What once scorched the silver screen will now enthrall the small screen audiences. Hugely popular Bollywood film "Seeta Aur Geeta", starring Hema Malini in an unforgettable double role, is now being converted into a TV series.

A first-time television producer, Sunil Bohra, has bought the rights of the film to use the storyline and characters for his show that would also be titled "Seeta Aur Geeta". He is making it for NDTV Imagine.

"I never wanted to become a 'chor' (thief) and so I decided to buy the rights of the film. I wanted to make this show and I wanted to do it honestly. It's such a wonderfully made film and I wanted to make sure that we give due credit to the filmmakers, " Bohra told over phone from Mumbai.

Directed by Ramesh Sippy, "Seeta Aur Geeta" was released in 1972 and became a blockbuster. Hema Malini played the identical twins in the romantic comedy and her outstanding performance won her Filmfare Best Actress Award. Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar played male leads in the movie.

"This film was one of the biggest ever in Indian cinema. It is funny and different, " said Bohra.

In the TV series, slated to go on air in February, the makers will incorporate fresh inputs.

"We have just lifted the characters of Seeta and Geeta from the film and also its plot that the two sisters separate after birth and meet later. But the story of the show has otherwise been worked upon and various tracks and twists have been added. We have already churned out a 208-episode story for the show, " he said.

While the search for the lead actress for the show is still on, actor Cezzane Khan of "Kasauti Zindagi Kay" fame has been zeroed in on to essay Sanjeev Kumar's role.

"We are auditioning for selecting the lead actress, but we have not limited our search to established actors or any new face. Whoever suits the role best and would be able to do justice to it would be the lucky one, " said Bohra.