Today, Indian TV industry lacks dedication and creativity: Dheeraj Kumar

Dheeraj Kumar has been there, done that. Chairman and Managing Director of Creative Eye Ltd, Dheeraj has more than 35 years of experience in the media and entertainment industry in various roles as an actor, producer and a director. A graduate of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, he has won several awards as an actor and producer. Currently, Creative Eye’s four shows are on air at different channels and the production house is all set to launch two more serials in the next few months. In an exclusive interview with Tellychakkar.com, Dheeraj Kumar talks about his personal and professional life. Excerpts: You are an actor, producer and a director. How do you balance roles? I think it is all about experience and maintaining a cool and calm head. Circumstances can get really bad at times but one must maintain focus and channelise the train of thoughts in a positive direction. If I am acting, then I focus only on acting. If I am directing, I focus only on directing. So the balance is in the mind. How did Creative Eye happen? Oh, it’s a long story. It all started in 1986. My wife Zubi Kochar and brother Devender helped me to form the production house. My first show was Kahaan Gaye Woh Log on Doordarshan. Since then Creative Eye has produced more than 7500 hours of programming. The journey has been exciting and enriching. Yes, there have been tough times, but we battled it out and emerged as winners. Creative Eye is really close to my heart. How do you rate your current shows? Well, I have four shows on air currently, namely Preeto, Babosa Mere Bhagwan, Niyati and Neem Neem Shehed Shehed. All are doing well and people like it. I am happy with the current shows. You have been around for more than two decades now. How has the scenario changed in the Indian TV industry over the years? It has changed a lot. Earlier, there was only one channel, Doordarshan. Now there are more than 216 channels. Opportunities have increased a lot. But I feel there’s a serious lack of dedication and creativity in the newer lot. Earlier, a show lasted for four to five years, but shelf life of a show has reduced drastically now. I think as makers we need to focus on quality a lot more. What do you consider as important milestones in your career? My first show, Kahan Gaye Woh Log and then Om Namah Shivai on Doordarshan. I feel both the shows widened the horizon of creativity in the world of Indian TV. And what about films? We did venture into films way back in 2004 with the 3D movie Aabra Ka Dabra. We did it at a time when 3D technology was quite new in the world of entertainment. Now every other film is being shot in 3D technology. My aim is to enter the world of 3D television programming. We are in the process for a long time, but we have been facing logistics problem. For a 3D TV show, we have to supply lakhs and lakhs of 3D glasses all over the country. So, it is not an easy task. But hopefully in the future things will work out. Do channels intervene in the creative process of a show? See, makers of shows always crib about channels intervening in the creative process. But the scenario is not that bad. At the end of the day, channels pay money. It’s all about maintaining a good relationship. Basically, if as a maker you have confidence and faith on our idea, channels will never intervene and force you to compromise. What about TRPs? Ahhh…(pause). Dekhiye, TRPs important to hain. There’s an organisation called TAM which measures TRPs. But at times, a show might be good but it still doesn’t gain TRPs. I think TAM should increase its sample size. I respect and believe in their findings. Who do you consider as competitors in the TV industry? Everyone is my competitor. But in the entertainment industry no one is supreme. As a show maker, I have to constantly upgrade myself. I have to understand and analyse the work of others. You have to churn out better shows every single time. Competition is a part and parcel of any profession and it helps to bring out better products. Creative Eye has produced mythological shows to family soaps to social dramas. You intend to cater to different interest groups? Of course. We started with social and later shifted to mythology. Now we are doing feel good dramas. We have to keep experimenting and evolving, or else viewers won’t accept us. All I can say is that we are growing as professionals. What about non-fiction shows? We did produce a show called Jodi Kamal Ki which was aired on Star Plus. But our strength lies in family dramas. Right now, we are not focusing much on reality shows. Do you watch television? What are you watching these days? Of course I watch television. I watch all my shows (laughs). Furthermore, I make it a point to watch one or two episode of a newly launched show. Right now, I am watching Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, KBC, and Bigg Boss. TV industry keeps you busy 24/7. How do you unwind? Yeh bada accha sawaal poocha apne. TV industry is hectic and as a professional you have to keep your nerves cool and calm. I get up in the morning and do my prayers. I eat healthy, exercise and take care of my health. And I don’t work on Sundays anymore. I make it a point to relax, watch movies, listen to music or go out somewhere and have a nice time on Sundays (smiles). Any suggestions for those who want to enter the business of TV production? Be flexible in life. Keep learning and upgrading your skill sets constantly. Furthermore, learn to move on in life, don’t stick to past achievements. If you are ready to innovate and experiment, then success will kiss your feet. What are you future plans? We are coming up with two shows for Star Plus and Sony. Star Plus’ show is called Yeh Pyaar Nibhayenge Hum starring Karan Wahi. The shoot is already on and the boy is working extremely hard. The show on Sony is still at a very early stage. I can’t really reveal more at this point of time. Apart from TV, we shall soon produce feature films.