Sandiip Sikcand: I Think Dipika Kakar Ibrahim is A Star!

Actor and Creative Producer Sandiip Sikcand who is known for his work in shows like Yeh Hai Mohabbatein and Phulwa, recently donned the Producer’s hat for Star Plus’ new show, Kahaan Hum Kahaan Tum, starring Dipika Kakar Ibrahim and Karan V Grover. Sandiip with his show, has tried bringing a fresh love-story of a surgeon and a Television actress on-screen. The producer in a candid conversation with India Forums, shared about his new shows and his journey.

You are currently working in not one but three different shows, how does it feel?

It feels good. I feel very happy because all the three shows are different, Kavach is a horror show, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein is a love story of mother and daughter and Kahaan Hum Kahaan Tum is a pure love story between two broken hearts. So yes, it feels great and I feel blessed that I can do different shows at the same time.

Kahaan Hum Kahaan Tum is your first show as a producer. So, what sort of challenges you have come across while producing the show?

Well, the challenges have been about making it different - how do we make the characters different from what has been seen before, how the story should be different from what has been shown before and from whatever feedback we are getting from the audiences from last one week, I feel the audiences are liking the different part but again, the way it is for the ratings, if the ratings are good, then we’ll have the entire universe fly with us.

You have worked as garment exporter and eventually you went on to become a Writer, Creative Director and now a Producer. How will you describe your journey?

My journey has been extremely blessed. It has been extremely exciting. It has been extremely evolving because when I was a garment exporter, actor, producer, I met really very different people, I have been able to work with different mindsets. I think all these experiences just enriches you as a person. So, I feel I'm far more enriched person today than I would have been if I would have been in one line.

Having worked in popular shows like Phulwa and Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, what made you invest into South Industry?

I love South Indian films, thanks to all the OTT platforms, I watch a lot of South Indian movies with English subtitles. I feel South Indian market has got fabulous stories which are far more evolved. Today, even Bollywood is evolved but I think they were evolved much before. So, I feel regional stories are far better, these stories experiment a lot more and for me it is a small step into the Television world. I eventually, would love to make South Indian movies and South Indian content. A storyteller always wants his stories to be heard. So, I think it's just another medium of making my stories being heard.

Do you watch any South Indian Shows?

Yes, there’s a show called Kartika Deepam on Star Maa. I used to watch it initially because I just wanted to understand the feel of what is there in the market. Other than that, not really too many shows but yes, I watch a lot of movies. I saw Arjun Reddy then I saw a movie called 99 recently. Thanks to OTT, I watch a lot of South Indian content.

These days most Bollywood movies are inspired from regional (South) movies. Do you feel Southern Television industry has the potential to inspire content in Hindi Television or vice versa?

I think content can be inspired from anything. There should be no barricades, no borders that this cannot be translated and that cannot be remade. As far as being influenced is concerned, you can influenced by anything. So yeah, of course, why not? 

Why did you choose Dipika Kakar Ibrahim for the role of Sonakshi?

I chose Dipika for the role of Sonakshi because I think Dipika is a star and an actor together and that's what I needed for Sonakshi’s character. I needed somebody who has the aura of a star but is a fabulous actor and a good human being. So, I think what you see of Sonakshi onscreen is an extension of Dipika because she is fabulously talented and a lovely person and I think she is a star.

Amidst the storm of supernatural and mythological shows, do you think a romantic drama will survive?

I think anything that is good and loved by audiences, will survive. Till the time you don’t experiment who wouldn’t know and I’m all for experimenting, I’m all for taking risks. Even if some of your risks fails, you shouldn’t stop taking risks because you never know where do you find your pot of gold. Even Dhhai Kilo Prem was a very new concept it survived for 6 or 7 months but I’m still very proud of it. 

Likewise, Kahaan Hum Kahaan Tum is also an experiment and I have faith that this will work. Even if it does not work, my next show will also be something new because I think you cannot stop experimenting, you cannot stop evolving because change is permanent and if you are not a part of the change, you will be left out.

As digital content is flourishing with a high pace. Do you feel it can ever become a threat for Television industry?

I think it already is a threat for the Television industry. At one point of time, Television only had different channels to compete with but today, Television as a whole has to compete with Netflix, Amazon, ALT Balaji, Hotstar, Voot, with every OTT platform available. So, I think the threat is already there and it's time Television pulls up its socks and we all say let's fight this competition, I’m not saying this in a negative way because until and unless there is no competition, you will not evolve. So, I think competition is healthy.