OMG ekta watches DMG!!!

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WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE: Ekta Kapoor (TOI Photo) More pics

Ekta Kapoor brought about a revolution on TV by making family dramas the most-sought after programmes. She ruled the roost at one point with her serials topping the TRP charts. She continues to dominate the television scene even today. But with so many production houses coming up, there's competition. How does Ekta view this growing competition? Does it make the soap queen insecure? BT found out from the lady herself...

You continue to dominate the TV scene, but there's growing competition now...
We've always had competition. There's not been a time when there was no competition. Our whole idea is to do good shows. As far as dominating the scene is concerned, it's a matter of perception. We just feel we are like any other producer, not higher or lower... just on par.

Isn't there insecurity?
There is insecurity. And that's about my actors getting stolen! I have always been a person who has taken competition in the right spirit. Yes, I'm always insecure, I'm always on my toes, I love competition.

Today so many actors, including some from your serials, are setting up production houses. How do you view this trend?
It's great. I give them my love, my best wishes. We need more production houses, more content. It's never people or their production houses that bother me. It's an 'idea' that scares me. I don't know who has that idea, it could be a teenager in a college somewhere, it could be anybody. I started my company at 17 from my dad's garage. I don't know who's sitting at which garage and coming up with a big idea.

Do you manage to watch shows from other production houses?
I don't get time to watch my own shows, but I try to catch some like Bidaai or Dil Mil Gaye .

You've always opted for newer talent. Do you feel in these competitive times it's a good idea?
We've always felt that biggest hits have happened with newer talent. In fact, new faces bring a lot of freshness to the shows.

It must have been disappointing for you to shift the venue of your upcoming TV event from Dubai to Mumbai?
It was certainly disappointing. But you never know when a disadvantage turns out to be an advantage. In India you can have it on a much larger scale, abroad you can take just 300 to 400 people. When an event is here, the turnout is much better because a lot of people can't make it abroad on a particular date. Those watching the event on TV will have the best of it all.

Some feel as a production house you should not have ventured into this...
We are not a part of the judging scene. We are just presenting it and are involved in the creatives. I got to know about the nominations just last night. Personally, I don't sit on it at all. Our credibility will depend on how fair the awards are. People are sure it will be classy, how authentic they are waiting to see. Actually I hope actors from outside our production house win!

There's buzz that in the next few days you are coming up with a TV show that's the biggest you've ever made...
I can't tell you what the show is about. It's very challenging and the first time I'm doing something like this. I'm one of those keedas who likes to take up challenges! It will take a lot of hardwork, patience, perseverance. What five kilometers of jogging can't do, I'm hoping this show does for me. That I lose weight!

Would love to hear ur views.

Sanjana