Kapoor plays the version of the character of Jack Bauer.
By Raif Karerat
Bollywood screen legend Anil Kapoor has launched a desi version of “24” where he plays the Indian version of Jack Bauer.
The show retains all the same motifs and drama of the original American series, but all of the characters and storylines have been altered to work within an Indian context.
The Daily Mail reported that Kapoor’s “24” is one of the most expensive television shows ever filmed for the Indian market.
“We are giving them their star that they love and we are giving them subject matter which is close to them, which is India, patriotism, terrorism, crime, thriller and family emotions. Where can this go wrong?” asked director Abhinay De.
Kapoor notably played President Omar Hassan of the fictional Islamic Republic of Kamistan during the show’s final season in the U.S.
The beloved Bollywood actor said he had to bring “discipline and professionalism” from U.S. television to India to get the production filmed in time.
Kappor recently revealed to The Times of India that a second season for the appropriated TV show has already been confirmed.
“We will have a new star cast, a lot of new people are going to be there,” told Kapoor, who plays Anti-Terrorist Unit chief Jai Singh Rathore in the show.
Asked if the trend of adapting foreign television shows for the Indian small screen — the latest being “Sumit Sambhal Lega,” which is adapted from “Everybody Loves Raymond” — is due to a lack of risk taking — the 58-year-old disagreed that programming derived from existing American shows were inferior.
“There is nothing wrong with adaptations. It is, after all, a business. You can get a good story from anywhere, so why not?” he mused.