Posted:
Some members have asked me to make a separate post of my response to the question so copy pasting it here, please do continue the discussion.
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Rima, I am posting on your thread because I think you wrote out of a genuine desire to see Sanaya's talent getting recognized within the TV industry and getting individual recognition for her acting skills. I am there with you, I was very disappointed that she did not get one single award for her previous performance, even though she portrayed it almost perfectly. She was not even nominated for some awards.
There could be many reasons, the genre of the show, TRP ( which was good, but never the top and then it slid), lobbying done by channel and PH etc. The character never got as many props or dramatic sequences as the hero and the last few months Khushi lost all the spunk and she was reduced to buffoonery and OTT comedy in lame tracks. Tracks like hate marriage where she could have got more depth, meaningful dramatic scenes instead were used for comic relief and Khushi's pain was never properly shown or expressed. I read so many posts where people who used to like a strong Khushi were disappointed and even irritated by the OTT. Despite this Sanaya made a mark as Khushi and gave diginity to the character and that is a testimony to her talent. Despite poor writing for her character in the latter half of the show, Sanaya managed to salvage it.
Coming to Chhanchhan, I wanted to see Sanaya in an author backed role where she is in the central character. So, when this show came along I was excited and to see the promos which revolved her made me doubly happy. I agree that this show seems to have been put together in a hurry and initial couple of months were very shaky. From their choice of male lead, to the story development and romance track were messed up and consequently they lost viewership. However, I think, the PH and channel are receptive to feedback and trying to improve things...male lead has changed, writers and director have changed and I feel there is scaling down of UB from total black to grey and they are introducing some humour to her antics. So, there is improvement overall, now how much these changes will help, time will tell.
I also feel that the makers should start giving Chhanchhan more spunk and agency where she slowly but surely starts unraveling the problems of Borisagar family and deals with them. She is too much of a goody two shoes right now, which is OK, but she should also start getting doubts about UB soon enough. Right now the makers are focusing on CC finding her feet at her in-laws so I guess they cannot show a direct confrontation, but wheels should start turning in her mind that all is not what it seems at Borisagar's.
The romance part I think they are emphasizing because in the beginning of the show the track of ChanMan falling in love was badly executed and her previous co-star did not help matters, infact most ardent followers of the show were not convinced of ChanMan love and why Chhanchhan would agree to be UB's DIL. So this romance, quiet support and communication they show between Manav and Chhanchhan is to build their love story which is necessary to understand why an educated professional like Chhanchhan will go through the wringer for this relationship. Chhanchhan is not the type to go through humiliation and remain in sasural, like other TV bahus, she also has support of Sarabhais if things go wrong, so the only reason for her wanting to make this marriage work has to be matters of heart. They need to show the growing love between the newly weds to understand why Chhanchhan is ready to make so many adjustments. Most of us bend over backwards for people we love, even doing things sometimes we think we are not capable of. Now, if the belly chain part was overboard or not is an individual choice and I am not here to do moral policing. This new jodi is also being liked and accepted by audience, clear from the first jodi nomination it already got, so why won't the CVs use it. Lastly, when they brought in a new actor they have to establish his chemistry with Sanaya, so the audience forgets the previous guy and accepts the new one. It has just been over a month since Anuj arrived.
Another issue which is being raised is that it was supposed to be a remake of "Khubsurat" movie. I do not remember reading any official statement about it either on channel website or PH nor did Sanaya and Supriya Pathak ever mention it. It was the media which was speculating about it, as they do with so many other things, and many seem to have taken that as a fact. The first blurb I read about this show was about a free spirited girl who is a dog trainer getting married into a conservative household and the 30 day MIL challenge to oust her which is where we are now.
That said, can things be done better...YES. There is lot of scope for improving the writing and characterization and like I wrote previously Chhanchhan needs to get more spunk, chutzpah and agency, not always remain a goody two shoes and truly become a modern bahu. Maybe we are heading there as slowly the layers get peeled off and Chhanchhan starts figuring things out. This show is not a pathbreaker nor is it pushing the envelope, it is just aimed to be a light entertainer with some social messages being included. Will this project push Sanaya's acting capabilities to the maximum, I am not sure but if dealt well it can definitely win some hearts.
About Sanaya choosing this show, I am not going to second guess her, as I do not know all the circumstances and what transpired, but in the end she got two solid offers, this one and another intense love story. She said in her interviews she wanted to explore new genres and stories and I say more power to her. Television shows are very limited in their range and storytelling styles so within that Sanaya is trying to be as versatile as possible. I appreciate and respect that. Hindsight is 20/ 20, no actor signs a project knowing it will not work. Everyone puts in their work earnestly hoping for the best. She has said that she found the narration interesting and was hoping it is executed well. I disagree with few here who say she looks disinterested or not putting in her all, I feel she is working hard and giving it her all. If the character is not clicking with some it does not mean Sanaya is not working hard. From whatever little I know of her, she is not the type to compromise her work and is fully dedicated to the project she takes up. She even gave up JDJ for this show. With the script she is provided she is doing very well.
Shows are team effort and no one person can make it work nor should credit for it's success be given to one. Actors like Sanaya take risks to be versatile and sometimes it works and at others times it does not. However, the fear of losing fans or popularity should not be a reason for sticking to safe options. Sanaya is a talented actor and I am sure she will take up many more interesting roles in her career and some will pay off and others not so much. That is a life of any actor. Chhanchhan is not an end all for her. Sanaya has signed this project and I am sure she will stick with it till the end and give it her best shot. If eventually it works out... great, if not she will be back with something else. She is a very intelligent woman and I am sure she will take this show as another learning experience as she does with everything else.
Every show has its own destiny and no one can predict what clicks with the viewers. Some of the TRP topping shows right now are so unrelatable to me, yet there are enough people who are clearly hooked to them, so who am I to judge. Some good shows with a strong storyline and good actors faced early closure recently, so one can never predict these things.
Constructive criticism and discussion of the content of the show is important, so threads like these can be helpful to get the message across to makers as to what is working and what is not.
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
