Master class filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker finally made a formal announcement of his ambitious mega television project, Everest on Star Plus. Choosing not to lift much surprise over the project yet, Ashutosh introduced the crew of the serial preferring to keep his main actors away from the spotlight. And if the crew and their credentials are anything to go by, it certainly looks like Ashutosh has a winner on hand in terms of grandeur and magnitude. Talking about why he chose a story like Everest, Ashutosh said, "When this story of Everest came in my mind about how a girl fulfills her father's dream, I felt it's a fine blend of drama and adventure and instantly decided to produce it." While the world over knows Ashutosh for his directorial skills having helmed prestigious projects like Lagaan, Swades, Jodha Akbar and many others, it was wee bit surprising to see him relinquish the directorial chair for the younger lot like Ankush and Glen Baretto for Everest. Commenting on why he chose not to direct this project, Ashutosh said, "I never ever thought I could direct it myself because I don't have the discipline to direct a television show. My directors know television more." Ashutosh who is known for making period films also desisted from opinions from friends and well-wishers of making Everest a movie rather than a serial. When asked why he chose to make it into a serial, Ashutosh said, "There are various issues and sides which we want to express and if I had made a movie it would have become way too long. So I wanted to justify all the characters and their own personal everests. A film wouldn't have allowed that." While Ashutosh certainly should be lauded for trying his hand at a serial that is radically different in content as compared to our saas-bahu sagas, the fear of whether his different venture would be accepted by Indian audience still looms large. When we asked him about any concerns pertaining the same especially after Yudh's (starring Amitabh Bachchan on Sony Entertainment Television) failure to attract audience, the director said, "Yudh had a good story but somehow the audience didn't like it. You will have some hits and some miss. A collective effort will bring in a change. Indian audience are ready to face the change. Even in cinema, independent films are being encouraged and liked by audience. We do have mainstream big budget films that make crores of money. Now this money has to be ploughed into smaller films. Even in television different content can coexist with saas bahu serials. It's sad that Yudh didn't work. But for every despair there is hope." For now, Star Plus plans to announce the starcast at a grand event a month later.