Ekta Kapoor speaks on her new show, Oscars and her mother Shobha

The czarina of Indian Television, Ekta Kapoor has managed a casting coup of sorts with Sonali Bendre, Apurva Agnihotri and Harsh Chayya in her new show Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye. Though Ekta says that the show puts light on the financial issues women face, the show has hints of an extra-marital affair track. However, the producer denies it vehemently, "It can appear to be so but it's not about an extra-marital affair."

Explaining the concept of the show, Ekta says, "The show is about financial independence. The show is bold and controversial in its approach. It is the story of a woman who is on the lookout for a job but things turn out to be quite different from what she had planned. The show will act as a wake-up call for every woman and urge them to take matters in their own hands when the family is going through a financial crisis. If something goes wrong with her husband, the woman should be strong enough to support the family and take care of the in-laws just like a daughter would of her parents."

The show revolves around the protagonist Shobha's (Sonali Bendre) life, who is happy in her own world till one day her life comes crashing down as her politician husband Samarth (Harsh Chhaya) is arrested for breach of information. She is expected to transform from a housewife to the breadwinner of the family, almost overnight. Even as she is trying to figure her new responsibility, she is hired by a coffee shop owner (Apurva Agnihotri). Apart from dealing with difficulties of life at home, she also has to face her demanding boss at work. Upon being asked about the kind of employer-employee relationship that the protagonists will share, the show's producer says, "All I can say is they support each other. There is anti-chemistry but they are friends too."

Ekta is also quite realistic in her expectations from the show. She confessed that she thought that Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye had 50 per cent chances of failure and 50 per cent chances of being a hit.

Rumour has it that stars from her other productions have a problem with the astronomical sum that the producer is paying to Sonali for her maiden stint on TV in the fiction category. When asked about this, Ekta retorts, " If anyone has a problem with the money I am offering to Sonali, I will ask that person to act in a Bollywood film like Sonali, make that film a super hit like she did and then come ask for the raise."

Ekta is often credited for having single-handedly changed the Indian TV scenario. She is also known for her ability to handle a TV show and a film at the same time. Ask her if she would like to be nominated for the Academy Awards and she quips,"Why not? I would love if my films goes to the Oscars but my films are not made for Oscars, I make them for my viewers. I am not a critics junkie at all. If feel happy if the channel people, my audience and the one with whom I work, are happy."

In the show, Sonali Bendre plays Shobha who is a headstrong girl. Ask Ekta if the name was in any manner inspired from her mother's name and she says,"While deciding on a name for the character who carves her own path in the world, I couldn't think of a better name than my mother's. The character is a tribute to my mother and is named Shobha for her strong decision making powers. The audience will establish an immediate connect with the name."