Challenges in celluloid world are very tough, I don’t enjoy an easy journey, says Ekta Kapoor
Ekta Kapoor talks about her upcoming web series The Married Woman, highlighting the choices a woman makes
The Queen of Content is back at it. Her upcoming web series depicts the choices women make in their lifetime. The Married Woman, based on a novel by Manju Kapur, is a story about two souls who fall in love with each other, rising beyond sexual and societal boundaries. Ekta had read the book way back in 2018 and waited for the right platform to tell it on.
Answering a volley of queries, Ekta touched upon all issues around the series, including telling stories from woman’s point of view, narrating the story from 1992, when two souls fall in love, censorship, and her mantra of love.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q What drew your interest to the book The Married Woman?
I just want to tell stories. I remember reading this book when I was in Delhi for The Dirty Picture. I had bought the rights of Manju Kapur’s novel, Custody, and she’d asked me if I’ll change the story for TV. I’d said yes because we go into people’s homes. But I also told her that for The Married Woman, I will buy the rights and make it only when I will be able to make it without changing its essence. Now I know I have a platform, and I’m happy to do this.
Q How do you manage to get varied stories?
The advantage of a web platform is that I cater to everyone and I get a chance to tell stories I could never tell on television. I have no problem catering to the masses. I really make aspirational, escapist programming for people who want to enjoy themselves. At times, I make relatable heart-warming and touching stories. But with a TV show that goes on for 20 years, sometimes with 5,000 or 2,000 episodes in them, at one point, you get tired. Films, too, are actorled. But this platform I enjoy telling stories on because the language in the show is very different, which is the intent. But I will wait to see how people take it.
Q Is it a conscious decision for you to tell stories from a woman’s point of view?
Yes, it is a conscious decision to tell stories of women in our country and other countries of the world. Women’s sexuality is considered a sin, which is a big problem. I’ve been
‘I have always liked to do tough things — I like to tread into tough battles. While it’s tough, it’s fun to do something that you feel finds space in your journey and makes a landmark.’
told many times that I’m a big part of that journey by showing a woman in sari and showing them wearing sindoor (vermilion). People feel I have told stories of conservative women who have household issues — that I have somehow stranded the growth of women in this country. I don’t agree with this because I believe what a woman chooses to wear, be it a sari or swimsuit, is ultimately her choice.
Through my web series, I talk about women who have other issues. While I have no regrets for stories I have told on TV, this (shift) is intentional. Every woman in different stages of life has choices — it’s their choice, and they don’t become good or bad by any of those choices they make.
Q Have you ever been judged?
I’ve never enjoyed a pedestal because people put you on a pedestal only to see you trip down. I’ve never let acclaim/award/reward get too much to me. Nor have I let people’s opinion bother me. I don’t care. Everyone has their own way and you should live your life according to your own terms.
Q Is it tough to retell a book through the reel? Did you enjoy your experience of bringing The Married Woman on the reel?
If you directly go in for an adaptation, it becomes very tough. But there are some books that lend themselves onto a screenplay, and this was one of them. We could have not made it unless we are true to its essence, but we took that essence and made a story. I am happy and want to tell this out for all the women. Love is a choice, life style is a choice and I hope people see it. And see the intent behind it. I believe this book had to be made.
Q How do you look at challenges and take them forward?
My honest answer is that challenges are very tough. But I don’t enjoy an easy journey and have always liked to do tough things — I like to tread into tough battles. While it’s tough, it’s fun to do something that you feel finds space in your journey and makes a landmark.
AltBalaji for me is a landmark. If it does what it has planned to do in the next ten years, I will consider it a big achievement. We should have Indian Apps. Why shouldn’t we have home grown apps? We make content and we have been story tellers for more than a thousand years. We can tell stories — maybe we don’t have the budget — but we will tell stories.
‘The advantage of a web platform is that I cater to everyone and I get a chance to tell stories I could never tell on television. A TV show that goes on for 20 years, sometimes with 5,000 or 2,000 episodes in them, at one point, you get tired. Films, too, are actor-led. But this platform is very different.’
‘I’VE NEVER ENJOYED A PEDESTAL BECAUSE PEOPLE PUT YOU ON A PEDESTAL ONLY TO SEE YOU TRIP DOWN. I’VE NEVER LET ACCLAIM/AWARD/ REWARD GET TOO MUCH TO ME. NOR HAVE I LET PEOPLE’S OPINION BOTHER ME. I DON’T CARE.’