Male stars lose foothold in soaps
Priyanka Bhadani
The Asian Age
In the last few months, soaps have taken a U-turn, as the focus is now on the girl child and women protagonists. Unlike in the past, when characters like Anurag Basu, Mr Rishabh Bajaj (both from Kasautti Zindagi Kay), Mihir Virani (Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi), Armaan Suri (Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin), Abhimanyu (Astitva Ek Prem Kahani), among others ruled the viewer's heart, now there aren't many male characters in the limelight. Instead of male leads, Anandi, Sugna, Maa Sa (Balika Vadhu), Laali (Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo), Santu (Bandini), and other women characters are ruling the small screen.
Female characters have dominated saas-bahu sagas for quite some time now. With the recent trend of serials that specifically cater to women empowerment, the focus on them has become even more prominent. So do the male actors feel sidelined because of this "sweeping change"?
Most people associated with these serials agree. Rajesh Ram Singh, director of Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo that focuses on the life of a "minor girl" in Bihar, says that the main emphasis on women characters started with Ekta Kapoor's saas-bahu sagas and the others followed suit.
"As far as the trend of serials catering to women upliftment is concerned, it's just a genre development," he says.
Rajesh doesn't deny that in the process, male characters are ignored. "Since viewers are mostly women, it is the channels' strategy to focus more them," he says.
Actor Anup Soni, who is playing the role of Bhairav Singh in Balika Vadhu says that male actors have to take a backseat in women-centric serials. "The condition has worsened in the last 10 years," says the actor, who apparently shot to fame with his role in Saaya almost 10 years back.
But he hasn't lost hope. He says that he tries to choose the best that is available to him. "I prefer doing one good serial at a time, rather than taking up every role," he says, adding that he is happy that his present serial is a trendsetter.
However, actor Ronit Roy, whose characters — Mr Bajaj and Mihir Virani were more famous than his present role, Dharamraj Mahiyavanshi, in Bandini, has never felt left out. "All the characters that I have portrayed have added to my popularity. I think it's better to concentrate on work than the popularity of the character. If work is good, fame will automatically follow you," he sums up with a smile.
Source: Asian Age
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