When 20-year-old Tunisha Sharma died tragically on December 24 and a day later, her co-actor Sheezan Khan was arrested for abetment to suicide, everyone thought that their TV show Ali Baba Dastaan-e-Kabul would be pulled off air abruptly. The two were the lead actors and given that television shows barely have banked episodes, it would be difficult for the show to continue.

But the production house and channel have decided to continue the show and have managed to do that by focusing on other actors and different tracks. A channel official confirmed, “The show is definitely not going off-air. It will continue.”

Tunisha reportedly died by suicide on the sets of Ali Baba Dastaan-e-Kabul in Naigaon. Her mother lodged a complaint against Sheezan, post that the was arrested and is currently in judicial custody.

The hunt for lead actors is on, but we hear that Tunisha’s character will not be replaced. Instead, they will bring in someone to play a new character. For the male lead, Alibaba, which was essayed by Sheezan, there is buzz that Abhishek Nigam is being considered. However, Abhishek’s mother has denied the news.

Meanwhile, the cast and crew are glad that the makers have decided to continue with the show. They are currently shooting at a different set located three kilometres away from the former. “It is not easy to shoot post the tragedy, but life has to go on, and we are glad that the production house and channel have decided to continue with the show,” said a cast member.