Popular actor Adnan Khan, who continues to captivate audiences with his powerhouse performances and crackling screen chemistry alongside Ayesha Singh in Colors TV’s hit drama Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki, has spent the last eight years observing the rapid evolution of the entertainment industry. In a candid reflection on how storytelling has transformed, the actor shares his insightful take on competing in a global ecosystem and the delicate balance between commercial success and creative risk.
Addressing how television has shifted from its traditional formats to a vast multi-medium arena, Adnan points out that today’s actors must rise to meet an entirely new tier of audience expectation. “The way television has changed is that there are now so many more mediums of entertainment that the industry has to compete with. Earlier, it was a simple format: you had cinema and television. Now, you have web series, vertical dramas, and so many other forms of entertainment.”
Reflecting on the international influences shaping viewer tastes, he adds, “The level of performance demanded from this generation of actors is also much higher. Audiences are more critical because they have access to different kinds of performances, writing, and cinematography from across the world.”
Highlighting cross-cultural influences on set, Adnan notes, “People on my set watch Chinese and Korean dramas, and each industry brings its own strengths. Koreans are experts at combining artistic ideas with entertainment, while Americans bring strong production values. With audiences exposed to such diverse content, the level of quality required to keep our audience base intact has gone up, which I think is a great thing for the television industry.”
When asked whether today’s television landscape is genuinely more experimental than in previous years, Adnan offers a grounded perspective on the timeless nature of creative risk-taking. “Personally, I don’t think the industry is necessarily more experimental today. My knowledge is limited, as I’ve been working here for the past eight years, but I believe every generation has had people who took risks. There have always been producers, channels, and writers willing to try new ideas.”
Elaborating on the delicate economics of storytelling, he explains, “I feel that saying we are more experimental now, or that previous generations were more experimental, takes something away from the people and institutions involved. Great ideas don’t come along every day, and experiments are riskier.”
Drawing a parallel between different cinematic formats, Adnan concludes, “The industry needs successful shows that attract audiences and generate revenue, allowing room for unconventional ideas. It’s the same with films: commercial blockbusters help create opportunities for independent films, which aren’t necessarily about making money. Similarly, in television, successful shows allow makers to experiment with different concepts. I feel this has always been part of the television industry.”
