Renuka Shahane, Shekhar Suman: Popular TV Actors Who Are All Set For A Comeback On The Small Screen!
Updated : January 30, 2018 05:45 PM IST
The content on Indian television may keep becoming increasingly regressive, but it still remains the most sought after medium for stars when it comes to making a comeback. Last year, we saw a number of actors returning to tube through TV. Pallavi Joshi (Peshwa Bajirao), Niki Anneja Walia (Dil Sambhal Jaa Zara), Sheeba Akashdeep (Haasil), Madhoo (Aarambh), Mansi Joshi Roy (Dhai Kilo Prem), Urvashi Dholakia ( Chandrakanta ) and many more were seen in popular TV shows after a long break.
This year seems no different. Interestingly, it’s not just those who have done TV shows in the past, but even erstwhile Bollywood names, after long hiatus, have decided to make their comeback on small screen. Actor Shekhar Suman is coming back on TV after a decade with sitcom Saat Pheron Ki Hera Pheri . Mukul Dev too revealed his look from the show 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897. Hum Aapke Hain Koun actor Renuka Shahne, also, will be seen in a special episode in the remake of comedy series Khichdi .
VARIETY OF CONTENT
Actors say that it’s the variety that small screen offers that tempts them to give their nod. Renuka Shahne is excited to choose TV as her comeback vehicle. “All my life, I have done much more TV than films. I have done my best work on television. I would love to do a lot more TV but I the content has to suits my imagination,” she says.
Mukul, who plays the role of a tribal Afghan leader, says, “I was very impressed by the amount of research and homework everyone involved with the creative team had done vis-à-vis my character. It made it so simple for me to perform.”
Shekhar Suman says that it had to be the right subject and not necessarily comedy, for him to return. “It had to be content that will make me think that it was the right thing to do and that’s why I’m doing it.”
Urvashi Dholakia, best known for her negative character Komolika, says TV is like her second home. “There are times when you can’t relate to the content or your character and you don’t want to repeat what you’ve already done. You look for something different. When I decided to comeback in a full-fledged role, I realised that I had never done costume drama. That caught me,” she explains.
undefined src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" >The old fashioned afghan. Battle of saragarhi. pic.twitter.com/zMrgDyiRIf
— mukul dev (@mukulldevv) September 23, 2017
WIDER REACH OF TV
Actors also feel that the wider reach of TV as a platform is another reason why it makes for an apt comeback medium. “TV being a vast medium, it’s penetration and reach is unimaginable in the shortest span of time,” says Shekhar.
Mukul says that the commercial viability of TV has left everything else behind. “TV content is being shown on various digital platforms and there definitely has been an upgradation,” he says.
Urvashi states that variety has always been there on TV but now, “there are too many platforms to showcase the shows being made and they have increased the reach of what we do.”
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COMFORT WITH THE MAKERS
Actors also take into consideration the production house that is behind the show. Renuka admits that she agreed for a special episode of Khichdi solely because of the makers. “I have known Aatish [Kapadia] and JD [Jamnadas Majethia] for a long time; it’s just that we never got around working with each other. So, when they came to me with this, I was happy because I got to work with the team that I admire so much.”
Shekhar says, “I have a certain bond with the people, who are behind the show, which made me decide in its favour.
Urvashi adds, “For me, more than money, relationships matter. Even though I have not worked with Ekta [Kapoor; producer] since 2009, she must have really given it a good thought before she offered this new show to me.”