'Always want Anupamaa to be NUMBER ONE': Rajan Shahi REVEALS what Ektaa Kapoor said after Kyunki 2's release

Anupamaa producer Rajan Shahi recently addressed the much spoken about discussion around the perceived tiff between Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 and Anupamaa. In a conversation with Film Window, when asked about the idea of competition between shows, he revealed that Ekta Kapoor had personally reached out to him and expressed her support for Anupamaa.

He said, “When Kyunki came, I sent her (Ektaa Kapoor) I think a 30–40 lines wala message ki hum dono generation toh dekhte the because ke sabse bade fans the mom and I. But I am happy ki meri daughter bhi dekhegi because it is such a beautiful show. Unka bhi beautiful reply aaya. Aur beech mein unka ek phone aaya tha, ‘Rajan I always want Anupamaa to be number one.’ It’s such a sweet thing to say, you know and genuinely so nice. Aur whenever she meets me, so achha lagta hai.”

When Kyunki came, I sent her (Ektaa Kapoor) I think a 30–40 lines wala message ki hum dono generation toh dekhte the because ke sabse bade fans the mom and I. But I am happy ki meri daughter bhi dekhegi because it is such a beautiful show. Unka bhi beautiful reply aaya. Aur beech mein unka ek phone aaya tha, ‘Rajan I always want Anupamaa to be number one.’ It’s such a sweet thing to say, you know and genuinely so nice. Aur whenever she meets me, so achha lagta hai.

- Rajan Shahi

Further, when asked about Smriti’s comments regarding Kyunki always being number one and discussions around actors being compared, Shahi clarified that much of the narrative stemmed from misunderstandings and external influences. He said that he and Ekta Kapoor even got on a call to clear the air.

“I don’t know, wo mujhe itna nahi pata, wo misunderstanding hui hogi. Ekta ji ne khud itni gracious thi phone karke clear kara ki hua kya tha. I was like I am very happy ki show Anupamaa is also there. Toh kuch agencies ne, and very unfortunate, naam jaanta hoon but main bol nahi sakta, kuch agencies phone kar kar ke journalists ko bol rahi thi ki yeh mat bolo Anupamaa number one bhi hai is week. Aur yeh ek baar hua, do–teen baar, pura ek designing ki ja rahi thi. Because jab first week mein aaya toh 4 din ka tha, hum toh 7 din ka average hota hai. 7 din ka toh obviously average kam hoga, 4 din ka zyada hoga. But projection yeh hua ki dono ki TRP same aayi 2.3, 2.3. Hum, that was still okay, ki bhai dono shows number one hain, achhi baat hai. But jab ek agency ne jaan bujh ke competition create karne ki koshish ki, ki lagge ki isko dethrone kar diya hai, aur journalists ko phone karke bolna ki Anupamaa ka naam bhi mat dalo ki wo bhi number one hai, toh wo mujhe thoda sa bura laga. Aur phir itni graciously Ekta ji ne phone karke bataya, ‘Rajan mujhe bilkul pasand nahi hai yeh cheez jo ho rahi hai.’'

I don’t know, wo mujhe itna nahi pata, wo misunderstanding hui hogi. Ekta ji ne khud itni gracious thi phone karke clear kara ki hua kya tha. I was like I am very happy ki show Anupamaa is also there. Toh kuch agencies ne, and very unfortunate, naam jaanta hoon but main bol nahi sakta, kuch agencies phone kar kar ke journalists ko bol rahi thi ki yeh mat bolo Anupamaa number one bhi hai is week. Aur yeh ek baar hua, do–teen baar, pura ek designing ki ja rahi thi. Because jab first week mein aaya toh 4 din ka tha, hum toh 7 din ka average hota hai. 7 din ka toh obviously average kam hoga, 4 din ka zyada hoga. But projection yeh hua ki dono ki TRP same aayi 2.3, 2.3. Hum, that was still okay, ki bhai dono shows number one hain, achhi baat hai. But jab ek agency ne jaan bujh ke competition create karne ki koshish ki, ki lagge ki isko dethrone kar diya hai, aur journalists ko phone karke bolna ki Anupamaa ka naam bhi mat dalo ki wo bhi number one hai, toh wo mujhe thoda sa bura laga. Aur phir itni graciously Ekta ji ne phone karke bataya, ‘Rajan mujhe bilkul pasand nahi hai yeh cheez jo ho rahi hai.’

- Rajan Shahi

The producer also praised both Smriti and Ekta, reflecting on their contribution to Indian television. He added, ''Aur mera toh always yahi kehna hai, she knows that she is an inspiration for me. Us din bhi mile the toh maine kaha tha ki Ekta ji you are an inspiration. And she is very very nice and sweet and encouraging to Shahi also. Toh mera woh kehna tha ki because she has given industry mein television shows ko ek respectability, ek platform diya. Tab jaake hum Vidai aur yeh shows bana rahe hain. So she is a legend. Wo shows jo Ekta ji ne banaya hai wo legend hai, landmark hai. Hum toh usse compare karte hain, TRP kabhi iski zyada kabhi uski zyada hogi. But that is a respect for the show, you know, true. For Smriti ji also.''

Aur mera toh always yahi kehna hai, she knows that she is an inspiration for me. Us din bhi mile the toh maine kaha tha ki Ekta ji you are an inspiration. And she is very very nice and sweet and encouraging to Shahi also. Toh mera woh kehna tha ki because she has given industry mein television shows ko ek respectability, ek platform diya. Tab jaake hum Vidai aur yeh shows bana rahe hain. So she is a legend. Wo shows jo Ekta ji ne banaya hai wo legend hai, landmark hai. Hum toh usse compare karte hain, TRP kabhi iski zyada kabhi uski zyada hogi. But that is a respect for the show, you know, true. For Smriti ji also.

- Rajan Shahi

In the same interview, the producer also spoke about reports of actors quitting Anupamaa because of Rupali Ganguly. Taking a firm stand for her, Rajan Shahi revealed that the actress has been 'body shamed' on the sets of the show. ''I feel woh bina baat pe Bahut jyda na I think soft target hui thi. And definitely definitely everybody knew, baad mein kuch bhi bole. They knew that they’re coming on to sign a show called Anupamaa. Yes I feel at a point that Rupali was, abhi woh thoda shant hogaya hai mamla, I think woh soft target hui thi because of the insecurity of certain actors. There have been times where she has been body shamed on the sets also by certain people and that is very wrong. Lot of talks have happened. Aise incidents hue hai set pe Aisa nahi hai but woh fir next day tak sort out bhi hogaya hai.''

I feel woh bina baat pe Bahut jyda na I think soft target hui thi. And definitely definitely everybody knew, baad mein kuch bhi bole. They knew that they’re coming on to sign a show called Anupamaa. Yes I feel at a point that Rupali was, abhi woh thoda shant hogaya hai mamla, I think woh soft target hui thi because of the insecurity of certain actors. There have been times where she has been body shamed on the sets also by certain people and that is very wrong. Lot of talks have happened. Aise incidents hue hai set pe Aisa nahi hai but woh fir next day tak sort out bhi hogaya hai.

- Rajan Shahi

On the TRP front, while Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 continues to hold the number one position, Anupamaa has seen a dip in ratings over the past month.