HT-M- We love bad boys - RK/Sultan

The regular mama's boys are boring, whereas with bad boys, the audience relishes their antics.

As in real life, women on television seem to invariably fall for the bad guys. They have a swagger and a don't-give-adamn attitude. And in spite of their rough-hewn characters, the women can't resist them. Consider the list: RK, Vishnu, Prithvi, Sultan, Arnav, Viraj and Daata.

There are also men like Sooraj (Diya Aur Baati Hum), Viren (Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai) and Naitik (Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai) who hardly ever speak up, even if their wives are wronged. The bad boys, on the other hand, are independent thinkers, not influenced by their mothers or the women in their lives.

Case in point: RK (Madhubala) was brash and dominating with Madhu. He bullied her into marrying him and even pretended to be a changed man. But then he dumped her. Madhu has somehow managed to find herself another bad boy, this time a don named Sultan.

On Uttaran, Vishnu is an impersonator pretending to be good. Jagya (on Balika Vadhu), on the other hand dumped the village belle Anandi for an educated Gauri; he also humiliated and blamed Anandi for all that is wrong in his life. These characters, in effect, have managed to shock their lady loves, and if effect, audiences as well.

Then there are those who are bratty and rude on the outside, but have hearts of gold. Arnav Singh Raizada (Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon), Prithvi (Junoon) and Daata (Laagi Tujhse Lagan) might scream and shout at the women around them, but are morally upright.

So why do we love them? The regular mama's boys are boring, whereas with bad boys, the audience relishes their antics. Also, like in real life, women on TV want to change these boys. Unlike in real life, though, those on TV always succeed.