New Delhi: Veteran producer Rajan Shahi is known for redefining Indian television through shows like Bidaai, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, and Anupamaa. He believes that Anupamaa is not just a hit but a landmark in TV history.
In an exclusive interview with TV9, Rajan Shahi dropped an interesting statistic on his popular soap opera. “The biggest viewership of Anupama today is men and teenagers. It told the real story of a mother’s struggles and triumphs in a very realistic, relatable way. It was totally opposite to the kind of shows coming at that time,” he revealed.
Furthermore, he praised Anupamaa’s lead actress, Rupali Ganguly and added, “The show has great writing, brilliant execution, and brilliant casting, but the primary reason for its connect is Rupali’s performance. She’s extremely real. What gives Anupamaa an edge is that Rupali became Anupama first and Rupali Ganguly later. Her long sabbatical of 15 years helped in creating that image. You see Anupama first, then Rupali.”
Speaking about its success, it was stated by Rajan that Anupamaa’s post-COVID performance was quite commendable. It was mentioned that a genuine fear had existed at the time that audiences would not return to television. It was further noted that reruns were being aired, advertisers were hesitant to invest in new content, and production budgets were almost nonexistent.
Those uncertain times were vividly recalled by him. It was shared that, post-COVID, three of his shows had been prepared for telecast. It was decided that Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai would be launched first to observe how the market responded and whether advertisers were willing to return, after which Anupamaa would be introduced. Gratitude was expressed towards Star for the trust that was placed in him. It was conveyed that strong confidence had been held regarding Anupamaa’s success.