My life is full of success and failure: Ekta

With this show, the channel welcomes back the czarina of television, Ekta Kapoor, who had produced Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka three years back, and actress Sukirti Khandpal, who debuted with STAR One's flagship show Dill Mill Gayye. Vivian Dsena and Sukirti play the leading couple Abhay and Pia on the show. While Pia is a simple, small-town, beautiful girl, Abhay is an imperfect guy who is always there to save Pia. The story is about Pia falling in love with the villain Abhay. As claimed by the producer, the show has been the toughest project she has made so far. Getting the cast as well as the initial episodes and story right was a herculean task for the lady. However, as we are all set to watch the outcome starting October 18th, Monday to Friday, at 8:30 pm, the proud producer is beaming from ear to ear.

Ekta talks about the uniqueness of the show, the perfect cast and her success story.

What's unique about Pyaar Kii Yeh Ek Kahaani?

We have always ventured into youth-oriented shows but, fortunately or unfortunately, family dramas get more recognition. The excitement here is that we are dealing with a love story that is dark and edgy. After doing so much on television, it's easy to do normal and easy concepts, but doing a show which makes you think again and again doesn't happen always. I am thankful to STAR One for giving me the opportunity to make this show for them. It has been a great experience to write a surreal love story.

As you said, this is an edgy love story…

Oh! My God. Only I know what I have been through while making this show. It's easy to say that you are making a unique show, but when the time comes to speak through actions, you know how difficult it gets. When you make a show or a movie abroad, you have the liberty to attempt beyond what's been tried. But in India, when you have a show on a supernatural element, it can only talk of two things - ghost or human; there is no mid-way. It can't just be supernatural here, and you have to infuse a love angle to it. We started from scratch after reaching the eighth episode. We actually wrote it five times! PKYEK has a supernatural bent with the love angle. You can't go into the totally dark domain, as viewers might not appreciate it.

How do you define an edgy love story?

Actually, you can't. The guy is imperfect. He is different from what you can imagine. The story is, how can a girl fall in love with a guy who is a villain?

For someone who has an eye for talent, what took you so long to finalise the cast of the show?

Because I just didn't get the faces, and if I did, they came across as bad actors. I didn't have time on me to train and groom them. People say that we didn't want to shell out extra money on the cast, which is untrue. We have spent 10 times more money to groom the actors we have launched, but this time, for PKYEK in particular, we were running short of time and had deadlines to meet. Our basic idea was to get fresh faces, and when we couldn't succeed in getting completely fresh faces, we tried to zero down on actors who were relatively fresher. Sukirti and Vivian came as close as we could get.

Has this been inspired from something? What inspired you to write this story?

Nothing like this has happened in my life, and so, it was a tough task to write this show. I went through a lot of American shows which had a supernatural bent, but only managed doing fiction which didn't look like a horror show. That is what inspired me to do this show. It took me a lot of time, as you have to face certain restrictions when you make a show keeping in mind Indian sensibilities and taste.

Did you ever think of making a movie based on the concept, rather than a show?

I think it is fun doing television. I have always thought of making it as a show on television, for no reasons in particular.

What is love to you?

Love is an illogical emotion. You need to go beyond your belief to fall in love at times.

Tell us a bit about your success story…

My story is full of success and failure. I have always aspired to make something different and unique on television. Things that worked were termed as successes, and shows that tanked were called failures.

One reality show you love watching?

I like watching Bigg Boss.

If offered, would you like to participate in Bigg Boss?

Do you think I am nuts? I am a vouyeur; I can only watch. I made Love Sex Dhokha, as it's all based on voyeurism. Being the watched is not my cup of tea.

Nowadays, shows don't run for years and get yanked off abruptly. What, according to you, is going wrong?

Thank God for that. I had a good time when my shows ran for many years. Engaging an audience for a long time is now impossible. Earlier, it was easy, but now, when we have the same concepts to work on with a different approach, it becomes quite a task. When TV was fresh, with only few fictions, the want to watch it was huge. Anything that's new receives a warm response, but demand declines as supply increases. I don't see fiction becoming huge in the near future till urban fiction comes into full force, which is yet a niche programming. We are all waiting for the digital era to take over; there will be a huge amount of urban shows which, in turn, will be viewed by the city audience.

How do you define the urban lot?

Urban audience is the thinking lot and, yes, the neglected lot.

Do you think we will soon go back to the good old DD days where the shows ran for a definite time period of 13 episodes?

Yes, I am sure. Also, we will have the DD kind of shows and concepts back too.

Your take on reality shows?

Reality shows are at a primitive stage, and will always be there. Fiction will always give you higher ratings at a cheaper cost. Reality brings in new audiences who don't watch television, whereas fiction keeps the audience glued. Both the genres serve different purposes.

How are you planning to celebrate the New Year?

I have not decided as yet. I wish I don't have to go to Goa; I would jump into the sea there. I have been to going to Goa every New Year.