‘Some parts were scripted’: Niranjan Iyengar reacts to criticism of Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle

After a first season that sparked strong reactions, Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle is yet to be greenlit for a second season. Hosted by Kajol and Twinkle Khanna, the chat show launched with high visibility but received mixed responses soon after release.

The series featured several prominent names, including Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and Karan Johar. However, many viewers felt the conversations did not offer much beyond familiar narratives. In a space where celebrity interviews are widely available, the expectation for fresh insights remains high.

Screenwriter Niranjan Iyengar, who served as executive producer and head writer, addressed the criticism. Responding to claims that the show felt indulgent and polarising, he said, “I don’t look at it as criticism at all. The show would have to be indulgent because, in the end, it’s two big stars interviewing other big stars who belong to the same world. There was bound to be an element of indulgence. As for being polarizing, I think that’s the best response any chat show can expect. The show was spoken about a lot and gave rise to many conversations, that’s what most chat shows aim for, I presume.”

On whether audiences were too harsh, Iyengar said, “I don’t think so. It may have felt that way because, in the past, Kajol and Twinkle have revealed very little of their actual personalities. We have rarely seen them unfiltered, as themselves, on camera, except in brief bytes. So, to watch them for 45 minutes in each episode revealed parts of their personalities that no one had seen before, including their opinions.”

He added, “And as is the case with every human being, there were people who liked those opinions and people who didn’t. Besides, Two Much ended up being the most-watched non-fiction show on Prime Video India, so clearly, the response wasn’t all that harsh.”

Explaining the format, he said, “The show was born to explore the interesting chemistry between Kajol and Twinkle. Because they are unpredictable, they are interesting. Some parts of the show are scripted, of course, like the broad segments or even the topics covered during the conversations, but the actual dialogue between the hosts and guests was completely organic. In the first season, we had to script a little more because Kajol and Twinkle’s little or no hosting experience. But by about the third episode, they had got the hang of it.”

On season two, he remained cautious, stating, “We can only speak about the second season after it is greenlit.”