I do feel that out-of-the-box thinking is missing in Indian television - Creative Supervisor Krunal Khakhkhar

The Creative Supervisor of SAB TV’s Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (Neela Telefilms), who has put in his heart and soul into the serial, talks on his experience with the show and his views on the TV industry. Read on… For how long have you been a part of the Indian TV industry? It has been eight years since I am a part of this industry where each day brings up a new idea, a new challenge and the knowledge and experience that comes with it. When you joined the industry, what did you start off as? When I came here I was introduced to editing by my brother who at that time was already a part of the TV industry. I started working with him and initially was into editing and worked on documentaries. Tell us about your current work responsibilities. As of now, I am in the creative department and have been delegated the designation of the Creative Supervisor for SAB TV’s Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (Neela Telefilms) wherein I work on the script, the execution and the post shoot scenario with the respective in-charges of all these departments. How has the experience of working on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah been? It has been an amazing experience working on Taarak Mehta. The team of this show is amazing. It’s almost like family now after such a long run. It’s fun keeping up with the challenge that comes in everyday as a part of the effort that the whole team puts in to keep up the success of this show- this includes ideas, suggestions and improvisations. Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is a sitcom. How would you compare it to foreign sitcoms? I would say that Indian and foreign sitcoms cannot be compared. They are completely different as they are made for a completely different set of viewers. For me, Taarak is the best sitcom for our viewers and that has been continually so since the beginning of this show. Which of the shows that you have worked on are you the proudest of? I try and put in my best effort and energy into all the shows that I work on. I cannot pick one amongst them that I am proud of. I am equally connected to all of them. What are the areas of improvement of the TV industry? According to me the main things that go to make a hit show are the concept and the artists involved in it. Sometimes I do feel that of-the-box thinking is missing in Indian television, that’s why only a few shows rule. Again there is the TRP factor, the shows which cannot perform are pulled off air so quickly but due to digitization it is now easy to find how the audience response is which in turn I think will help in bringing the required thinking and changes to the scenario. What kind of shows will you never do? I will never do horror shows as I feel I am not made for that genre. Do you prefer dailies or weeklies? I prefer dailies as they are greater fun than weeklies. The connection and challenge that comes in day in and day from them is great. There is more adventure and of course money in them. What kind of new trends do you expect to see emerging in the TV industry in near future? The concepts resulting from more out-of-the-box thinking and subjects which can make a connect with generation next may be emerging. What do you watch on TV? I watch all kinds of soap but prefer comedy. Please name three actors and three actresses you would like to work with. I would like to work with Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. Three actresses I look forward to act with are Tabu, Kajol and Madhuri Dixit. What are your future career plans? I dream of my own production house and would want to be remembered as a very good human being.