"...There's A Change Of Taste...": See What Ekta Kapoor Has To Say About Changing Television Content

Ekta R Kapoor, the television czarina, is known for providing audiences with more relatable and diverse programming. She’s witnessed how the industry has transformed over time, as well as how OTT has altered the dynamics. In an interview with IANS, she discusses her experience working in the television industry and how the material has evolved through time.

Ekta commented on her journey in the television industry and said: “I feel like a fossil at times. I feel that television has got everything to do with escapism and very little to do with merely content, it’s a lot of suspension of reality. People want clean entertainment, which hasn’t changed on television, but I’ve noticed that a lot of new age stories are emerging, which is something I’ve noticed. My journey has consisted of over 26 years of doing what I most likely enjoy and believe in.” Ekta began her work as an intern with ad and feature filmmaker Kailash Surendranath when she was 17 years old. Her 1995 sitcom, ‘Hum Paanch,’ was her first success in the industry after a string of disappointments. So it wasn’t a cakewalk for her, and she responds to the ups and downs by saying: “Every year, I believe, a new trend emerges, a new writing pattern emerges, and one must innovate. For example, you may know that escapism on television is a popular kind of entertainment, but after a few years, it becomes relatable, and all of the shows begin to take over. Every time this happens, your taste changes; you come home every day to find a difference in the entertainment you consume.”

Ekta founded her digital platform ALTBalaji in April 2017 after earning a name for herself in the television industry. It has now been five years and has produced numerous notable projects, the most recent of which being ‘Lock Upp.’ The producer discusses how over-the-top (OTT) has altered the landscape and influenced television programming.

“OTT has a lot of experimentation because there is a lot of specification when it comes to audience identification and then the content is tailored to the target audience. Unlike television, which is more of a one-size-fits-all approach. As a result, they have opposing viewpoints. OTT and TV aren’t cutting into each other’s market, nor are they assisting each other in change or becoming development accelerators.”