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While the move might lead to more revenue generation for the channels, it also means hiring more people to work on the shows, and bringing supporting actors in the limelight. "Now, we will need four more episodes per month, which means that we need almost 20-30 more scenes. We can make our actors work for a certain number of hours, so we also have to focus on developing tracks of some supporting actors. For instance, in our show Ek Veer Ki Ardaas... Veera, the focus is now on the tracks of supporting characters like Ratan, Chaiji, Gunjan and Baldev. It helps when you have 18 or 20 characters in a show. Fortunately, we have a big set, and three units are shooting simultaneously. Also, we have had to increase manpower, hire more people, get more cameras to ensure that everything goes smoothly," says Yash Patnaik, producer of Ek Veer Ki Ardaas... Veera.
The makers are getting considerable support from the broadcasters for this change. "There was a time when two of my shows, Bidaai and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, were aired for one hour every day for almost two months. And one of my other shows, Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, was aired for one hour on Fridays. It's a cut-to-cut scenario when it comes to TV shows, but now, the broadcasters are quite supportive when it comes to such situations. The approvals are faster and they are in constant touch with us about the tracks. But the challenge is - how will you generate extra content without exhausting your lead actors? After all, ours is a five-year-old show and we have to give our lead actors their offs. It's not possible to have Akshara and Naitik in every scene. So now, we have introduced this whole remarriage track. Also, we've brought two new entrants and the focus is also on Anshu, Akshara's cousin, who has moved to Mumbai for his studies. Obviously, there is a backlash from the viewers. We get messages saying they want to see more of the leads, but that's something that's not possible all the time," says Rajan Shahi, producer of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.
"Managing content for six days a week is not an easy task, especially for a comedy show. There are only some writers who can write good comedy. Daily soaps have a story that revolves around social situations, hence it is a little easier to write. So, there are two units that are shooting simultaneously to meet the six-day requirement. We also have a good team of writers who are able to cope with the added pressure," says Asit Modi, producer, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
It's not only the actors who have to sweat it out, but also the creative team. "There are a lot of production pressures. We have two tracks on the show, and there are two units that are shooting simultaneously. We have to ensure that there is no compromise in the quality of content. Now, there is a chance that we, as writers, might have to write more filler scenes. These scenes are two or three-minute sequences, which are put if we realize that we are falling short on time for one particular episode. With this extension, I feel that there will be a greater requirement of these scenes," explains Gajra Kottary, writer, Balika Vadhu.
But there are some, like Devoleena Bhattacharjee aka Gopi of Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, who feel that this will make the otherwise chaotic TV industry organized. "Initially, it will be a little stressful, but I feel that we will get scripts on time and things will become more organized, since everybody will be under pressure to deliver extra content," she says.
Not only does this move mean more work for actors, but the six-day schedule leaves little scope for making mistakes, says Sargun Mehta. "I have to balance the shoot of two shows - Boogie Woogie and Balika Vadhu. We don't shoot beyond 12 hours a day, but it takes me almost four hours to commute to the sets, and I end up my giving 16 hours a day to my daily soap. However, now there is pressure on us to give perfect shots and there is little room for retakes," she says.
The long working hours have already started taking a toll on some actors, like Nakuul Mehta, who are virtually seen in every scene on their show. "Viewers used to tell us that we miss watching you on weekends and now they must be really happy since they are getting to watch us on Saturdays too. But we have been feeling the repercussions. I shot for 17 hours a day last week, and even this week it's been the same. The workload has increased, we are also trying to create a bank of episodes since we leave for Australia next week to shoot the honeymoon sequence of the show. I have lost weight and haven't got sufficient sleep," says Nakuul, male lead of Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara.
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