Adapting western shows brings flavour of outside world

The trend of adapting international TV shows in the fiction and non-fiction space on Indian television gives desi audiences a flavour of the outside world, says seasoned TV actress Gautami Kapoor.

Indian TV has been adapting several entertainers from the international market for more than two decades - whether it was Zabaan Sambhalke, Kaun Banega Crorepati, Bigg Boss or the more recent ones like 24, Sumit Sambhal Lega and Power Couple.

Gautami, known for her roles in shows like Ghar Ek Mandir, Lipstick and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, however says it must not be miscontrued as a lack of ideas and creativity in the Hindi general entertainment channel space.

"We are not running out of ideas. In fact, we are exposing the rural audience (to shows from abroad)... to get a flavour of what's happening in the outside world. We have a whole lot of ideas for shows, but besides the new flavour, it also shows that even this is possible and that things can seen or perceived like this (in different ways)," Gautami said.

Change is inevitable, she said. "Television has to change after all. We cannot be stagnating and we cannot afford to be regressive; we have to be progressive," added the actress, who is starring in Parvarrish - Season 2, a Sony Entertainment Television show which celebrates the bond of parents and children.

Happy to be a part of this finite and seasonal show, the 41-year-old averred that the Indian audience is ready for content that breaks monotony. "I am an actor who is all for seasonal shows because I think India is now ready for this concept. When I talk to production houses and channels, I feel everybody is ready and we just have to make that change," she said.

Gautami, wife of popular actor Ram Kapoor, also had another thought behind joining the cast of Parvarrish - Season 2. She said she thought that the show will follow how "like in the west, for seasonal shows, a second season tends to be become even better; the concepts improve; freshness is added to it after the first season becomes a hit." Parvarrish - Season 2 also features actors Sangeeta Ghosh, Sandeep Baswana, Vinay Jain, Deepak Qazir, Diana and Anuj.