Pandemic forces producers, channels to terminate costly and unprofitable shows
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 12, 2020)

On Saturday, actress Monalisa and producer Gul Khan took to Instagram to announce that their supernatural show, Nazar, is going off air after a two-year run on Star Plus. The last fresh episode aired on March 20 before shooting stopped following Coronavirus outbreak.

When Mirror reached out to Gul, she clarified that it’s because of the budget that the show was cancelled midway. “In the post COVID-19 world, advertisement budgets will be limited and it will be difficult to keep expensive shows going. Nazar was mounted on a lavish scale, with plenty of visual effects and action sequences. Restrictions in budget are going to be the reality, at least in the coming year,” she predicts.

Nazar is not the only show to be axed. In April, Sony terminated three of its shows— Beyhadh 2, Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein and Patiala Babes. An industry source informs that after Nazar, Dil Jaise Dhadke... Dhadakne Do is the next show that will be going off the air. “The channel is yet to announce it but the decision has been taken. They are even contemplating the future of Sooraj Barjatya’s Dadi Amma... Dadi Amma Maan Jaao! which started towards the end of January this year,” the source added.

Buzz is, even Zee is planning to pull the plug on some of its ongoing shows, among them Dil Yeh Ziddi Hai and Manmohini, are the names currently doing the rounds.

The latter was to air its last episode in April but got an extension. However, the channel is now thinking it over. These shows are looking at premature exits as both producers and channels are unable to handle the mounting costs. “The channels are going through huge losses with no fresh content, so, are trying to shorten their line-up by axing shows that are not profitable, low on TRPs or exceed the budget of the channel,” the source signed off.


Still from Manmohini, Beyhadh 2 and Sooraj Barjatya’s Dadi Amma... Dadi Amma Maan Jaao!

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; January 8, 2020)

After Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo (2015), there has been talk that Sooraj Barjatya will team up with his favourite superstar Salman Khan again. Rumours have also been rife about the filmmaker's son, Devaansh, making his directorial debut with a Khan-starrer. In the meantime, the father-son duo has teamed up for a small screen offering, Dadi Amma... Dadi Amma Maan Jaao.

The man behind Bollywood's biggest family dramas — including Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999) and Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994) — hasn't veered from his staple for the telly outing. The show, which features veteran actors Mohan Joshi and Seema Biswas alongside Sheen Das and Anagha Bhosale, focuses on the relationship children share with their grandparents.

"This show is close to my heart. Its tagline, Pichhatar Saal Ke Bachhe, was coined by my father [Rajkumar Barjatya]," shares Barjatya, who has dedicated the offering to his father. Rajkumar Barjatya passed away in February last year. The show's telecast will coincide with the late veteran filmmaker's first death anniversary. "I have also included a lot of anecdotes from the time I spent with my father, in the show," adds Barjatya, who has previously produced several television series including Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara, Piyaa Albela and Ek Rishta Saajhedhari Ka.