Article: Raise a toast to TV dads!

By Ritu Verma

They might not be real, but are definitely influential. Though we are not related to them, yet we truly understand their affection, tears and fears.

We are talking about the small screen fathers. In Bollywood, mothers bask in the limelight, but in the case of television - dad is the latest buzz. Be it the strict Balwant Walia from Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin to the supporting Bhairav Singh of Balika Vadhu, the industry seems to be celebrating essence of fatherhood.

Nivedita Basu, vice-president, scripted programming, Colosceum Media decodes the trend, "Television has been following Bollywood in the past, but now things are changing. We try to be in sync with a new audience who do not like to see super filmy stuff on television. Even producers prefer to experiment and create their own characters. It's great that father's are getting their due importance on television. TV is woman-dominated medium and as people say, girls are always closer to their fathers."

So while you spend Father's day with your Pa, we bring you the on and off screen side of prime-time dads and what makes them popular'

Kuku Narang, Sabki Laadli Bebo

Kanwaljit Singh plays a hard-working businessperson, who believes in enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Singh says he's is enjoying his stint as Kuku.

Kanwaljit Singh connects to his onscreen avatar and says, "People in the industry call me Kuku, so the character is named after me. I am a father of two boys and didn't have a sister too. I have always felt the need of a girl in our family."

Kanwaljit is not a strict father in real life and loves to play cricket and watch movies with his kids. He adds, "How you deal with your child can make or break his future. I think there is a very fine line between being friendly and firm. You just have to strike a balance. I am quite open with my kids, whereas my wife handles them slightly strictly."

On the show, Kuku has just found out that Bebo is not his biological child, but he is stillbeing shown as accepting towards her. Would Kanwaljit be able to do the same in real life if a similar situation arose? "It would be devastating to know that she is not mine, but at the same time, I can't disown her. You develop a matchless bond with a child while bringing them up. That relationship matters more than all this," says he.

His onscreen daughter, Bebo says the actor, "is a sweetheart. I feel she is getting better as an actor and handles things more maturely now. She is barely 16, but she is great as an artist and I enjoy working with her."