Ali Merchant talks about the importance of content this World Television Day

Ali Merchant has been part of many television shows over the span of his career. His roles in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Sadda Haq, and many others are still remembered by many. As World Television Day is celebrated on November 21, Ali talks about his experience working on television, and also shares how, nowadays, it’s the content that matters more than the medium.

Talking about how working on the medium changed his life, Ali says, “At the time when I was a part of the television industry, it was one of the most high-profile and sought-after segments of the Indian entertainment industry. Everyone wanted to be seen on TV and I got that golden opportunity at a very young age. The fame that came with it had its own pros and cons.”

He also shares that special moment when he saw himself on screen for the first time, “It was a surreal feeling, it made me feel like I’m on top of the world.”

Ali feels that people are choosing OTT over TV because of its convenience of access. He shares, “I feel like nowadays, people prefer to watch OTT instead of TV because it is easy to access on the go. Even the older generations have been switching to OTT because you get a wide variety of content on a single platform. On the other hand, the TV soap concepts have stayed the same for over two decades.”

The actor adds that content is what determines popularity rather than the medium, “I believe more than the medium, it is the content that matters today. Good content which is the need of the hour and solves a purpose will always gain more popularity.”

On the work front, Ali will soon be seen in his debut Bollywood film where he plays the lead role, and fans are eagerly waiting for its release.