am playing Maricha, who has some supernatural powers. So, even if I am not the hero now, I am the superhero! I look at it positively.”
Other common factors
Apart from Sudesh, there are other interesting parallels between the earlier and new Chandrakanta. Brother duo Harsh and Puneet Vasishtha are part of the new Chandrakanta while their father Brahmachari acted in the original. Recalls Harsh, “I remember going on the sets in the ’90s with my father. I would be excited to see him in the get-up. When Puneet and I were approached for the new Chandrakanta, we looked at each other and felt it was father’s blessings.” Harsh plays Chandrakanta’s father Jai Singh while Puneet plays Badrinath, Maricha’s informant. The duo has acted together in Kumkum and Banoo Mein Teri Dulhann. Then there’s Chokas Bharadwaj, who had designed the pilot episode of the original Chandrakanta as an assistant, is doing the sets and art designing of the new version.
