| They are the backbone of any television production. They not only conceive award winning shows but also have the foresight to gauge their potential.They also provide the moolah that keeps these shows alive and kicking for years. In this column, we speak to some of the most vibrant producers who have made shows that have set trends in the television industry and try to find out what makes them tick!
Remember Rahul Bhatt ? He played the wayward husband in the popular soap Heena years back and later progressed to films The actor is now back to television, but this time around as a full-fledged producer. His first ever project is Zee's latest show Meri Doli Tere Angana which has hit the airwaves this week. In conversation with Tellychakkar.com's Editor Seema Pherwani this Kashmiri hunk, who was obviously quite gung-ho about his show, discusses the nitty-gritties of donning a producer's hat. Where have you been post Heena?
Well, after Heena the big screen beckoned. I did Yeh Mohabbat Hai - a teenybopper love saga and a comic caper, Nayee Padosan. I did get a lot of offers but nothing exciting so I started penning scripts. Right from my childhood, the art of storytelling always fascinated me. It amazes me how a germ of an idea can be converted into an interesting story. With Doli, my dream of becoming a producer has come true. Along with this, we already have a few more shows lined up. From an actor to producer.... must be a difficult task to get into a producer's shoes?
It's definitely not easy for anyone, especially with such competition. But then things are never easy when you take up a new job. But soaps are all about being creative, so here I am. But isn't being producer a nerve wrecking job for an actor; cutting costs and making sure things don't go wrong?
Those days are gone when producers used to just sit down, sign cheques and ask kitne paise lagenge. Today we have producers like Aditya Chopra and Karan Johar who are totally hands on with their scripts, and understand the craft thoroughly. So, I am a creative producer who's actively involved in all the aspects of my show. Apart from the planning and execution I am making sure that the right script gets on floor. Tell us a little about your show, Meri Doli..?
It is primarily a love story with a family backdrop. The basic concept is about how a man's past stings his present and makes an impact on his future. The story unfolds when just after her marriage Simran gets to know about her husbands past. From then on, it's about how she copes with both the families and tries to woo sback her husband. |
Still image from Meri Doli Tere Angana
| So, what's the USP of your show? Is there anything new that you're offering?
I can't understand the concept of 'new'. I believe there are only two stories in the world, Ramayana and Mahabharat. Now, it's all about how you present it and what's your take on it. The characterization also helps the script to look different. Like we have a very exciting dadi in our show who loves to dance and do all kinds of crazy things. Heena was a weekly show but now its the era of daily soaps…..
It was fun then and things were much simpler. For us actors it meant less work and more adulation. But I guess now people don't want to wait for a whole week to find out what's happening next in the show. And that's why daily soaps. Even in our daily lives we want solutions to problems instantly, right?
Was it difficult finding the appropriate star cast for your show?
There were some problems in finalizing the cast. But now things are in place and I am quite happy with my team. So, what's up next? No plans of acting in shows?
Not as of now. I already have a few films lined up. Also we are busy with a few more scripts and concepts for shows. | 
Another Tony and Deeya Singh soap is facing the axe! ZEE TV has announced the demise of its long running light-hearted soap 'Jab Love Hua'.
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