Jeetendra is now promoting his daughter's latest TV venture; he's the public face of Captain House, but he proudly declares that his daughter, Ekta, is more than a guru to him, as far as the TV industry is concerned.

He substantiates his statement with examples of her work -- Hum Paanch, Mano Ya Na Mano (both Zee), Padosan (DD2) and Itihaas (DD1). And, now there's Captain House (from July 18, DD 2 at 9.00 pm). "Certain things can't be taught. They are either there or aren't there," the father goes on about his daughter's talents. Still he has a point: Ekta "an ardent TV buff" who drifted into Tellywood, via Ketan Sommaya's TV Asia, is now at a commanding position in the industry.

But the command didn't come easily; at least not as far as Captain House is concerned. "The pilot for Captain House was actually shot before that of Hum Paanch's. But the serial went into cold storage for various reasons. Sometimes it wasn't liked, at other times changes were suggested," Jeetendra explains. Four years and a change of title later -- from Jindagi Mere Ghar Aana to the present one -- it did get a nod finally from DD2.

The father heaves a sigh of relief. "Nothing should ever hurt my daughter," he prays. Captain House is a direct copy of the the American series The Ghost and I. The company's brochure calls `a comedy of horrors'. Kanwaljeet Singh, who plays a captain, owns a bungalow. He dies in an accident after which a young widow, played by Vaidehi Amrute, moves into the bungalow along with her children and maid. His ghost haunts the bungalow. The company has refrained from making a horror serial out of the theme. It has followed the original, and hopes to reap rich dividends from its comic potential.

"Ideally, when you watch TV, you don't want to tax your mind. Moreover, one can still enjoy a comedy even if a few episodes are missed in between," says Jeetendra. Nevertheless, he is quick to point out that his company has not treated comedy as its formula for success. "The laugh tracks alone don't make a comedy. It is very difficult to make people laugh," he says. "If at all there is any formula, it is that your product must appeal to all members of the household," he adds.

So, the tactics are clear. Children and teenagers are their target audience. Jeetendra believes that parents generally don't watch TV without their children and that if the serial appeals to them it appeals to the entire family. But will Jeetendra ever yell `Action' for his daughter? "I'm very complacent, I don't have the burning desire. If at all I wanted to do it I should have done it when I was in demand as an actor. If I didn't do it then, I have missed the bus," he comments.

But that is not the only thing that he accepts gracefully. Ask him if he has quit acting and pat comes the reply, "I haven't quit acting, people don't give me any work." But there still is one big screen venture that he is a part of -- Mother '98 -- that involves some of his comtemporaries like Randhir Kapoor and Rekha.

He goes down memory lane, remembers V Shantaram, his first break. But only for a while. He comes back to the present and seems to love what he is -- more a father than a star.