Sarika, who made her TV debut in Anurag Kashyap's thriller featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Yudh, last year, is up for round two. The actress will be seen in an episode of the horror series Darr Sabko Lagta Hai, hosted by Bipasha Basu. Gulaab Gang director Soumik Sen, who has directed two episodes of the show already­ one featuring Vidya Malvade and Rajshri Deshpande and the other with actor Zakir Hussain­ will be directing this episode as well.

“Sarikaji hasn't done much in the horror space in quite a while so when we shared the script with her she was extremely excited,“ confirms Soumik, adding that the actress will be playing a cruel, obsessive mother. Sarika has previously featured in horror films like Shyam and Tulsi Ramsay's Dahshat (1981) and Abhigyan Jha's Sacred Evil (2006). “The role has shades of grey and is set in Goa where she lives by herself. Later, a bunch of people come over for a home-stay. What happens next is the whole story,“ says the filmmaker, who has given the actress a traditional look.

“We start shooting this weekend in Mumbai. But before that we will have a few reading sessions,“ Soumik reveals, adding that the show's format appealed to him. “There is a new story every episode. I haven't done much in the horror genre before, so I am havin a good time.“ Soumik admires Sarika's work in films like Vidhaata, Manorama Six Feet Under, Parzania and an unreleased Shoojit Sircar film titled Shoebite co-starring Amitabh Bachchan. “She is such a powerful and graceful actress, I am really looking forward to working with her,“ he says.

Sarika, who shares a great bond with producer Priti Sinha, was roped in for the TV show by chance. “Sarikaji was supposed to do a film with us titled Gauri Ma, to be directed by Sandeep Chowta. The script of Soumik's episode for Darr Sabko Lagta Hai strangely reminded me of that film. So I immediately called her up and she was on board,“ says Priti.

Soumik is currently writing his next movie script. “You'll hear more of it soon,“ he promises.