The Day Audience Demands Something Else I'll Make Different TV Shows, Says Ekta Kapoor

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Do you have enough friends who watch television soap operas? Not me! Maybe because we fail to relate with the sheer logic behind those lousy neighbours, gaudy saas-bahus, ichchadhari naagins and billionaire men with multiple wives. We are yet to understand why the "nahin nahin nahin" culture and the women draped in kanjivaram sarees, plotting against other members of the house, became a hit in the 2000s. Blame it on Ekta Kapoor? But accept it, that one way or the other, each one of us has watched Ekta's milestone show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, which changed the entire course of Indian TV. 

Ekta however, has different justification. So despite her serials evoking criticism for being repetitive and prolonged, she says she makes what the audience demands. The producer whose list of TV shows also includes Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Kkusum, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kahin Kisi Roz and the recent hit Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, said she is more than eager to change her serial's storyline but it is the audience who is not ready for something new.

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"The day audience demands something else, so I will make different TV shows. If you check last 10 years' TRPs then you will realise that people don't want to see any other stories except love stories, saas bahu saga etc. I am more than willing to break free from all these age old topics but I don't have an option." 

Ekta who began her television career from comedy show Hum Paanch was stung by the saas-bahu bug. Her fixation with the letter "K" is nothing unknown. Reportedly, her good friend and tarot-card reader Sunita Menon told her to name her shows with "K". And rest, as they say is history! Point to be noted, her big rings and beaded bracelets are all testimony that she is a strong believer of astrology and superstition, something which also reflects on her TV characters. So from black cat crossing your way to falling off a milk glass before you do an important task, all of it are inspired from Ekta. But as they say, astrology and superstition is "to each their own".

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"TV is about masses and I have maintained a connection with my audiences. I understand what they want and it is usually so that what I like they like it as well. Me and my audience share the same thinking and liking."

I would personally credit her for bringing the sanskari joint family culture back to our small screens, where all the generations lived under one roof, something that many of us still aspire for. Ekta who has attained the tag of the "queen of Indian soap operas", however, thinks differently.

"I swear I am not the queen of television. Television is the queen herself. We are just subjects. Some days she is happy with us, and grants us TRPs and for short term we think we are having a blast on TV. Somedays she discards us and for four years we won't get a show on air." 

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Known for her short-temper, she thinks that with age and experience, has mellowed her down.

"I have changed a lot as a person. I think before I was an immature person who couldn't handle success and lot of work. But I have learned from my mistakes. It was just too much too soon."

The TV mogul believes Indian audience is not ready for progressive shows, despite many critics blaming her for actively perpetuating regressive ideas and gender roles, through a medium which reaches million of people at once. Doesn't that mean Ekta could've used her social duty in a better way and made shows which bring about a change? She is definitely powered to do that.

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"Yes, I can openly say that they are not ready for progressive shows. I have tried it with Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh and I can't even tell you the research that went into it; I really wanted to cry. They just don't want to see a married woman move on even if her husband has made her life miserable."

She closes with accepting the fact that she understands what she is doing and is comfortable with feeding her audience with "regressive nonsense". At the end of the day, it is all about profit making. And mind you, she is the puppeteer of Indian TV right now, and is minting money with all this!

(With inputs from PTI)