MUMBAI: One could be forgiven for thinking some new Bollywood blockbuster was going on the floors. Screen siren Karisma Kapoor is there in a double role, along with a whole jing bang of lesser stars. It is not a movie though but the next big daily soap (maybe monster soap is a better word) and it's coming on Sahara TV in November.

The series has been conceived and created by Akash Deep, and has Karisma in a double role. It is being directed by Anurag Bansal, says Deep who is also the producer. Deep confirmed that the series, for which shooting is just about to start, is a daily soap and would be airing on Sahara TV in the 9 pm slot. Deep said the serial would be titled Karishma.

The other actors in this Bollywood star top heavy production are Sanjay Kapoor, Arbaaz Khan, Arshad Wasi, Sharad lapoor, Jugal hansraj, Sheeba, Apoorva Agnihotri, Vijay Raj, Salil Ankola, Pavan Malhotra, Parmit Shetty and Reshma Modi.

The writer is Sachin Bhowmik, screenplay by R Talukdar, and dialogues have been delivered by Naeem Izaaz, Deep says.

While details as to the kind of the money going into the serial were not immideately available Karisma will reportedly be paid an eight-figure fee that rivals the kind of monies doled out to the Big B Amitabh Bachchan for KBC on Star Plus.add just the costs of all the other stars in this mega soap and Karishma looks like being the costliest series ever made on Indian television.