Showing posts with label Saurabh Tewari. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saurabh Tewari. Show all posts
TV’s veterans return to centre stage as nostalgia drives ratings
9:24 AM
Akash Wadhwa and Amina Ashraf (BOMBAY TIMES; March 14, 2026)
For years, Indian television bowed to the novelty gods, fresh faces, Instagram reels, and Gen-Z casting ruled. Veterans, quietly benched. But of late, seasoned stars are flipping the script, reclaiming prime time, sparking a ratings renaissance and riding the viewer nostalgia wave. Cue Mahadev & Sons, where Sneha Wagh, Shakti Anand, and Manasi Salvi reunite which garnered a whooping 1.4 TVR in the opening week, a solid debut for a fictional show on prime time. Powerhouses like Smriti Irani, forever etched as Tulsi in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, and Rupali Ganguly of Anupamaa fame, hold court as leads in top TRP shows. And yes...whispers grow louder: Kasautii Zindagii Kay and Madhubala eye reboots, with original casts in talks instead of newbies.
‘Veteran actors bring back viewers’
Creative Director Siddharttha Vankar, who is presently helming two top television shows, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Naagin 7, believes veteran actors offer something far deeper than just familiarity as compared to fresh faces.
“Veteran actors don’t merely add gravitas to a show; they carry decades of shared memory, emotional investment and unspoken trust between performer and viewers. In an era where television audiences are fragmented, impatient, and increasingly distant from appointment viewing, familiar faces act as a powerful emotional anchor. Nostalgia here is not a retreat into the past, but a bridge, one that reconnects audiences to a medium they once loved and slowly drifted away from.”
Siddharttha further adds, “For many older viewers, who have disengaged from active television consumption, the return of beloved actors feels like a personal call-back. These actors arrive with a built-in relationship with the audience; their presence reassures, comforts, and invites loyalty in a way no marketing campaign can manufacture overnight. At a time when newer faces and experimental formats often struggle to hold attention, veteran performers offer stability, credibility and emotional familiarity. They don’t just bring audiences back, they bring back the habit of watching, the comfort of routine, and the sense that television still understands its viewers. And in doing so, they quietly help revive the very ecosystem that once made them icons.”
Manasi Salvi: We have a recall value
Veteran actress Manasi Salvi, who gained popularity with the show Kohi Apna Sa in 2001, shares, “Right now we are in a very good time in television because there is an amalgamation happening between veteran actors and new faces. There was a phase when people felt you just needed a beautiful boy or a beautiful girl, and everything else will work, and that you don’t need people like Ram Kapoor or others to make the show work. But now makers are realizing that if you want a show to be stable, even in the first one or two months, you need stable faces. We veterans have a recall value. When viewers feel, ‘I’ve seen her somewhere,’ they want to stay and see what she’s doing now. That familiarity really works. Veteran actors also bring their own loyal audience. With new actors, it takes time to build that connection, but here you already get a ready-made audience, and that’s a plus.”
Rajan Shahi: Over time makers struggled with seasoned stars’ heavy stardom baggage
Rajan Shahi, producer, director and writer of shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Anupamaa says he has always preferred to have experienced actors in his shows. “Experienced actors bring a lot to the table,” he says, adding, “New shows with new faces mostly are not working on TV so popular names and faces are back in demand.”
Ask him why the veterans were missing from the small screen for so long, and he says without hesitation, “Over time, it became difficult for makers to work with seasoned actors as most of them came with a lot of baggage of stardom. A large number of them were also were eyeing OTT and films. But now things have changed and they are slowly coming back to TV, without any baggages, of course! TV as a medium has become big, more so, as the shows are also streamed on OTT.”
Shakti Anand: Instagram followers don’t guarantee viewership
Actor Shakti Anand, remembered for his role as Hemant Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, and is now seen in the sequel of the show, believes the television industry is finally recognising the value of seasoned performers after years of chasing trends.
“I’ll say the industry moves and grows with the trend. There was a time when a young boy with 2 million followers was cast. But following someone on Instagram and converting that into a viewership it’s all not the same. Long-time television actors still evoke that nostalgia which people connect with. And because of this new trend of casting more experienced actors, we veterans are finally getting their due, and many actors shall also get the chance to make a comeback,” he says.
Saurabh Tiwari: You don’t have to train vetrans the way you train new actors
Producer, writer, and director Saurabh Tewari, known for Madhubala and Ek Ishq Ek Junoon, has released Mahadev & Sons, featuring three veteran actors. On the real advantage of casting veterans, he says, “What veterans really bring is experience. You don’t have to train them the way you train new actors. They understand performance, camera, and character depth. For a producer, that gives confidence in the content, ki chalo show chale na chale, mera show bann toh acha raha hai. Beyond that, everything else is mostly hype. The trend of casting veteran actors is a phase. Everybody in the industry is just trying to find a formula for the show to run, but there is no such strategic formula.”
Tiwari also cautions on casting older actors: “It’s not like veterans are suddenly reviving television, or earlier chocolate-boy heroes and girls were the only reason shows were running. That’s not how it works. The market today is extremely overcrowded. So, unless you’re actually trying to say something, unless there’s something unique and organic in the storytelling, nothing really shakes the audience. We need to get out of this thought that an actor of any generation can run a TV show. A show works because a few things have gone right in the making and the telling. Nostalgia is a part of it, yes, but it’s just ‘a’ part. If you ask me honestly, a veteran actor may add 10 per cent. The remaining 90 per cent is still content. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is working because the storytelling and the making are right; nostalgia is only one layer. Similarly, nobody was waiting for Rupali to come back with Anupamaa. It’s the story that brought in the TRPs.”
Sneha Wagh: Makers banked on social media followers to pull crowds and boost viewership
Actor Sneha Wagh, best known for her performance in Ek Veer Ki Ardaas...Veera (2012), currently seen in Mahadev & Sons, says, “The makers were thinking that a good number of social media followers would bring the audience and viewership. They weren’t realizing that those followers are not the television audience, they are basically those who are doomscrolling. The industry is now getting a realization that even when an actor is having a less number of followers, his talent to portray a character will always be more vital for the show. In terms of pay, it’s fine, but I won’t say it’s very good. Of course, veterans are paid well compared to newcomers. However, yes, there will always be a certain recall and face value that old-time actors bring,” she says.
I have seen people getting projects because they are friends with those who are influential-Khushi Dubey
9:51 AM
While television thrives on long-running soaps, Jubilee Talkies actor Khushi makes the case for finite serials as they have crisp storylines
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; July 16, 2024)
Remember the child actor from Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), who delivered some of the best lines with a poker face? Today, at 24, Khushi Dubey is a far cry from that. But her ease in front of the camera remains unchanged. After fronting Aashiqana, the actor is now basking in the popularity of Jubilee Talkies, a sweeping love story set against the backdrop of the film industry. In conversation with mid-day, Dubey discusses how Jubilee Talkies stands out in the TV world where overacting sells, and starting from square one in the industry despite being a child actor before.
Edited excerpts from the interview.
How do you see your journey from a child actor to re-entering the industry as an adult?
The most important thing is that you have to be a good actor. It is possible to gain the same stardom that one got in his childhood as an adult. Things might get tougher, but ultimately it depends on your acting [prowess]. In 2016, I quit everything to focus on studies for four years. Then I had to start from square one with Aashiqana.
Do you find it easy to navigate Bollywood to get a role?
It is a little [tough], although now people directly approach me for a role. However, I still have to audition for the bigger projects. I’m not the kind of person who socializes to get roles. In fact, I am bad at making contacts. I have seen people getting projects because they are friends with [those who are influential], but I never felt like making friends for a project.
When you took up Jubilee Talkies, did you have any apprehensions that it could go off air soon?
I don’t stress about it. The show could [be pulled off air] for any reason, and I can only focus on acting. If I start thinking about [the longevity] of the show, [my performance] may go for a toss. No one person can be blamed for a show not working. While I want it to run for a long time, I have never insisted that it run for a year. Even if it’s a six-month show, it’s fine by me. The beauty of finite shows is that they have a fixed and crisp storyline. Stories are not dragged for TRPs.
In television, the longer a show runs, the more success it garners. How do you approach a show in such an environment?
I try to gauge if I am happy with what I am doing. Am I happy doing a saas-bahu drama? Is it giving me creative satisfaction? I ask myself these questions. I liked Jubilee Talkies because it was unconventional compared to other TV shows. I know the storyline until the end, and it is not dragging or monotonous. Even when Saurabh Tewari [producer] was narrating the story to me, at a lot of high points, I was quite surprised. If you cannot predict the story, that means it is intriguing. Seeing an ordinary woman enter a superstar’s life [may seem] simple, but the execution is larger-than-life.
Madhubala was about a superstar’s love-and-hate relationship with a common woman. Would you still call it unique?
I have seen bits of Madhubala and Jubilee Talkies, their storylines have nothing in common, except that the protagonist is playing a star. Deepak Chauhan sir’s direction and treatment are different. We want to show the workings of the glamour and film industry.
Do you feel restricted as an actor on television?
A bit. Sometimes the script is such where you cannot perform naturally, [the acting] might get over dramatic. But here, I have lots to do. My director has given me the freedom to let me act naturally and not go over-the-top.
Do you find TV regressive otherwise?
That happens because they have to televise episodes every day. So, the storyline [gets muddled], people put anything [senseless] in the storyline when a certain plot point raises TRPs, and that plot goes on for six months. That’s why having a finite show [is better], it doesn’t experience this treatment.
It’s difficult to connect you with the Dil Dhadakne Do girl, who had some of the best dialogues in the film. How different are the worlds of films and television?
It is 180 degrees different, from work culture to acting. Movies are about being subtle, especially Zoya ma’am [Akhtar, director]. She has a [clear] vision and thought process. She’d tell me that my character is deadpan, so whatever she says, it has to come off right. You get a lot of time in movies to build your character. The work culture in TV is hectic and there is too much on the plate.
A 10-hour shift isn’t enough to shoot a daily soap, say producers
8:13 AM
While show makers are keen to resume shooting in Mumbai, they hope that working hours will be increased to meet telecast deadlines
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; June 8, 2021)
‘IMPOSSIBLE TO SHOOT AN EPISODE IN 10 HOURS’
Talking about the challenges that makers are bound to face, J D Majethia, who is the producer of Wagle Ki Duniya - Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey and also the chairman of Indian Films and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), says, “We hope shoots resume in Maharashtra later this month. We are waiting for an official announcement from the state government regarding the date. While other challenges like winding the current storyline that was tweaked to accommodate the change in the location, and shooting in a bio-bubble, can be dealt with easily, our biggest concern is the number of shooting hours. It’s practically impossible to shoot an episode in 10 hours when the show is telecast six days a week.”
He further adds, “We should not forget that the monsoon is all set to arrive in Mumbai, which tends to delay the shooting process. We hope that the authorities will take our request into account and extend the number of hours.”
‘EAGER TO SHOOT IN MUMBAI AGAIN’
Show makers are keen to return to Mumbai, but there are various production matters that need to be taken care of. Amir Jaffar, who has three shows on air (Tujhse Hai Raabta, Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha and Qurbaan Hua), shares, “Everyone is eagerly waiting to return home. It will be good to be back, ghar toh jaane milega sabko. However, before that, we have to take stock of a lot of things. First and foremost is the renovation of the set owing to the damage caused by Cyclone Tauktae. Apart from that, we still need clarity over the shooting hours. One would need a full shift to finish work and meet the deadline.”
IS SHOOTING IN A BIO-BUBBLE FOOLPROOF?
Sumeet Mittal, producer of shows like Barrister Babu and Kyun Utthe Dil Chhod Aaye, says, “I have heard that the issue of shooting hours is going to be reviewed soon. The practical aspect of shooting will be put forward to the authorities again. While I am not certain about the date when the shoot will resume in Maharashtra, I hope we are granted sufficient shooting hours. We will be shooting in a bio-bubble and strictly adhering to the protocols.”
However, Saurabh Tewari, the producer of Pinjara Khubsurti Ka, says that a bio-bubble isn’t a foolproof way of working. He adds, “It’s not possible to make actors stay on set, and one can’t be certain that there will be no contact with the outside world. Since there are a lot of uncertainties around the resuming of the shoot in Maharashtra, I believe that most producers will continue working the way they have been for the past one-and-a-half months for some more time till we get clarity and shooting resumes in Mumbai. We will have to wait to see what kind of restrictions come into force. It’s better to return home when the restrictions are minimum and the situation is better and under control.”
Daily soaps rely on bank of episodes, but how long will it suffice?
8:22 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; April 15, 2021)
Ved Raj, who has two shows on air including Apna Time Bhi Aayega, says, “We were prepared for this. I am assuming that almost every producer shot aggressively and created a bank of episodes, which will last till Tuesday or Wednesday. Re-runs are always the last option as no one makes money. The idea is to work hard, entertain the audience and keep the business afloat.”
The decision to air re-runs of a new show or air old shows will be taken by channels. As Saurabh Tewari, producer of Pinjara Khubsurti Ka, says, “I don’t think any producer will have a bank of episodes that will suffice for more than a week, which means that we will be able to telecast fresh episodes till next Wednesday. If the matter isn’t resolved and we don’t resume the shoot, we will have to opt for repeats like last year. It will be the broadcaster’s prerogative whether they bring back old shows or air re-runs of their current shows. However, I doubt that will generate any revenue in such a situation. It will be a huge business loss.”
Benaifer Kohli, who has three shows on air, including Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai!, says, “I have a bank of episodes that will suffice for more than two weeks. The only show without a healthy bank is Jijaji Chhat Parr Koii Hai, as it went on air recently. So, the channel will decide whether they will telecast re-runs. If I have to move to another city, I would want to make sure that it’s safe for my unit to shoot there. It’s a temporary compromise that we will be making for everybody’s livelihood.”
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Meanwhile, on reality shows...
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; April 15, 2021)
Reality shows like Dance Deewane, Indian Pro Music League and Indian Idol have shot in advance and will manage the telecast for the next two weeks. Arvind Rao, producer of Dance Deewane, says, “The issues will start after the next weekend because we don’t have episodes in the bank. We are hoping for the best outcome of our meeting with the CM. As of now, we have halted the shoot.” Along with Rao, judge Dharmesh Yelande and many crew members had tested positive for Coronavirus two weeks ago.
Like Dance Deewane, Indian Idol, too, saw host Aditya Narayan test positive. Contestant Pawandeep Rajan has also been unwell. A source said, “Last year, we were contemplating to relocate the set to Hyderabad and shoot the episodes from there, but this year, there has been no such talk as yet. We will wait till next week and see how things go.”
Whenever shoots resume, reality show makers are toying with the idea of creating a bio-bubble, like sports tournaments have done so far. Ranjeet Thakur, producer of Super Dancer, says, “The cost of creating a bio bubble will be higher, but safety will be maintained. In case of a bio-bubble, we keep the entire crew (technicians) on the set as long as the shoot lasts. The contestants are also on the set, but in another zone. The judges travel from their homes, shoot for two episodes and only then can they leave the set. Before we start shooting, everyone has to undergo the COVID-19 test, and they are not allowed to come in contact with anyone outside the unit. In the case of a fiction show, a similar exercise can be followed.”
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TV actors on state government's decision of halting TV shoots
Riya Sharma and Farzana Patowari (BOMBAY TIMES; April 15, 2021)
ERICA FERNANDES:
This time, last year we were new to it, but today we are prepared. If offices and other places are shut, then studios should be, too. As a matter of fact, shooting for movies and shows is riskier than working in an office.
DEEPSHIKHA NAGPAL:
I don’t know how production houses are going to deal with this situation. However, the restrictions are necessary as COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly and people are not taking necessary precautions. I am sad about our show’s shoot, but whatever the government has decided is to contain the spread of coronavirus.
SHARAD MALHOTRA:
This is upsetting and disheartening for all because the entertainment industry along with the other sectors was barely getting back on its feet post the lockdown that happened last year, and now, it’s like history repeating itself. For the television fraternity where new content needs to be churned out daily and deadlines have to be met, it will be challenging to cope up with this situation.
HUNAR GANDHI:
Among the worst affected in the second wave is Maharashtra and the situation called for stringent measures. There are so many people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the entertainment industry as well. I, too, got infected, but thankfully I have recovered. However, there were so many who lost their lives to it. Yes, our livelihood depends on it but life hai toh livelihood hogi na, so I feel till the time the cases lessen we should all co-operate and respect the decision that has been taken. This is the reason I am in Gurugram and not taking a flight back to Mumbai.
ROOPAL TYAGI:
We are still talking to the production house and figuring things out. This lockdown though necessary wasn’t something we anticipated. Our show, Ranju ki Betiyaan, has been doing very well and we were looking forward to maintaining the momentum. But, of course, health comes first. We will try and make the most of this break as well and stay positive.
SHASHANK VYAS:
I honestly don’t know how to react to this. It’s a good move considering the rise in the number of cases, but stopping the shoot means the entertainment industry will suffer a huge loss, especially the shows that are on air and the films that are currently being shot. The last time it happened for more than three months and I am sure many won’t even have episodes in the bank. It’s a tough situation, but I am sure, together we will overcome this, too.
SHAGUN PANDEY:
Yes, it’s sad that shoots have been stopped, but I also feel it is for the greater good. We need to probably start taking more precautions or shift our shoots to places where work can progress smoothly. Unlike the last time, I am better prepared. I know what to do and what my schedule is going to be like. I hope we get back to work soon.
ACHHERR BHAARDWAJ:
Seeing the rising cases of the COVID 19 virus, whatever the government has decided is necessary to break the chain. However, we cannot ignore the fact that there will be people who will be affected by this, especially the crew, which works on daily wages. I hope producers or channels take care of them.
Elections 2019: Political parties are welcoming Bollywood celebs into their fold and how
8:54 AM
Political parties are welcoming Tinseltown folk into their fold. A known face can go a long way in drawing crowds and win elections
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; April 28, 2019)
Tinseltown and politics have always had an intrinsic connect. There is nothing like roping in cine idols and popular faces from the entertainment world to draw the crowds and hopefully garner the votes. In the on-going Lok Sabha poll, several actors have tossed their hat into the ring to test their popularity. Last week, Sunny Deol joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Within hours, he was nominated the party's candidate from Gurdaspur, Punjab. Singer Daler Mehndi is the latest to join the party and was welcomed into the fold by leaders singing his track, Bolo Ta Ra Ra Ra.
Though it is not a new phenomenon - there have always been actors-turned-politicians - the rush by politicians to get film folk to endorse their respective parties is seen as a one-upmanship game. It is well known that some celebrities endorse it for money, especially those who do not harbour ticket aspirations. Others, for a party position and there are those who do it because they want to test new waters.
Former Bigg Boss contestant and Haryanvi dancer Sapna Choudhary has been campaigning (right) for BJP candidates in New Delhi. She says, "I have not joined the party. I am doing it because my friends are contesting." She considers Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwari her pal, so has been part of his roadshows.Last month, she found herself courting controversy after she found herself being welcomed by both the Congress and BJP into their fold. There was talk that she would get a ticket from Lucknow. "I didn't want to contest or join any party. But when my friends, who are standing for elections call me, I go."
Television producer Saurabh Tewari who has made shows like Zindagi Ke Mehak and Krishna Chali London too joined the BJP because of the friend-in-the-party factor. He is currently taking time off the shoots and has parked himself in Patna to canvas for Ravi Shankar Prasad who is taking on Congress's Shatrughan Sinha. Explains Tiwari, "I know him, this is the reason I joined the party. I am still a newcomer, so this election is like a training ground for me. I am still learning the ropes. I accompaned him to fill the nomination."
Tiwari says may be in the future he will take the electoral plunge but for now, he is happy canvassing for Prasad. "Right now, my production house is set and I can take off to do other things. Earlier, when I was just setting off, there was no time to do anything else."
Another television name who took the political plunge was Shilpa Shinde (left), best remembered as Angoori bhabhi on Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain and winner of Bigg Boss season 11. So far, she has not canvassed for the party but is planning to go to Bhopal to muster support for Digvijaya Singh. "I know his wife [Amrita Rai]. She called me and told me that as I was a popular face, they would like me to the campaign. I consider it an honour that they are aware of me and my work."Shinde says she was always politically conscious thanks to her father, Satyadev Shinde. "He was a social worker and a die hard Congressman. I have grown up watching him interact with leaders like Sharad Pawar and Sushilkumar Shinde. So you can say, I was exposed to politics."
The actor adds that she did not join the Congress to get a ticket. "I am still new in politics. I do not want things readymade. May be in the future, I may harbour aspirations after I have got a first-hand experiene what elections are all about."
Shinde claims she was offered a ticket to stand from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, but she declined it. "Uttar Pradesh is the hotbed of politics and I did not see myself being a part of it."
Another actor who recently took the political plunge was Isha Koppikar (top image), who joined the BJP. Best remembered as Bollywood's Khallas girl after the chartbuster, she says, "I joined politics because I wanted to serve the country. I liked the transformation and governance in the last five years. I was inspired by the leadership of Narendra Modi. There have many positive changes in terms of the Swaach Bharat campaign, infrastructure and our presence in the global market. I am sure the BJP will continue doing better work if elected again. I am supporting the development of our country."
Koppikar has been appointed the executive chairman of the party's transportation wing. She did not want to contest the election. "I have campaigned for the party in Jalna (below) and Goa," she says. Shinde is now hopeful that she will bag a party post. "We will have to wait till May 23 [the day of the counting of votes] because only then a clear picture will emerge. Right now everyone is busy with the elections."
Sapna Choudhary
TV producer Saurabh Tewari (extreme left) campaigns for Ravi Shankar Prasad in Patna
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