Watch my show before you protest: Tejasswi

Even as the TV show Pehredaar Piya Ki gets into murkier waters — an online petition to ban it has reached the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, and minister Smriti Irani has responded — the show’s female lead, Tejasswi Prakash, says that she isn’t affected by the criticism.

“Do I sound like I’m affected one bit? I’m somebody who is always going to be proud of my actions,” says Tejasswi, who plays the role of Diya. She believes that the show’s popularity has led to people using it for their own benefit. “The show has already become such a huge platform for publicity that everyone wants to be linked with it — in a negative or a positive way,” she says.

In the story, a nine-yearold prince is married to a princess twice his age. Viewers’ anger has been aroused by the way the boy is shown as being infatuated by an adult woman, and the references to suhaag raat and honeymoon.

As per reports, Irani has written to the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council, asking that the matter be looked into and action be taken.

Tejasswi says that the protests against the show are coming from people who haven’t even watched the show. Referring to the petition, which states that audiences don’t want “kids to get influenced”, the actor retorts, “I’m not worried about the outcome of such petitions. What influence? I’d really want to meet these kids who want to marry an 18-year-old girl.” She adds with a touch of sarcasm, “I’ll ensure that it doesn’t happen, don’t worry.”

Tejasswi points out that nobody is being forced to watch Pehredaar Piya Ki. She adds, “Rather than put so much time into writing these things, just spare half an hour and watch the show for a change, maybe.”

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/TEJASSWIPRAKASH