'God willing, we just might.” Banu says she does watch TV “especially when you are a producer and don’t want to repeat things that are already being shown on television. 'I quite love Marathi films especially the comedies and I like the flavour of the Bhojpuri dialect, and so I decided to produce a Bhojpuri film.” She says she has lots of ideas “for TV and three scripts for films, in fact even Dilipsaab (Kumar) is keen we make a film on one of those subjects.' There were offers too, to act in Marathi and Bhojpuri cinema.' I have always been fond of the Bhojpuri dialect ever since I watched Ganga Jumna years ago. “Yes, and a film with actors Ravi Kisshen and Nagma is ready for release. The veteran actor recently ventured into production of Bhojpuri films. From school to films, that was my journey and so I don’t know anything else.” Speaking of being in front of the camera, has she been getting any attractive offers? She smiles, “Well, acting has always been an attractive thing for me because frankly, it’s all I know. 'I can’t spend too much of my time being either in front of the camera or behind it because that will mean I have to be physically present there and that’s the reason I have chosen to distance myself from those things.” 'But I just couldn’t do it this time round because direction is a huge responsibility and that would have meant compromising on my family responsibilities.” Banu says she can’t afford to neglect her family duties because “I’ve always been fortunate to have my mother and grandmother around me.'

The concept of the story, written by Banu's niece Shaheen, focuses on women in India today

The story revolves around a woman’s need to be self-dependent and her right to earn her self-respect. Saira Banu's new serial Stree - Teri Kahani starts August 21 on DD and will air from Monday to Friday.

Star cast of stree teri kahani