"I'm obsessed with Desperate Housewives"
Harneet Singh
Posted online: Friday , August 22, 2008 at 07:13:53
Ekta Kapoor more familiarly known as the queen of televison gets personal with Harneet Singh while talking on the TRP's that rule her life, the labels that follow her, the vicious spoof in a recent film, the cell phones she breaks, how powerful she feels and Mahabharata, the way she likes it.
Your Mahabharata is extremely Greekian in flavour, it seems to be inspired by Troy, whose brainwave was it?
I didn't want the same mukuts and heavy jewellery that we associate with mythology. Since it was my lifelong dream to do Mahabharata, we had to do it my way. It had to be a new interpretation, a new imaging, a new visual, otherwise why should we make it? We had a team of eight researchers in the creative team who told us that there is no historical evidence of what people really wore in that era. In a way, imaging is also a part of mythology. All the information that we have has filtered over the years and we have accepted it as the truth. We decided to go beyond and give the epic a very stylized treatment.
How would you compare your version with the original?
I would neither like to compare nor define Balaji's version for the simple reason that there is nothing like an original. A book was written eons ago and then there have been different interpretations of it. The Chopras did it their way; Chitra Banerjee Divakurni did it in her style in the book, The Palace of Illusions. In the same vein, the interpretation can be good, bad or ugly but it has to be yours. It better have your stamp.
Why did you open the epic with the Draupadi cheer haran?
See, when we decided to start with the cheer haran episode, we knew it will kick start an uproar. That's because in our society there is an unwritten rule to follow whatever has already been done. I decided to have a slightly international approach in the storytelling. Our idea was that 6000 years ago, one night and in four hours, destiny was written that became part of history. And it all began with Draupadi. We just decided to give a glimpse of history to show that a woman was the focal point of the story and then take it from there. That was the real genesis of the saga.
Who is your favourite Mahabharata character?
I have two favourites: Draupadi and Karan. Draupadi shows that revenge is a very powerful emotion that can change all of us. She was quite a ballsy woman who made sure all her five husbands were committed to her cause. As for Karan, my heart goes out to him because he was worthy in every way but also unlucky in every way. He's the most complicated and vulnerable character. He had issues, his own family was his biggest enemy and he knew that he was supporting a friend who was in the wrong. If Draupadi is all about strength, revenge and a woman's vengeful energy then Karan was the right person at the wrong time.
What is your reaction to the way you've been spoofed in the recent film, Money Hai Toh Honey Hai?
(Shrugs) They've just crossed their limits. This just shows their low morals. I haven't seen the film but my brother, Tusshar, tells me that it's in a very bad taste. It's a vicious caricature. I believe they've shown me breaking cell phones, being downright rude and have commented on my work ethic. For what? Just so that you can have a few laughs over samosas? I mean, the person who has made this film is a 200 kg plus director (Ganesh Acharya) who is obviously venting out his frustration by taking off on someone successful. It's the easiest thing in the world to take off on someone successful to get eyeballs.
And what do you have to say to Rakhi Vijan, who has played you in the film especially considering she worked in your show, Hum Paanch?
We had a horrible time working with her. She suddenly wanted to quit the show and turn producer. We supported her decision but getting dates from her for the last 20 days of the show was a humiliating experience. As a producer, I used to go on the sets and ask her to start shooting and she used to be chatting with the crew members. There was such a lack of discipline and professionalism which is why we never repeated her. But the same Rakhi has called me 10 times in the recent past for work. But I told her that at the moment I don't have anything for her. And so she does this. Just so that people like Rakhi know, television gives you a little bit of success but in five minutes it's over. I can do much more to all of these people but I choose not to.
Are you anything like the monster you've been made into?
I seriously revel in it. It actually works to my advantage. People have such a bad impression of me that when they meet me they end up being impressed because they realize I'm not so bad. I have to be half as sweet to get them to like me.
But how many cell phones have you broken?
In the last few years I've really calmed down. But yeah earlier, I used to break a lot of cell phones and glasses. Don't forget that I started my company at the age of 19. Television is highly stressful and extremely frustrating so I used to take it out on myself. I couldn't hit people or myself so I used to break things. Either that or I used to jog like a maniac.
But are you high maintenance?
I'm very low maintenance. Even if I have to buy a bag I need to think about it for a long time. I hardly buy anything for myself. To purchase something you need willingness and ability. I might have the ability but I'm not willing to spend money on myself. I can't go to a shop and spend 1,000 on a handbag.
But who do you think is behind all these stories of your rude and bad behavior?
Competitors, ex employees and people who are no longer working with Balaji. But the good part is that there is only so much bad that they can say about me. People who know me know what I'm all about. Anyways, I'm not here to win any popularity contest.
But does it bother you?
Initially it used to but not anymore. I just want to do my work.
What is the strangest rumour that you've heard about yourself?
That once I rolled on the street to reach Siddhivinayak. Can you believe that?
Do you agree that you are the most powerful person in the television industry?
I'm not. A powerful person is someone like Sonia Gandhi, who makes a big difference to the country's economic and political standing. I'm just a television producer. I've no misconceptions about my job. I'm extremely driven and balanced but I'm not drunk on power. I understand that with power comes responsibility so I'm very conscious of what we churn out. I've a yearly list of things I want to achieve for my company and I live by that. If I need to wait outside somebody's office to make a project happen then I'll do it. If I think I'm powerful then I'll never be able to make things happen. I'm very clear that in the scheme of things, a project is much more important than my ego.
What do you have to say to all those who run down your saas bahu soaps?
I'm beyond these issues. They've come and gone. If people don't like what I make they have the option to not to watch it. I make my soaps for the masses. A housewife in Ratlam is my target audience. I'm not catering to the 50 intellectuals of the country. They don't pay my bills.
But don't you want to do something else other than the saas bahu soaps?
Sure there are days when I want to try new things but I refuse to leave my core competency. Soaps pay my bills so I can't stop making them. I'd rather do a stylized version of Mahabharata.
Do TRP's rule your life?
Totally. Television is an everyday game. Everyday is like an exam for me and the numbers are like my result. I'm constantly striving to get the best numbers.
Ever fear the ideas will stop coming?
Constantly but thankfully in my company we have a lot of creative heads thinking a lot of ideas. I'm just the motivating part of the organization. I understand that the difference between running a company and ruining it, is the 'i'. These days, I'm more of a troubleshooter in my company.
What's the best thing that you've seen on TV recently?
That would be the new season of Desperate Housewives. I'm obsessed with that series. I want to meet the writers.
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