Claudia Ciesla “Television has a warmth that no other medium can replace,”

As the world observes World Television Day on November 21, actor and celebrity nutritionist Claudia Ciesla reflects on the significance of television in her life. She looks back at the memories it created, the role it played in shaping her creative path, and how the medium continues to remain relevant even as digital platforms expand.

Childhood Memories That Built Her Bond With Television

Claudia recalls her earliest connection with television from her childhood in Europe. She remembers evenings spent with her family in the living room after dinner, watching their favourite weekend shows together. It was a simple routine, free from distractions like phones or gadgets. According to her, those moments were filled with conversations, snacks, and shared laughter. She believes that these early experiences revealed to her the power of television — its ability to bring people closer — long before she imagined being a part of the entertainment industry herself.

Television’s Evolution and Its Continued Relevance

Reflecting on the medium's evolution, Claudia explains that television has changed significantly while retaining its essence. She feels that, even though content is available across formats and platforms today, television remains central to how audiences consume entertainment. With the rise of OTT platforms, she says viewers now have flexibility and a wider variety of content. However, she believes television continues to serve as the foundation, offering routine and familiarity. The coexistence of traditional television and digital platforms, she adds, has widened opportunities for storytelling and made the viewing experience more inclusive.

For Claudia, what makes television truly enduring is its emotional reach. She says television connects with people in a way no other medium does, as it enters homes across cities and small towns and appeals to audiences of different ages. Whether families watch a drama together or support contestants on reality shows, the experience shared through television feels personal to viewers. This emotional element, she believes, is why television holds a steady place even as technology continues to change the entertainment landscape.

Her Bigg Boss Experience and Wish to Return to Dance Shows

Speaking about her own connection with television, Claudia refers to her time on Bigg Boss. She says that although formats have evolved over the years, the emotions they evoke remain unchanged. According to her, Indian viewers continue to relate strongly with characters and personalities they see on screen. Daily soaps bring familiarity, while reality shows reflect people’s aspirations and emotions. Claudia says she experienced this bond firsthand during her stint on Bigg Boss, where audience support played an important role.

When asked about shows she would like to see return, Claudia mentions dance-based reality shows Nach Baliye and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. She says these formats captured the spirit of dance in India and she enjoyed watching them. Having performed earlier with Akshay Kumar at the Filmfare Awards on their song Balma, she shares that she would like to be part of such shows, explore new dance forms, and connect with audiences through performance.