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Bitten by the TV bug! | ||
Wondering what makes your favourite superstars agree to do TV show? After Hrs explores | ||
Prachi Kadam | ||
Actor Salman Khan pins it down to the instant connect of the tube with the audience. That's more of a reason than just the exorbitant fees paid to B-Town as is widely believed. "For any actor, the real heroes are his fans. So by doing a TV show my audiences get to see the real Salman. Isn't this (TV) a better reward for me?" The trend was pioneered by superstar Amitabh Bachchan with Star Plus's Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000. Since then, treality show formats have been synonymous with big names. Actor Malaika Arora Khan feels TV is just as big as films, "I am TV's baby. I feel the medium is as big as the silver screen. The hold that TV has is far stronger. It makes you reach out to your audience in a remote village too." According to Zee TV's non-fiction head, Ashish Gowalkar, it's the money that pulls the star. He says, "These shows are big ticket properties that have to deliver ratings and for that they have to attract a big audience, so channels need celebrity faces for that. But for the stars, the high fee that channel offers makes them come on TV." Ashvini Yardi, programming head of another channel, believes that there has to be a direct connect between the celebrity and the viewers. She says, "Television as a medium is evolving and so are the viewers. Given that today television reaches out to over 68 million households in India, it is a testimony to the fact that it is no longer the 'small screen'. Celebrities not only bring novelty to the show, they also get to interact with a wider audience." Ajit Thakur, business head of a popular channel agrees, "Shows like KBC, Bigg Boss are as big as a film. The reach TV gives today is far wider than film release on a weekend. And the remuneration is also high. All these factor make stars host TV shows." k_prachi@dnaindia.net |
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