/> Star is all set to telecast its first historical from Mid-May, three times a week Friday to Sunday. And it's Prithiviraj Chauhan. It's being produced for star by the late Ramnand Sagar's production house.

In the past the Sagars have had great success in the historical/mythological genre with Ramayan and Krishna.

Says Star's COO Samir Nair. "There's a lot of interest in the historical the world over. And you've to admit, Prithviraj makes a punchy tale. He was the last Hindu king."

Prithviraj will be played by Angad Bedi, son of former cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi, Angad also starred in Sashi Kumar's art-house film Kaya Taran.

Prithviraj Chauhan was originally scheduled to go on air after KBC.

Says Samir, "We couldn't pre-pone it because it's still in production. We're very excited about Prithviraj because this is the first time we've commissioned a historical. It costs a lot more than the average fiction programme."

So what happens to Dr Chandraprakash Diwedi's plans to make Prithviraj-Sanjukta with Sunny Deol in the lead?

"We're going right ahead," says Dr Diwedi. "In fact we had plans of making both a TV serial and a feature film simultaneously. But I vetoed it. I don't think television can do justice to Prithviraj."

Another big one for Star Plus is Rajshri productions' Pyar Ke Do Naam Ek Radha Ek Shyam. Says samir Nair, "We were very impressed by their daily Woh Rehne Wali Mehlon Ki on Sahara. We were in talks with them beforehand. Television is a recent medium for them. And the Rajshris are now very much into it. The serial has opened well."