STAR Plus' hit drama 'Sapna Babul Ka...Bidaai' has been accused of copycat tactics by producers of rival ZEE TV's 'Saat Phere'.

Both the shows deal with the issue that a dark girl faces and how her complexion is a social stigma.

Pearl Shahi, creative head of ZEE TV told Mumbai Mirror, "Saloni's dark complexion poses a problem when her parents try to hunt for a match for her. She finally finds a good-looking boy. Bidaai... has the same storyline and deals with the same issues that a dark complexioned girl faces in India. The promos of Bidaai are very similar to Saat Phere in which the parents are worried if she will ever find a match. A lot has been copied from our show, it is almost like re-living the initial Saat Phere phase. The base of the show, issues and the promos are same."

Purnendu Shekhar, writer of 'Saat Phere' told Mumbai Mirror, "The concept of a dark girl facing rejection and the fair one being favoured, is similar in both the shows. The latest promo where the girl says 'why no one likes my dark complexion and everyone overlooks my qualities, will anyone marry me?'. Apart from that the character of the mother in Saat Phere and that of the aunt (mami) in Bidaai are same. The scenes where the mother asks her daughter why she isn't taking care of her herself and urges her to use a fairness cream, is also copied. We are shocked to see the similarities in both the shows."

Reacting to the allegation, producer of 'Bidaai', Rajan Shahi, says, "Why is the comparison being made after four months of Baidaai's launch? Is it because our show is doing better? I don't want to comment any further!"