It is a massive yet intimate saga': Mira Nair ahead of 'A Suitable Boy' premiere

Filmmaker Mira Nair says she always wanted to live in and witness era of 1950s India, a wish that she is w fulfilling with her upcoming BBC series "A Suitable Boy".

An official aptation of acclaimed author Vikram Seth's classic vel of same name, "A Suitable Boy" hits television screens in UK on Sunday, with a diverse cast of over 100 actors from India and around world.

Nair, who is kwn for critically-acclaimed films such as "Salaam Bombay", "Monsoon Wedding" and " Namesake", is making her television debut with six-part BBC drama which is set in post-Independence India.

story centres around19-year-old university student Lata, portrayed by newcomer Tanya Maniktala, who struggles with her life being mapped out thanks to old tritions and an overbearing mor who wants to find her a suitable husband.

elaborate cast and crew me up of worldwide artists based mselves in Uttar Presh for duration of shoot to capture aunticity of vel's milieu.

"'A Suitable Boy' is a modern classic about a time when a country is finding its feet after Independence. It is a massive yet intimate saga; an extraordinary tale of love and friendship across class and certainly across religion," Nair said.

"It has been one of my favourite vels since day it was written. I re it repeatedly and felt as if it was my best friend. I felt a sense of great companionship and understanding and a sense of evoking a time in India in which I longed to have lived. I just vowed to direct aptation of it," she ded.

series has been apted for screen by Andrew Davies, kwn for his flair at apting classics such as "Pride and Prejudice" and "War and Peace" for BBC. 

It comes with avast canvas of 113 actors  including prominent Bollywood names Tabu, Ishaan Khatter, Rasika Dugal, Randeep Hooda, Vinay Pathak, Ram Kapoor, Vijay Varma, Ranvir Shorey and ors.

"What excited me about this role is that she lives in a world of her own, which does t merge with outside world," said Tabu, who plays courtesan Saeeda Bai and has previously worked with Mira Nair on " Namesake".

And Khatter, who essays role of Maan Kapoor, reflects on how story is about journey of newly-independent India coming into its own, mirrored in personal journey of characters.

" setting and characters are very compelling. I think people all over world will find it fascinating, especially people who are t privy to lives of Indians, to discover sights and sounds and how it was in that time period for m," said Khatter, who me his Bollywood debut with Dhak'.

Actor Namit Das recalls elaborate preparations he h to go through in order to play his character of Haresh Khanna.

" highlight for me was preparation that went into this. I learnt how to make a shoe. Mira stressed on that.

"y actually sent me pants which were until my waist. And I used to sleep in m so that y don't look awkward on me. All of se are such special memories," he said.

Das believes comparisons with iconic book will t impact series, which is a celebration of all characters created by Vikram Seth  who backed screen aptation with inputs.

"Expect se characters to become part of your lives just way y became your favourites when you re book. thing 'unsuitable' in 'A Suitable Boy'," he ded.

new series airs weekly on Sundays on BBC and will be available around world, including India, on Netflix.