Parichay Sharma was recently seen creating trouble for Vasudha in Zee TV’s popular show, Vasudha. The actor had a good, distinctive journey with the show. We talked to him about his passion for reality shows and found him giving his honest feedback on what he feels. He doesn’t hold back when it comes to the current wave of reality television. With shows built entirely around conflict and constant surveillance, the actor believes the genre has drifted far from what it was originally meant to be, and he isn’t shy about calling it his personal nightmare.
He doesn’t mince words when expressing his deep aversion to the format. For him, appearing on one is the ultimate nightmare: “I would say it’s a nuisance show, not a reality show anymore. I have always had this fear; my nightmare is I open my eyes, or somebody has pressured me, and I find myself in a reality show. That is my nightmare,” he said.
Parichay draws a direct line between reality TV contestants chasing screen time and everyday people chasing likes on social media. “Youngsters are coming just for attention in reality shows. People say they are so bad, but you are also doing the same on a filtered level. There is only a difference between you and them: you are also like that, you are on TV, and they are also on social media. Earlier, people used to fight on the road; everyone used to stop their cars and scooters to watch it. Now it is happening on TV,” he said.
Analysing why viewers remain hooked on constant conflict, Parichay chalks it up to human nature and psychological projection. “When they see a fight, they get relief; they connect with the energy. A lot of people are not happy in their life, but when they see something like this, they put themselves in that zone, so they connect.”
“It’s human nature: when they see a fight, they get relief; they connect with the energy. A lot of people are not happy in their lives, but when they see something like this, they put themselves in that zone, so they connect. You get angry or aggressive; that’s why you become addicted to these shows, and you get attached to a certain person,” he said.
“You get angry or aggressive; that’s why you become addicted to these shows, and you get attached to a certain person,” he adds.
He compares today’s reality television to an older, more domestic form of drama. “People used to watch dramas of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law because they used to imagine their own house, and they can’t show that dirty level of chugli, so they get relief from there. That is an extended or glorified way of a street fight or mohalla gali fight,” he said.
Despite his strong feelings, Parichay acknowledges that minds can change under pressure—even if he hopes he stays firm. “I would pray that I don’t get a chance to do a reality show, but still, something like Khatron Ke Khiladi, if it comes to me, I wish I deny it and say thank you so much. If I change my decision at that point in time, that will be the worst decision of my life. If it happens, then it will be a nightmare.”
