Smriti: I have not been approached

Q Virrudh is about to complete 100 episodes. How has the response been so far?

The response has been fabulous both in India as well as abroad. Recently I was in Dubai and was surprised to know that the show is being watched in the Middle East too. I discovered the same on my recent trips to Hyderabad and Chennai. The general perception is that Hindi serials are not watched in the South but I was surprised to learn that Virrudh was not only watched but appreciated too. My co-actors in the serial have also got a similar feedback whenever they have travelled outside Mumbai. I have also got a similar feedback from people in the television industry as well as the media. In other words, Virrudh is not only a widely watched show but it is also being appreciated.

Q But the TRP numbers give a different picture altogether. Do low TRPs unnerve you?

The TRP system is completely flawed. It doesn't cover the rural market at all. There are no PeopleMeters in Bihar, Kashmir and the whole of north-east. Uttar Pradesh has a population of 14 crore but there are only 300 meters. There are only 300 meters in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. In a country of over a billion people there are only 7000 PeopleMeters to calculate TRP numbers. The information on the TRP trends, viewing pattern and the actual numbers is also not freely available. So I don't understand how the system works and how the numbers are arrived at. Take for instance, Doordarshan and DD News. Both are most watched channels but as far as TRPs are concerned they rank very low.

Q Maybe because TAM covers only cable and satellite homes in 150 cities with one lakh-plus population?

When there are 70 million cable and satellite homes how can only 7,000 meters give the exact information and figures about what is really being watched? Why there is no adequate coverage for DD and DD News. All the TAM research and numbers are meant for advertisers to help and decide on how to sell their commercials and at what price. It is meant for advertisers, media buyers to buy and sell slots.

It doesn't indicate anything about what kind of entertainment viewers want. Because of the popularity of certain family dramas people have concluded that the audience wants to see only regressive content. But if that's really true then what explains the success of films like Chak De India, Cheeni Kam, Rang De Basanti and Bheja Fry? The fact is audiences are ready for good content, good stories and different formats and genres. But when the research does not indicate the choice of content viewers would like to watch why should content providers be held hostage to and punished? The fact is there should be a debate on TRPs but media buyers will not allow it to happen.

Q Virrudh ranks low on the TRP charts but the channel is supporting the show. Is it because it is a much talked-about show? Does Sony see a potential in it to garner better numbers in the future?

The very fact that Virrudh is being talked about everywhere indicates that it is being seen on a wider scale. Without seeing it people will not talk abut it. It is why I want to know how TRP numbers are arrived at. But I am happy that Sony is extremely supportive and without the channel's support my first production wouldn't have been appreciated and become a success.

Q Is the show all about Vasudha vs her father or is it Vasudha vs. everyone in the Raisinghania family?

It is basically about good vs evil. The father is the catalyst for creating all the conflicts in the family and Vasudha will oppose anyone who follows the wrong path.

Q What about your next production Mere Apne for Zee? Have you signed Vinod Khanna to play the lead role opposite you?

I have three shows in the pipeline but I can't talk about them because the contract doesn't allow me to. I have never said anything about Mere Apne and whether Vinod Khanna has been signed for it. It is all media speculation. They quote sources close to me. But the fact is I don't have any source that's close to me and who can speak for me.

Q Are you going to make a comeback in Kyunki and when?

There is lot of speculation in the media about my coming back in Kyunki. But the truth is that I have not been approached by anyone so far.

Q Did you leave the show or were you asked to quit?

I did not leave the show. Neither did I want to quit the show or take a break. I wasn't even aware of my exit from Kyunki till the day I went to shoot for the death scene.

Q But if approached to play Tulsi again will you do the show?

There is no point in speculating about what's going to happen in future.