MORE ON-AIR SHOWS TO FACE COVID-19 HEAT?
units will be shorter now for future shows, and members cut down to half. I am sure the shows which are doing well, channels will back them up, but the ones whose standing costs are not worth it, will be taken off. I don’t think it’s the channel’s mistake. There’s no certainty on when shoots will resume,” he tells us.
We asked Colors about its shows. A source says, “We’ve stopped airing them as there is no bank. But all will be resumed, none are off air.”
Producer Rajan Shahi, who is behind popular shows such as Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke, says such calls are taken by both, broadcaster and maker. “As of now, no such calls have been conveyed to me. I am cautious, working towards seeing how we can keep the brand of our shows alive,” he says. Asked how the crisis will affect current on-air shows, he explains, “Advertising rates have gone down, it is going to be difficult. Broadcasters have to be selective about the kind of shows being retained. Existing telecast shows will be under scrutiny every week, not every month.”
Actor Ashish Chowdhry, who was a part of Beyhadh 2, says he’s ‘totally in agreement’ with the people who called off shows, including his own. He reasons, “TV shows are a habit, which everybody is used to watching every day. That habit once broken, there will be uncertainty. It’s a dicey situation for the producer. For all you know, there will be a Beyhadh 3 soon!”
Actor Maanvi Gagroo was in for a shock when she found out that her photo was used without her permission in an ad by a clothing brand, calling her dress a “style to hide your curves”. She claimed that she had not given the label the permission to use her picture, and she didn’t appreciate the “distasteful tagline” that promotes fat shaming. Sharing a screenshot of the online advertisement in a tweet on Thursday, she wrote, “I didn’t wear this dress to ‘hide my
Producer Binaifer Kohli, who is behind shows such as Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain!, says the future looks “little bad”, but Indians “can overcome any problem”. “Shows have standing costs, like sets, salaries of people. When it all started, the channel said it will pay technicians for a month. Then it got extended to two months. Now, the monsoon will start, and diseases like dengue will compromise the health of people,” she reasons.
Reports doing the rounds say two more shows — Dil Jaise Dhadke.. Dhadakne Do, which airs on Star Plus, and Star Bharat’s Kartik Purnima — will not return after the lockdown ends and shoots resume. curves’. Not only does the brand NOT have permission to use my picture as a sponsored post, they definitely don’t have my permission to fat shame ANYONE! I stand against everything this distasteful tagline points to.”
When contacted, Gagroo, 34, said, “We are not certain about how to we want to take this forward.” However, as per her tweet on Friday, the label has apologised and assured her that the ad has been taken down. “In the hope that this won’t happen again, the matter is now closed,” she wrote.