Money is essential but passion is equally important: Raj Gopal, Creative Director

Currently the creative director of Shakuntalam Telefilms, Raj Gopal has been associated with many popular shows like Reth (Zee TV), Banoo Main Teri Dulhann (Zee TV) and Na Aana Is Des Laado (Colors) among many others. He is also associated with Kaali - Ek Punar Avatar (Star Plus) and Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke (Zee TV) and many more. In a chat with him for our Behind the Lens section, we get you up, close and personal with the multi-tasker whose life revolves around the world of television. Excerpts: Tell us something about yourself? (pauses) Born in Chennai and brought up in Delhi, I finished my schooling and graduation in Commerce from the capital. Let me tell you that I had a very sedate start to my career. I am talking of the time when I was just out of graduation. Like any other youth, I was pretty chilled out and used to while away my time roaming around with my friends. Then my brother used to work for TV18 as a producer. Once, a director of the firm who was very close to my brother asked me if I wanted to join his company. Excited, I asked him about the kind of remuneration he would pay me. When he said that he would pay me 3K, I acceded to his request and took up the job, that happened to be my first. When I joined, I had no clue about my work, but slowly I learnt and started developing my interest in the field. Later I joined BBC India, where I worked as an editor for three years. In the meantime, my good friend Shyamashis Bhattacharya was pestering me to come over to Mumbai and join him at Shakuntalam Telefilms. And here I am working for the production house for the last ten years. So how long have you been in this industry? Well, well, it’s been more than 15 years now that I am in the industry. How has your journey been so far? (smiles) Well, my journey has been very fruitful. One good thing is that I have never got bored with my work as I have always set my hands in everything from editing to directing to creativity and I was always good at technical. In a way, I am glad that I didn’t have to struggle much; things started falling in place easily. Do you think creativity is dead on television? 9pauses) Hmm! I won’t say that it is dead. It’s just that because of pressure of a show going off air, people are dishing out the same romance tales and kitchen politics a little differently. So, you can’t blame the creative section. Which is the genre that you prefer the most? (chuckles) I would always prefer the thriller genre. As a matter of fact, my new show Rakshak (soon to air on Life OK) is a thriller and I am enjoying directing it. Has there been any changes in the industry? Well, there hasn’t been much of a change in the industry. People are still going by the saas-bahu saga and are following the same old format. Have you ever faced any kind of actor tantrums? Yes, we do come across such things. But at the end, actors also get tired shooting under pressure. Who are your favourite actors/ show on television? (smiles) I like Varun Badola and Sakshi Tanwar. And talking about shows I like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Saraswatichandra and of course my show Sapne Suhane. Do you watch serials and keep a tab of what is happening in other shows? Yes, I do. If I like any show, I do watch. I like more of reality shows. Any kind of advice you would like to give to new aspiring directors? Well, I think that today people lack passion; they are only bothered about money. I agree that money is important but even passion is equally important. One should balance his professional and personal life equally and not work rigorously. Your future plans? (smiles) I have no preferred plans, but yes, I wish to direct films in the coming years. But all said and done, television will always remain to be my first love.