Click to play videoThe race for ratings in the Hindi general entertainment scene has never been this close. First Colours broke Star Plus' nine-year monopoly over the top spot and then Zee TV too overtook Star. How is your daily soap changing? Smriti Irani explains on in an exclusive chat with CNN-IBN.
CNN-IBN: Why do you think Star Plus lost its top spot after so many years?
Smriti Irani: I don't know. I mean that is the job of channel bosses to think and ponder over because it's not my job why a particular channel lost out in this race. What is heart-breaking is that today creativity has to take a back seat because everybody is in this rat race to make sure they get their salaries and get back home in the evening. I don't blame channel bosses for it as they need to ensure they keep the advertisers enticed enough to ensure everybody's salaries come and producers make sure they don't ever make the channel unhappy, hence actors are also part of that circle. They make sure their jobs are safe. Unfortunately, you might hardly find who's enjoying what they doing.
CNN-IBN: Do you think there is a lack of original programming, as in game shows are based on western shows and series et al are inspired from movies.
Smriti Irani: I wish we were more initiators than copycats. How different is different is another debate that takes place. Indian television has given some historical hits like a Buniyaad, Mahabharat and Khandaan. They are extremely different. Also Udaan. Now till we don't do that, I don't think we are extremely different. But to do that, somebody needs to have the guts because it does not ensure commercial success. Now since everybody is in the game to make sure that we make money, I don't think many step out of that cocoon.
CNN-IBN: If you were channel's programming head, what would you change first?
Smriti Irani: It's easier said than done. Grass always looks greener on the other side and you always presume I know better, but that's not the case. I think today mostly the channel heads or programming heads who are running the show are people who have come from the lower ground and most of them have been through the ropes in terms of departments. I have seen them rising.
CNN-IBN: Is there any sort of survey which is done to understand the viewer's taste? From a Tulsi you are now the funny Maniben.
Smriti Irani: I don't think so. I mean all these roles that come my way are something that I don't think very seriously about because three years ago when I wanted to do Maniben.com, I was categorically told that you are Tulsi, you are the melodrama queen, why would anybody would like to see you laugh? I decided to put Maniben.com aside and stuck to a particular script and it did wonders. I mean with just two hours of performance, we ran over 200 shows across nearly five to six countries and we had a blast and we had the box office running.
CNN-IBN: Maniben.com is totally different from what you have done before. Is this because of the changing times and tastes of the viewers?
Smriti Irani: I did Maniben.com close to three years ago in Gujarati theater and there was a genuine need and desire to do something different. Currently the TV translation is doing as well as the play did. I don't think it's more about adapting to changing times. I think it's more about this need, this drive to do a variety of roles because predominantly, an actor is identified with the amount of roles they can present in front of the viewer.
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