‘There is still a spillover of regression in many TV shows’

That TV content has been labelled regressive isn’t something new. Actor Sudhanshu Pandey agrees that it’s been happening for a while now, but he sees a ray of hope. “Things are progressing, but slowly. This change can’t happen overnight,” he opines. In fact, this is the sole reason the actor himself stayed away from television. “There’s still a spillover of that regression in many shows, but I think the change is inevitable and we can see that happening with the kind of content coming up. In today’s time, content from all over the world is accessible with just a push of a button, so why would viewers settle for something that’s not good enough?” he reasons. He goes on to say, “We’ve to keep telling relevant stories. If we’re stuck to the same old thing because it did well earlier, now, when our thoughts have evolved, those will obviously seem regressive. TV has immense reach and the power to influence minds... it should be used wisely.” Having garnered praise with over 40 films in his career, Pandey, 46, confesses that the kind of feedback he’s getting for his TV show is “unfathomable”. Talk of long-format shows that run for years and how they tend to get monotonous, Pandey says when a show is on air for so long with the same cast, team and subject, it becomes “creatively impossible to be able to bring variety for that long, as everything has a limit”. However, he’s quick to add that he’ll continue with his television stint as long as his show is doing well and he’s satisfied creatively. “But, it won’t be for very long, because I’d definitely not like monotony. I’ll take time out for web and films, too,” he says. Shreya Mukherjee