‘I’M STRUGGLING TO GET QUALITY CONTENT’
Sanaya Irani did reality shows owing to the absence of good daily soaps
It has been quite some time that actor Sanaya Irani is missing in action on TV, though she has done a couple of reality shows. And despite getting offers, the actor has made a conscious decision to “not be part of the bandwagon for the sake of being seen”. The 35-year-old actor, who has a decade-long career in the TV industry, with shows such as Miley Jab Hum Tum, Dill Mill Gayye, Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? and Rangrasiya to her credit, shares the kind of work she relates to and how TRPs continue to create panic.
You didn’t take up any daily soap after Rangrasiya wrapped up in 2014. What was the reason?
I’ve been getting calls for shows every now and then, but I’m struggling to get quality content. The two pilot shows I shot for never took off. So, I utilised my time participating in dance reality shows Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and Nach Baliye.
Many actors are experimenting with supernatural shows, what made you stay away from the genre?
I can’t relate to it. The supernatural genre is rapidly growing stronger, but there’s a lot of work that has to be done to build its authenticity. These shows are a global phenomenon and there’s a whole audience that loves it. Maybe a finite show, shot with some time, and a bound script, would work for me.
What about mythological shows that are also gathering pace?
Mythological shows, too, may not give me the leeway to do a lot in terms of performance and I might be confined within the norms of the character that needs to be played. These two genres, [supernatural and mythological] I’m apprehensive about but you never know what might happen in future. If I’m able to connect with a show, I’ll be happy to experiment.
So, what’s the kind of work that excites you?
I want to play characters that are challenging and relatable, and have the possibility of creating a long-lasting impact. A show that remains true to the concept, theme, storyline and doesn’t get changed in order to add a twist and turn to get more TRP. Nowadays, external factors determine the character graph.
Does the fact that TV is primarily a TRP-driven industry, affect actors in any way?
When I did TV shows in the past, enough time was given to the show to connect and build an engaging relationship with the audience. Now, the TRP game has become so strong that viewers aren’t given enough time to connect with a character or love them. TRPs create panic, but then that’s business. If TRPs are not raked in to change the show and the character graph, you wouldn’t regret doing a show that you had signed up for.