From Saas Bahu Sagas To Erotic Series, Content Queen Ekta Kapoor¡¯s Empire Is Shaken Not Stirred
Coming back to her achievements, she began her reign with Hum Paanch, a modest yet highly entertaining story of Anand Mathur, his 5 daughters and 2 wives (one in a photo frame), TV Czarina Kapoor presented an array of TV serials which achieved an engagement feat which was way beyond what Indian TV had ever witnessed. It was Kapoor who planted the seed of Indian joint family entertainment, interspersed with larger-than-life characters, unpredict...Read More
Before the internet took over and became the shiz, it was Ekta Kapoor who ruled the roost. It¡¯s next to impossible for an entertainment enthusiast to not be privy to her work. While the millennials have grown up watching her saas-bahu sagas, the Gen Z, if not all then some percentage of it, has definitely watched her web series.
Then there are her movies. It¡¯s a waste of time denying the fact that Balaji as a production banner is rock solid. Kicking off with Balaji Telefilms which produced TV shows, then came Balaji Motion Pictures and to keep up with the trends, she presented ALT Balaji - her own OTT platform.
She is regarded as one of the most prominent women in the entertainment world and has provided a stable career to numerous actors.
Being one of the most prominent producers of the country, she is one of the only few who has worked across all three platforms: television, the web, and Bollywood.
Recently, she faced the wrath after her web series XXX stirred up a controversy and found itself in a legal soup.
The top-notch producer was critcised by the Supreme Court. Justices Ajay Rastogi and C.T. Ravikumar¡¯s panel stated, ¡°Something needs to be done. You are contaminating our nation¡¯s young generation¡¯s minds.¡±
The bench further stated that her OTT (Over the Top) content was accessible to everyone, and the panel reportedly questioned her counsel on ¡®what type of choice¡¯ you are presenting to the public¡¯.
Shambhu Kumar, an ex-serviceman, filed a complaint in 2020 alleging that ¡®XXX¡¯ season 2 had multiple unpleasant sequences involving the soldier¡¯s wife. A trial court in Begusarai, Bihar, issued an arrest warrant in response to the accusation.
Coming back to her illustrious journey, she began her reign with Hum Paanch, a modest yet highly entertaining story of Anand Mathur, his 5 daughters and 2 wives (one in a photo frame).
Content czarina Kapoor presented an array of TV serials which achieved an engagement feat which was way beyond what Indian TV had ever witnessed.
It was Kapoor who planted the seed of Indian joint-family entertainment, interspersed with larger-than-life characters, unpredictable suspense, iconic love stories and the infamous college sequence among other things that left us gawking in amazement in the 90s-00s.
The country collectively mourned for Mihir Virani¡¯s demise and stood by their favourite bahu Tulsi aka Smriti Irani¡¯s side.
For the unversed, Mouni Roy who is basking in the glory of her recently released film Brahamstra, made her acting debut with Kyunki Saah Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as Krishna Tulsi. Even Pulkit Samrat made his debut with the same show.
Ekta had the genius eye to spot potential actors and gave proper consideration to those who she deemed fit. Many got their big breaks via her TV shows. Her K soaps like Kasautii Zindagi Kay, Kahin Toh Hoga, Kahiin Kissi Roz and Kasamh Se among others broke several records.
It won¡¯t be wrong to say that Ekta Kapoor gave a new definition to the world of television and raised its standards to unbelievable heights for she created and produced more than 130 super hit Indian soap operas under her Balaji banner
She not only carved the perfect image of the protagonist, but ensured that she created an even better antagonist. How can one forget iconic telly vamps like Komolika, Ramola Sikand and Pallavi Agarwal among others?
After setting up a successful base in Television, she expanded her horizons in the world of films. The kind of films that her banner has produced made many overnight stars. From content to outside-the-box ideas, Ekta Kapoor has been successfully experimental and an out and out achiever.
Many big actors in the movie industry credit Kapoor for their success. Celebs like Ram Kapoor, Ronit Roy, the late Sushant Singh Rajput, Vidya Balan, Mouni Roy, Sakshi Tanwar and Ankita Lokhande got their breaks courtesy the one and only Ekta Kapoor.
She soon ventured into the digital world with her OTT platform and churned out many series that grabbed eyeballs. Set aside the adult content, Ekta also backed shows like Bose: Dead/Alive starring Rajkummar Rao, Broken But Beautiful starring the late Sidharth Shukla and the most recent one of all Lock Upp hosted by Kangana Ranaut.
To make such a huge name for yourself isn¡¯t an easy feat. Nepotism or not, she has successfully managed to sustain herself in the industry for decades.
In fact, in one of her interviews with IANS, she recently reflected on her showbiz journey and said, "I certainly have to say that I was only 17 years old and created history by starting at such a young age with the serial 'Hum Paanch'. I still remember taking the entry form for the pilot shoot of the show. I was not sure at that time, but I would say it doesn't matter if you are young, or old, you have a filmy background or not, this channel always functions with you, based on your ability¡±.
Some questionable choices cannot miscredit her hard work over the years. She might have gotten off track but this can be considered a minor bump in her glorious journey. Going by her past records, it won¡¯t be wrong to say that she will make rectifications, bounce back from this and do so with record-breaking offerings.
P.S - Before you go into an overdrive and call this a paid piece, let me clarify, this is just a POV from the eyes of an entertainment buff, nothing else.
(To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE)