Mahesh Bhatt is the latest name from Bollywood to turn to television. His serial will go on air in July next year.

The filmmaker says, `It is the media of this century. It is a bandwidth to creatively fulfil me much more than the movies. It is a family drama and TV producer Rajan Shahi is partnering with us.''

Writer Zama Habib, who has written serials like Sasural Kenda Phool, is developing the idea that has been fathered by Bhatt. He says, `It is family drama but not of the typical kind or the saas-bahu types. We are trying to bring new characters which have never been seen on television before.

Besides all I can say is the story premise is quite fresh. The protagonist is not the regular sacrificing type. She has her own dream to fulfil at any cost. It is a story about an ambitious girl with selfish traits learning te true meaning of life. The protagonist is not the heroine but becomes one.''

Director Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi said, `In the past producer directors like Ramesh Sippy, BR Chopra , Ramanand Sagar all known for films made serials as it was growing medium and provide space for new ideas. Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani and Saeed Mirza also made programes of television.''

Among other B-Town filmmakers turning to the small screen include Anurag Kashyap who is producing a TV show along with Amitabh Bachchan. Anil Kapoor's TV show 24 recently got wrapped up.