Manasi Varma, who plays Monalika in Star Plus' <em>Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii</em> will play a rough and tough cop in Sony's <em>CID Special Bureau</em>. Manasi is the only item girl to have hit tellydom, her number in <em>KKoi Dil Mein Hai</em>, set the screen on fire. She plays both negative and positive characters with such elan that makes the men go gaga over her. "Yes, it is a very different character, and that is the reason why I decided to do this role," says Manasi, who is leaving for the US to be part of Harry Anand's dance troupe.

The cast of <em>Instant Khichdi</em> is slotted to appear in <em>Sarabhai vs Sarabhai</em> on 18 and 19 of April. "We wanted to show our range. While we generate smiles in <em>Sarabhai</em>…, in Instant…we aim for peels of laughter. Imagine the situation, where an upper-middle class family finds out that they have crass and loud relatives…," says JD Majethia, the producer of both these shows.

Salil Ankola is now in form to play Inspector Akshay in <em>CID Special Bureau</em> from 11 March. So how does it feel to be a part of the striking corps of cops, geared up to wipe out crime? "It's awesome. I played Special Investigation Officer in <em>Kehta Hai Dil</em> and co-incidentally I am playing it again in <em>CID Special Bureau</em>," says and excited Salil.

Sony's first offering for the year, <em>Rihhaee</em> promises to be a daring serial of a different sort. Rajeshwari Sachdev and Nakul star in this bi-weekly show, that's being described by its makers, BAG Films, as a 'socially aware high drama show'. Anurradha Prasad, creator of the critically acclaimed <em>Haqeeqat</em> on Sahara, turns to Sony this time with an offering that's as different from its 'Kumkum - Pyarasa Bandhan' on Star Plus and '<em>Siddhanth</em>' on Star One, as chalk from cheese.