Soap Queen Ekta Kapoor intends to take a year-long hiatus starting this June as she herself confessed in an interview. But even though she is gone, the show will go on.

We heard you will soon be gone for a long break. Is it true?
Yes, it’s true; I want to move base to New York for a year. Actually, in July I’ll first take off for a month long trip to Egypt and Europe and then head off to the US.

But why?
I’ve been slogging for so long! And had I planned it in advance, it probably would not have happened. I want to take time off to stand and stare at life. Please don’t make it sound like I’m moving away from television forever! It’s just a much needed break.

The company will carry on with business as usual. In my absence my mom and Nivedita Basu (Deputy Creative Director of Balaji Telefilms) will be looking after my company. It’s my company; I have taken years to see it where it is today. I can’t just give it up all one day on a whim and I’m not.

How did your parents react to such news?
To be honest, they weren’t completely shocked because they had an idea that I am going to take a big break soon, but they didn’t think I would stretch it to 365 days. In fact, some of my close friends weren’t shocked at all.

So how does (Ekta) one of the busiest women in the country, intend to unwind?
By reading at least a hundred books, to begin with!