MUMBAI: While Star Plus' claim to fame can be Saas Bahu genre, it's thrillers that rule the rooster at Sony Entertainment Television. Come October 10 and Sony will launch the 9th series of its weekend thriller, Balaji Telefilms' Kya Haadsa Kya Haqeeqat, Khaall.

A weekend thriller, which airs every Friday and Saturday 8 pm, will stretch to 16 episodes this time. Starring Achint Kaur and Sumit Sachdeva, Khaall will unveil tale of the terror and mayhem caused by a man, who is possessed by the spirit of a bloodthirsty tiger.

Speaking at a media meet, Balaji Telefilms' creative head Ekta Kapoor said, "Portraying fear works for a serial maker. In fact, any heightened emotion works. But KHKH is not out to create any fear. If you see carefully, it's more of fun. From here on, every KHKH story will extend to 16 episodes. It's better to keep the suspense and thrill for a long time."

The story and screenplay is by Mushtaq Sheikh and the series is directed by Santram Varma. The other cast members of Khaall include Ravi Gosain, Vishal Puri, Pratima Kazmi and Sandeep Rajora.

Sachdev plays Rajeev Khandelwal, a television actor turned film star, while Achint plays Niharika Oberoi, daughter of a successful producer. While both Niharika and Rajeev broach on a relation based on mutual benefit, Rajeev first love Natasha (played by Gitanjali Tikekar) is sidelined.

After an encounter with evil spirit of tiger at the jungles of Bhramtamgora, where he goes to hunt, Rajeev returns a 'changed' man. He unleashes an on a murderous rampage. The portion about encounter with wild has been shot in Thailand, rest of the shots have been canned in and around Mumbai.

Speaking about casting Kapoor said, "I choose Sachdev for this role because he has a ferocious look on his face, when he gets angry especially. As for Kaur, I wanted a lady with lots of style and attitude."