TOI: Small screens young dad-Ayub

The "not-so-old" actors – who essay the role of aged fathers in their 50s on the small screen – do so to co-actors who sometimes fall in the same age bracket.

Be it Ronit Roy, Ram Kapoor, Ayub Khan,Cezanne Khan, Hiten Tejwani or Kiran Karmarkar, each of these actors have had to essay the role of an old daddy on the small screen while they were in their early or mid 30s in real life. What's more, most of the time they stand as silent spectators to what their dharam patnis do.

"In Hindi shows, those who essay the role of a father don't have a major part to play, for the shows cater to women and emphasize more on female characters. We have had male actors voice their concerns – 'Humein (Father banke) toh bilkul dialogue nahin milte'. And we have to tell them 'karna padta hai'. Also, they have to look good. As it is, they have no role, in addition to that, we can't think of not having anyone who looks smart irrespective of his age," says director Ravindra Gautam, adding, "Hiten was just 30 and Kiran was also in his early 30s when they became fathers on TV. I remember Cezanne too had a 20-something daughter in "Kasautti Zindagii Kay". This has been the offshoot of age leaps in shows. How else do you think shows like "Kyunki... Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi..." "Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii " "Kasautii Zindagii Kay" have survived for so long?

Ayub Khan was also in his 30s when he had a son in the show "Karishma". " Jugal Hansraj played my son. And in reality, he is somewhat of my age. TV pe hisaab bahut alag hai. Bahut kuch jis tarah ke kapde aur jewellery pehnai jaati hai, uspe bhi depend karta hai," says Ayub. He also agrees that the disparity in the role of those playing daddy between Bollywood and Indian TV is quite evident. "Everything is governed by TRPs on TV. All formulas – age leap, wedding, etc are used to ensure the show is not chopped. So we have to say yes. Kitni baar toh father ke role main ek side pe khada rehna padta hai. This happens on TV! I have often told my show makers to give me a ghoonghat," he adds. Ravindra too feels the same. "Hindi shows go on for years. To have actors changed post age leap is a bizarre idea. That's why actors, who once played the lead, graduate from a dude to a father and then grandfather!"

Ram Kapoor never felt insecure when he gave his nod to play dad to a 20-something actor in "Kasamh Se". "Acting is about playing different characters. Even though fathers on TV are played by actors comparatively younger to the likes of Om Puri, Anupam Kher, etc in Hindi flicks, I don't find it to prove detrimental to any actor's career. And to think people grab offers on TV as it is easy to get is wrong. We all have to toil hard to get work."


Anoop Soni - Balika Vadhu
Ayub Khan - Uttaran
Hiten Tejwani - Kyunki... Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi...
Ronit Roy - Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Kyunki... Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi...
Ram Kapoor - Kasamh Se
Saahil Chadha - Beend
Banunga Ghodi Chadhunga
Mahesh Thakur - Sasural Genda phool