Erica Fernandes to Ronit Roy: Actors refusing to do typical 'saas-bahu' serials on TV

The television industry is changing, although there is still a lot of saas-bahu drama but with the rise of OTT in recent years, content generation and consumption practices have shifted dramatically. It has also allowed celebrities from the film and television industries to explore those mediums too. It allows them to play a demanding part while also challenging and honouring their trade. There have been many popular TV actors who have industry. Erica Fernandes recently shared with ETImes TV that she will be back on screen if she finds something unusual and not repetitive.

Let’s take a look at other actors who refused to take up repetitive work on TV:

Erica claimed that she took a hiatus because she was feeling stuck and wasn't progressing as an actor. She also shared the real reason with ETimes TV and said “The reason why I took this break was I felt I was stuck. I felt very stagnant. It’s not about the success you get out of the successful shows that you are a part of. Why I said I felt stagnant is because I was doing good shows, but I was not growing as an actor. I was doing very similar kind of things. I was not getting any challenging roles to play. So, I wanted to wait it out and give it some time and wanted to see what was coming my way. Everything was perfect. Sometimes you just get tired of doing the same things and you want something that would change it. I don’t want to take a break from TV intentionally. If I get something which is different from the past two shows (KZK 2 and KRPKAB) that I have done, then I will definitely come back on a TV screen.”

Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi actor Ronit has been in showbiz for over 30 years and ever since his last show Swaran Ghar, Ronit hasn’t been back on the TV screen. When asked, the actor told BT that he did not want to do repetitive stuff. He also shared that in the initial stage, people would not like it when he would ask several questions. He further added “For anything I do on TV, things need to work out from both sides (mine and the makers’). Two things happen to actors on TV – either you wither away, or you grow, and I feel I have grown as an actor. I did try to do a show on TV, but then COVID happened. All of us tried to do the show even after COVID, but we realised that it wasn’t really working, the numbers weren’t good. The math and economics to have me on a show now don’t work out for a lot of people. It is now difficult to sign me for a TV show. I am still offered a lot of TV shows, but either the budget doesn’t click, or the show lacks creativity. So, while makers get a reputed face when they sign me for a show, for me, there is nothing. But I am not saying I wouldn’t do TV, if I feel a show has the potential to touch hearts, then I’m game and would do it with all the love.”

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actor Hina Khan is known for her bold choices and fierce personality. After quitting Yeh Rishta at the peak of her career, the actor took a break from TV and did some reality shows like Bigg Boss and Khatron Ke Khiladi. Hina had told ETimes TV that she never related with the kind of content TV makes. She added “If you ask me personally, as Hina Khan, I don't relate to this genre. I don't watch television, but this supernatural and fantasy based genre shows, films we keep watching from Hollywood. We know it is not true, it is made up, magic is not true but we still watch it. Supernatural is still fine, for sometime I will still watch a show like Naagin because I know it is a lie and this is being created. But anyway I am not very fond of and am not very happy with the kind of content we have on Indian television. It is very regressive. We have no empowered women on television, we disrespect women, look down upon them, we do everything possible to make her look like a bechari because that's what sells and that's what works. And as a viewer it doesn't excite me and which is why I don't watch television.”

Divyanka Tripathi has stated that she wants to set a precedent by refusing to play helpless and submissive female roles on TV. The actress, best known for her role in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, wanted to play vital female roles that can inspire other women. She has been away from TV ever since her show wrapped up in 2019, further said “I don't want to play the role of a submissive, helpless woman, because women are beyond that now, we are living in such an era in India where phones have reached the most rural areas and that means there is awareness. If I do such a role that shows that women are still being subjected to atrocities or are only taking care of their families and that is all that their being becomes, this limits the strength of women and their entity. I want to do something beyond that."

Jennifer Winget has been in this industry since she was a kid and has done various kinds of roles. Jennifer has never done repetitive roles and has often been seen in exceptional roles. Jennifer spoke to TOI about always choosing complex shows, especially Beyhadh. Jennifer further added: “I think I have been lucky to have landed roles which are meaningful. Also, it is important that when you are doing a TV show, there is clarity and a defined start and end to it. It is not that I have kept away from the usual TV shows but when the entire team is in sync with a particular concept, there is a certain satisfaction in working. Also, I am very lazy, so I take up something only when I really like the concept.”

Mouni, who was praised for her role in Naagin seasons 1 and 2, spoke about not doing many shows on TV because she couldn't do anything after some time and it was stagnating.

Asha Negi, who was seen in Pavitra Rishta, had shared in an interview about finding it difficult to get good TV shows and because of that, she picked up random shows so that she won’t disappear from the screen.

The OG Bahu of the TV show Sakshi Tanwar who played Parvati in Ekta Kapoor’s famous saas-bahu show Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii shared with BT about being selective with the kind of work she does on TV. Sakshi was last seen in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain and was loved for her role as Priya. Sakshi shared with TOI about not doing repetitive shows, “Kahaani… ran for eight years, then I did Devi, and later, I did a few special episodes on shows. Bade Acche… ran for four years. So, that left me with no time to do anything else. Earlier, I was shooting 300 days a year and spending time with family for only around 65 days, but now it is a choice to work less, and God has given me that option. So, in terms of work, I am quite happy with my career graph. Also, after Kahaani..., I was offered similar roles like Parvati and I did not want to repeat myself, so I took a break or hosted shows.”

Sanaya Irani known for roles in Miley Jab Hum Tum and Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon changed the course of her career and made her a top actress on TV. Sanaya however took a sabbatical from such shows and has been waiting to do some different roles on TV or OTT. She told BT “I have worked non-stop for 12 years and today, I have reached a stage where I can afford to do what I want to. I took a break from fiction after 'Rangrasiya', because nothing interesting was being offered to me. I don’t want to be an actor who works non-stop for money. As a medium, TV has changed, and I don’t see myself fit into that space. I am what I am because of TV and I am not saying no to it. I am just declining the work that’s coming to me. Taking this break hasn’t been easy; every day, you wonder if you are making a mistake. I am waiting for that one phone call, which would prove that I haven’t made a mistake, but that call hasn’t come yet. Maybe, a year later, I will get tired of waiting for my dream role and take up everything that comes my way.”

Mohit Malik, who last appeared in 'Khatron Ke Khiladi,' is excited to get back to work. He says he wants to take on a character which will allow him to experiment. Mohit shared with BT “I don’t want to repeat myself as an actor. If your character is not great, it is easy to feel monotonous. I want to do a role that scares me as an actor. The character has to be multi-dimensional. I would like to play somebody who is grey and going towards black or black to white. A character which would be different from who I am in real life.I respect TV as a medium. Whatever I am today is because of TV. Maine achha kaam hi kiya hai, aur main aage bhi wahi karta rahunga.”