Dear IF fans of GHSP,
It was with much regret that I noted the vicious verbal assault launched on CV and the actors of the show by a certain section of the audience.
And am incited almost provoked into writing this post.Whilst I am a relatively new add on to the forum, I was taken aback by the razor edged criticism and sheer negative talks doing the rounds by long standing GHSP followers.
With due respects to their sentiments, I am unable to fathom the furore over yesterday's episode and the turn of events for the show.
It's a fictional story. A daily soap. In our adoration for the show/ actors and characters, there seem to be a disconnect with reality.
If GC is indeed taking personal time off and CV has worked around the story to accommodate the actor's request, as audience can we not let our love for the show to extend to individuals and see reason in it?
Maan is the character.
GC the actor.
The actor a human being.
Like you and I.
Bear with me as I outline a little bit about myself.
I am a working professional and been a part of the corporate world for 7 long years. My experience spanning from small firms, MNC's, BPO's and the likes through the highs and lows of economics in various capacities and traveled the world over.
Barring medical leaves I have never been on a vacation or break from work in a decade now. That was a personal choice. My idea of recharging my batteries, that periodically die out of exhaustion and work pressures, is writing, reading, spending time with family and I am content to buzz off to work each Monday with the same zest that I started off my first day of work with.
Now, why am I harping on that?
I have been a workaholic by choice, averaging 12-14 hrs each day for & years. All around me colleagues, periodically took time out to let the steam off elsewhere, anywhere but the work place ranging from a day or two to a week. And they come back rejuvenated, ready to take on the daily grind.
Thats their idea of recharging. Just because my way of balancing work and life is different from theirs,it does not make them any wrong or me any correct.
In the corporate world, backing up for one another at work place is called, the business continuity plan ( BCP).
You are out sick.
You have a pressing situation in your personal life.
You have a nervous breakdown. Reason could be any.
So you have people pitching in to help one another to ensure work is not affected and no client/ stakeholder is complaining due to such an absence of workforce.
How is Gurmeet Choudhary any different from one of us then?
He is not entitled to make room for his personal life because is a wildly, widely popular actor?
And CV is wrong in making room for its cast and crew by acknowledging that they have a life beyond the show?
I read up articles on and interviews by the actor. He has struggled and worked his way up the hard way to get where we see him now. Do his fans and detractors alike not realize the competition and pressures of being in show biz as also in the public eye for as long as he has? Does Gurmeet himself not know how difficult the journey has been? Surely,he must value it enough. So, why are people jumping in the bandwagon by the droves in condemning GC?
On this forum and on FB, GC has been singled out for being unprofessional.
When my colleagues take off to spend time with family to beat the stress, that does not automatically spell unprofessional ism.
Likewise, when I am in need for a day or two away from work out of pure saturation, am not labelled unprofessional. We put in few more hours and go to some troubles to keep the business up and running without complaining. OK, we do crib but thats all talk.Don't mean it.
Why?
Because, your team, the company, the management, the internal and external stakeholders see your value and acknowledge your abilities.
Not long ago, I was part of a transition team that worked on setting up a business model. That required us team of 5 to put in 18 hours a day for 6 excruciatingly long months in health and in sickness. There were times when at least 2 of us worked through the night in raging fever. Eventually it all worked out. The success we saw and the appreciation that followed made it all seem worth it.
Is this kind of stress and effort any different for actors of entertainment industry? I came across GC's blog and learnt he was taken ill few months ago and during his absence the show suffered to some extent with the TRP's plummeting. GC wasn't exactly on a vacation, was he? And if then CV had to put together in haste a plan of action, why the outrage?
That resolved, what's with the hard time being dealt to CV?
All of us at the forum, discussing and venting frustration in strong words, needn't be as unreasonable and quick in being dismissive of way CV is handling the story.
We all have dedicated threads to what should happen next and we are second guessing based on rumors, news leaks, SBS and other sources with each passing minute.
Why? Because of our love for the show. For the actors/ characters.Thats perfectly understandable and rational. What the heck, so am I?
But, we feel cheated when things do not turn out as we wish it to be or when the episode doesn't live up to our expectations.
If thats not juvenile, what is? Why are we letting our ideas of how the show should progress cloud our sense of judgement and fairness.
No one at CV held us at gun point to watch the show and likewise they aren't asking anyone to continue if they do not like the show anymore.We can agree to disagree, can't we?
There is no need to get personal here. Be it Maan, Annie, Arjun, Nayantara , the script writers, creative team of GHSP. Airing dissent is one thing and trashing someone in a public forum like this is entirely different thing. And there is a thin line of distinction there.
In a short span of time I have turned into a GHSP addict. My obsession for the show however doesn't prevent me from seeing the actors as just another individual doing their job and earning their living.
But thats just me.
Now, the story of GHSP.
Its a fact and for a given- one which we have resigned ourselves to is -that the show has a million flaws : logical and technical ones.
And now those of casting too.
Nikunj as Annie has received such backlash that drives the final nail in the coffin as far as her acting abilities are concerned.
Agreed, If CV had to bring in a new character as Maan's sister, they should have used a seasoned actor or an adept newcomer. But we all make mistakes, don't we.
How many of us are aware that Nikunj is highly educated and intelligent enough to make it to IIM Ahmedabad for a doctoral program. That she wished to venture into telly world and try her hands at acting is such a grave sin that folks on FB and IF are writing hate mails to CV?
If CV dont give her enough airtime on the show how will the audience ever connect?Acceptance wont happen overnight, right?GHSP cant run with 30 minutes of Geet and Maan only. They need supporting cast. And they need to be accepted just as the lead pair even if with a pinch of salt.
She is the possibly the worst actor on GHSP as of now and the weakest link. So?? She will learn with the passage of time. Give her that leeway. Are we trying to say here that every actor in telly world and the big screen was brilliant from day one?
No .They all learn, evolve, mature. Those who don't are weeded out eventually. The not so good ones get sieved out in the process. If she doesn't get better she will be on her way out soon. Simple.
The story is at a juncture where CV has promised us a dream.Painted a picture so beautiful for us that we refuse to wish beyond this make believe.
We are so passionately cheering for Geet and Maan that every single twist in the plot that takes away from the lead pair is being interpreted as hurting our sentiments.
CV has to further the story of its most popular show. They cannot afford to or even dream of putting its prospects in jeopardy , would they? Their writers must be tearing their hair apart in desperation as well. CV has been in business of entertainment for long enough to know that.
We are the all powerful audience but do we have the know how of the way the industry functions?The economics and tactics needed to survive there in? The cut throat competition, the TRP rat race, logistics involved in 24/7 shooting, talent management and not to mention the finances?
The greater the tragedies in a love story the better. Why? Because they make history. Why is that Romeo-Julient, Heer Ranjha, Sohni-Mahiwal have stood the test of time? Why don't all the love birds on earth get such due? Is their love any less? They sentiments any shallow? NO.
Its human psyche to root for the underdog. To perceive that greater the battles fought make for greater glory.
So if Maan is out of the story as of now for whatever prison time, the troubles for Khurana's will increase manifold. CV can explore and sketch a whole new side to Maan's character. As an actor it would be great for GC to flex his muscles.
Now,thats perfect recipe for a comeback, isn't it? A return the audience will wait with tense moments.In the meantime there are lots of loose ends in the story that CV has to tie up. Its a win win for all!!
So why jump the guns? Put your thinking caps on. Hold you horses.CV will work back its way to Geet-Maan love story. They don't have a choice with that. Instead of berating the course of events and relegating GHSP to yet another run of the mill, Ekta Kapoor standards for daily soap, why not look at a radical spin to the ongoings. And on a positive note.
God forbid, CV's do not come up with better solutions and get their act together in times to come, they will have no one but themselves to blame.
Whats worse for a daily soap than to be pulled off air forcibly because the audience interest has dwindled?
Here wishing GHSP doesn't end up there. Amen!
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
