Lavish sets, outdoor shoots and designer clothes are no longer restricted to the silver screen.
Television serials have hit the jackpot as far as viewership is concerned. With most households addicted to the idiot box, producers are going all out to ensure slick presentations, complete with foreign locales, designer outfits and lavish sets.
Explains actor Ronit Roy: "Television has evolved dramatically in the last few years. It is a good sign that producers and directors are spending money in order to ensure attractive set-ups and satisfying the demands of the scripts. This can only lead to better serials being produced."
But has all the new hype and moolah made the serials lose their essential flavour of portraying daily life as we live it? Admits actress Pallavi Joshi: "The content is missing and family dramas have lost their focus under the shadow of glamorous sets and glossy costumes."
However, actress and producer Aruna Irani feels that since television portrays the same emotions and drama as films, there should be no difference between the two. "At the end of the day, the content decides whether a serial is popular or not. But if the script demands outdoor shooting, then there is no harm in spending money on foreign locations. Producers' willingness to spend money is adding to visual delight," she says.
Agrees actor Shakti Anand: "The television industry is now almost at par with the film industry. I also feel there is nothing wrong in portraying sensual scenes if the script so demands."
Roy is quick to add: "Of course, parental guidance should be provided for under-aged viewers."
Gursheel Walia, a creative director in an ad agency says, "With budget no longer a constraint, the creative crew has a good chance to select the best locations for shooting."
Of course, in the ultimate analysis, it is the viewers who get the best deal as they are able to watch their favourite stars act out the dramas in the finest locations.