Back at Star, Segal spent time hands on with the conceptualisation and the making of Star Bestsellers, Rajdhani, Saans and Kora Kagaaz, all of which did well, but none which really turned the tide.

Then Kaun Banega Crorepati happened. Segal was the one Nair threw the concept at first, and Segal roped in Nitin Desai who had earlier worked on Discovery of India, knowing Desai would execute a perfect job of replicating the original Who Wants to Be A Millionaire set, a pre-requisite set down by Amitabh Bachchan.

"It had to be the Big B or no other," reminisces Segal three years later, recalling how Bachchan spun out the famous KBC dialogues extempore in the make up room of the set.

Tarun Katial (whose shoes Segal has stepped into) joined three months after Segal did. While Segal has been around in the organisation for far longer, he still credits Tarun with bringing in the 'audience tastes' factor into the programming equation. Katial was the one who realised the potential of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and then Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii. "We should have been at loggerheads, but rather we grew up together in this place," laughs Segal.

As a matter of fact, Segal can detect humour in most situations, and if colleagues at Star are to be believed, affability is his middle name. At first impression though, Segal seems a complete misfit in the corporate Star outfit. A creative person to his marrow, Segal says he initially found Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii too hard to digest. "Tarun and Sameer had to convince me to go ahead with it."

Three years down the line, Segal is a much changed man. The same Segal who once swore by Auteur's theory, which says that film as a work of art is independent of the audience, has remoulded himself. "The challenge for me today is to make the viewer cry and laugh with the kind of shows available." This, from a man whose documentary has been sent for the Wisdom Tree Festival!

He agrees. "Experimentation takes a backseat on television," he sighs.

But Segal's enthusiasm apparently never does. He is as enthused about the new soap concept he is toying with as with the next trek he is planning for the weekend. "TV is never out of your system," he points out. This creative powerhouse who once created films for his own satisfaction, today considers every viewer before he takes a programming decision.

"When you are making a film, you make it and it's over. Not so with television, you have got to go on innovating and re-inventing," he explains.

But there are no regrets. He believes the best results come when creativity is focused, as his is now on television.

But the irreverent streak is bound to show through. With Tarun out of the frame, will we see perceptible changes in Star Plus' programming?

"Obviously, although we complemented each other perfectly, our individual ways of thinking are bound to show in the programming. Tarun was young, single and in a hurry. As for me, I am married, with a family...," he trails off with a laugh.

But behind the light exterior, is a mind that ferments forever with new concepts and toys with genres. His is the brain that has been with Star since the initial The Bold and The Beautiful days, seen it through the Saans phase, exulted with the KBC - Kyunki wave and is still there, stirring up ideas for the next blockbuster on TV. All through, Segal however, has stayed behind the curtain, while the rest of the cast came forward to take the bows. Why?

"I hate playing to the gallery. I don't have it in me to party, to go forth and socialise...," he explains. Which is why, after a 12-hour a day week, he unwinds with his two young daughters and film editor wife Bela, preferring to go on treks and picnics.

So, is there ever a danger of Segal the filmmaker sometime simply shaking off the shackles of a regular job and reverting to his first love - filmmaking?

"No, not till I retire at least," is the pat reply, and you know that 'papa' Segal is the solid creative pillar the Star family can bank on for many years to come.

The Segal agenda for Star Plus in the months ahead -

High on Segal's agenda is a revamp of the weekend programming on Star Plus and an injection of some children's shows, a genre which he thinks will rule the short term television future.

After the newly launched Aman Verma starrer Jaaduu, the re-run of the Khullja Sim Sim celebrity episodes and the fresh edition of Gharwali Uparwali (complete with a child), Segal now intends to beef up Saturdays with a late night soap with a difference. To be launched shortly, the new show will have a 'story with a twist'.

Next on the list is a kids' show with the immortal childrens' classic Hatim Tai as its theme. To be produced by the Sagars' production house, Hatim Tai too has been in the pipeline for a while. Segal says he was initially turned off by the pilot that the Sagars put forth, but the show has been re-invented to his liking and should take off soon.

Kaalki, now re-christened Koi Aa Raha Hai Waqt Badalne, from the Balaji stable, too has been delayed, but that's because Segal is loathe to putting on air a product that falls short of his exacting standards.

"We will put it up when we are sure the timing and the product is right." Both new shows should be on air by the next quarter.

Coming back to Segal's love for aeroplanes. Managing a smooth take-off is what he should do with Star Plus as he pilots it down the runway for its next flight.