On Ekta Kapoor's Birthday, Her Leading Ladies Shower Praises On The Queen Of Hindi TV!

Filmmaker Ekta Kapoor has been responsible for changing the face of Indian television with her saas -bahu sagas. As she turns 42, we talk to the leading ladies of some of her successful shows, and find out what makes her the top-notch producer in the Indian television scene.

Gautami Kapoor — Ghar Ek Mandir

Actor Gautami Kapoor’s popular show Ghar Ek Mandir was one of the first to taste path-breaking success. Gautami, who played the female protagonist, praises Ekta for her passion towards work. “People who know her say that she is really strict and she is a hard taskmaster. That’s true and all that stems from her being a passionate person. She is very passionate towards her work and that translates into her being a hard task master because she is so good with what she does. She expects nothing less from the people around her. She doesn’t believe in mediocrity... You have to excel,” she says.

Nausheen Sardar Ali — Kkusum

Kkusum was the story of a woman who could go to lengths for the welfare of her family. Actor Nausheen Sardar Ali calls her producer “a perfectionist”. “It wasn’t that her assistants were looking after the show. She was personally at it and giving feedback. I think that’s the reason the show did very well. I don’t see most of the producers directly involved in the show but what I remember of her [Ekta] is that she was completely involved, be it three in the morning or four, she would come to the sets and motivate actors. That is what I love about her, her personal involvement in the show was very encouraging,” says Nausheen.

Gauri Pradhan Tejwani — Kutumbh

Gauri has worked with Ekta in not just Kutumbh, but also in Kaisa Ye Pyaar Hai, Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. “Ekta was one of the producers who had a very progressive thinking. [I see that] some shows today are still doing what we were doing 10 years back. Shows are getting really regressive. Whenever I’ve worked on a project with Ekta, even if the set up has been traditional, the thinking and its content has been very interesting. Also, her team is very flexible and accommodating. If there’s any issue with your dates or anything else, if they really want you they will make that happen. They were very flexible to work with.”

Mouni Roy — Naagin

Actor Mouni Roy is perhaps the latest in the brigade of actors to have worked with Ekta, and she is in love with the show maker’s intelligence. “I love her mind — the way Ekta thinks, her imagination, her story telling! The fact that she is so complete as a person is amazing. There is so much to learn and understand from her,” says Mouni.