The true mark of success for an adaptation is when the maker of the original applauds it.That's exactly what happened on Tuesday. Writer Howard Gordon, who's also the executive producer of 24 and co-creator of Homeland, visited the set of Anil Kapoor's 24 and came out quite impressed. The power-packed action sequences and invigorating story-telling managed to put AK's 24 India on the global map. Now, the soon-to-air Season 2 on Colors promises to be twice as grand and exciting. Just like the audiences here, Howard, too, is looking forward to the new season. When he met Anil, you could see the great camaraderie that the two share. Excerpts from their interviews...

HOWARD GORDON

What did you think about India's Jack Bauer (Anil Kapoor)?
I think Anil was very brave to take up a character as iconic as Jack and make it his own. Even the rest of the cast - his wife and the actor who plays Tony - all these guys were terrific. More than the production quality, I was worried about the character, but Anil really made it his own!

Howard, are Anil and you in touch regularly?
Every time he is in LA, we meet. We email each other and stay in touch.

How much of 24 India did you watch?
The entire season. I loved it or I wouldn't have watched the whole thing.

Do you have any suggestions for Season 2?
I know that this season is adapted from our Season 3 and that was the second most challenging season. I am very curious to know how this will turn out. I'll tell you what it was... basically Jack did not have his wife and he was also a drug addict. It was a hard thing to do dramatically.

From the time you started as a writer on 24 in 2001 till the last season, what were the changes that you went through as a creative person?
That's an interesting question. I have less energy, a lot less energy than I had! But I have learnt something too - at some level 24 was very umm... but I think TV has changed since 2001. I feel intimidated by how much good stuff there is out there, so I think I'm going to be much more discriminating in terms of what I do from this point forward. If you ever have to ask yourself, 'Why am I telling this story', then you should not be doing it.

The new season of the international 24 will be without Jack Bauer. So Kiefer Sutherland, who has been playing the iconic character, will no longer be a part of the show.
I would never say never but Kiefer has another show on, so there are no plans. The idea is to give these new characters the opportunity. The big question is... Is this show all about Jack Bauer is there room for 24 beyond Jack Bauer.

ANIL KAPOOR

How was it to have Howard on your set?
Howard had promised me he would come for the first season but he couldn't make it. There couldn't have been a better time for him to visit, as it is good for the show and for all us working on it. He is such a giving person and the show happened because of him. He was the one who picked up the phone and spoke to all the stakeholders of the show. Internationally, if there is anything you want to do, it gets tough legally because there are many stakeholders and all of them involved in 24 have become billionaires. So for them, the money they get from India is good, but not paramount. For them, the more important thing was that we maintain the quality of the show and they were very happy with the response the show got and the fact that we could keep the quality intact. That's why they are here.

Tell us about your first interaction with Howard.
I acted in 24 Season 8 where he was the show runner, the boss. The profession we are in, it's only the kind of work you do that can get people closer to each other, no matter how charming you are, how big a star you are or how good you are to that person. I met him the first time when they approached me for the show. I went for the narration and to discuss the script and my look.

What do you have to say about Howard's contribution to television and 24 India?
Howard's contribution to television itself has been huge given the kind of shows he has done - 24 and Homeland. 24 is the mother of all thrills and he has won Emmy Awards for the show, which is a big honour in itself. Without him, our show wouldn't have happened. He introduced me to everybody and he made all the calls to the writers and producers. He said that he will make it happen and he did. A lot of people were wanting to make the show but they could not. Nobody was wanting to do it professionally or legally. And I believe if your intent is right and if you do it in a moralistic way, things work out. You have to respect the original and that's what I have done. That's why I feel the show is successful.