One idea, multiple shows

When it comes to daily soaps, Indian television audiences are conditioned not to expect originality in content. Like they say, it is the SAME story everywhere. Highlighting the fact is the same characters, played by different actors of course, on various shows. Are these similarities a mere coincidence or the producers’ penchant for sticking to success formulae? Look at these examples and decide for yourself.
Multiple newsrooms: The flavour of the season seems to be boom-wielding journalists, as several makers are busy exploring the life of reporters.So, you have the Rajeev Khandelwal-starrer Reporters and Aamir Ali’s Dilli Wali Thakur Gurls. While Reporters is essentially a newsroom drama, Thakur Gurls is a light-hearted comic show that doesn’t revolve around it. The latest buzz is that Mohi, a new show featuring Karan Sharma as a photojournalist, is also underway. No prizes for guessing that it will highlight a scribe’s struggle and challenges.

The Akbar trio: While Indian history boasts of only one Akbar The Great, the small screen has three versions of the Mughal emperor at the same time. Enacting the role are Rajat Tokas in Jodha Akbar, Krrip Suri in Bharat Ka Veer Putra — Maharana Pratap and Kiku Sharda in Akbar Birbal. While Krrip plays a pivotal role in the show, which revolves around Pratap (Ssharad Malhotraa), Rajat and Kiku are seen in title roles. The only difference is, in contrast to Rajat’s serious demeanour, Kiku is seen in a comic avatar.

READ: ​Reporters: Why is the show special?
Exploring the divine-human bond: Time and again, show-makers have been inspired by popular Bollywood movies and adapted them on the small screen. Three shows — two ongoing and an upcoming — seem to have taken a cue from the Akshay Kumar-starrer OMG! Oh My God. After Neeli Chhatri Wale and Bal Gopal Kare Dhamaal, a third show titled Jai Kanhaiya Lal will soon hit the tube. All three shows are pegged on the equation between God and a common man. While Neeli... has Himanshu Soni as Lord Shiva, the protagonist of Jai Kanhaiya Lal will essay Lord Krishna much like the movie and the TV show Bal Gopal...

2 Maharana Prataps, 2 Naarads, 2 Jodhas and 2 Birbals! Well, Akbar has tough competitors in Maharana Pratap, Naarad and, quite expectedly, Birbal. Apart from Ssharad Malhotraa in Maharana Pratap, Annuraag Sharrma plays the role in Jodha Akbar. There are two Birbals on the tube, too. The role essayed by actor Gopal Singh in Jodha Akbar is rather serious, while Vishal Kotian’s in Akbar Birbal has a comic flavour to it.

The other character that is seen on two different shows is of Naarad. While Vijay Badlani plays the part in Yam Hain Hum, Mantra essays the same character in Narayan Narayan. Both the shows belong to the comic genre. And when there are three Akbars, there are bound to be multiple Jodhas, too. Paired opposite Rajat is Paridhi Sharma and Kiku is Delnaaz Irani.
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