The moment I join a production house or show, I get married to it - Khalid Khan

Khalid Khan has seen it all!! He has been a part of the entertainment industry for many years, and has been responsible for the making of many successful shows. A man of principles, he is a great team leader and has served in various designations ranging from being an anchor, announcer, writer, director to being a Creative Producer, Supervising Producer to VP. The man talks about his long journey in the entertainment field with determination in his mind and goals set for the future. Let’s hear it from Khalid Khan for Tellychakkar.com’s Behind The Lens segment Tell us about your journey in the industry… I started my career with Ranchi Doordarshan and Akashwani Ranchi when I was in my first year of graduation. It was just a part of the extracurricular activity wherein I used to write, anchor, produce and direct shows. I used to do freelancing for local newspapers too. Initially I was keen on getting into civil services (IAS) in a province like Bihar where there were no options except for medical, engineering and civil services at least in those days. I later shifted to Delhi after completing my degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. Initial days of my career were invested into civil services exams. Unfortunately I did not get through it. Hence, my hobby or extracurricular activity became my career. I worked for different TV production houses and newspapers. I was producer-Script Writer with Zee News. Since I wanted to make a career in fiction, I shifted to Mumbai in 1998. Which has been the best phase in your career? It hasn’t arrived yet. I am struggling hard to welcome that day. Inshaallah it would come very soon. Tell us about the various job profiles that you have handled in this long career? Basically I am a maker. I want to write, direct and produce meaningful films and TV programmes. As I said earlier, I started my career as anchor/announcer/writer/director. Now I head shows and production houses. My profile varies from VP to Creative Producer or Supervising Producer. I think it’s just the terminology that differs. In short, on behalf of the producer I am responsible to create, produce and deliver the show to the respective channel, as per the deadline. The challenges, responsibilities, sufferings, credits and rewards are the same as of a producer. Continue… At this point I have already invested more than 10 years in TV programming, operation and production. The only loss is that my passion for writing and direction has taken a back seat for the time being. Being head of the show/ project/ production house, I get little time to achieve my personal goals. The moment I join a production house/ show, I get married to it. I feel that it is my show. I think unless and until we don’t have empathy we can’t do justice to the assignment and show. I can’t feel the pain of suffering and losses. How was every profile different from the other? My personal view is slightly different. It’s just for the sake of convenience that we divide the responsibilities among ourselves, for the execution and betterment of the show. Everyone is part of the process of making of a show or film. Some are part of the creative process, while few take care of production and execution. We all are a team irrespective of profile and designation. Since I am exposed to several segments of medium I utilize them to the fullest for the sake of the project. It is certainly an advantage for me that I am a creative guy handling programming, operation and production. Which are the production houses you have worked in? My journey started with Doordarshan and Aksahwani, Zee News, ETV. Later came in Cinevistaas, Sanjay Khan’s Productions, Sidhant Cinevision, The Tempest films, Moving pictures, Jay Productions, Amit Mehra, Fireworks Productions, Balaji Telefilms, Shreya Creations, Ravi Ojha Productions, to name a few. As I believe in team work, the show/film has always been my priority. Hence, I fight for it till my last attempt to save its quality and life. I fight even with the channel and the producer for the life of the show. That is because I know slightly more about the actual challenges and problems of the project. I can give the real picture and would be more helpful in giving life to it. As for me work is more important, my team and bosses remember me forever. I have a love and hate relationship when I am at work/ on set, as I am a hard and honest task master. Hence people love me for that. For me, nobody is high or low in the team. As a person, the spot boys and light men are as important as my creative and production managers. I pay equal respect to all of them, irrespective of profile or designation. Which are the shows that you have set up in your career? To name a few recent ones, Sindoor-tere naam ka…Sasural Genda Phool…Bhagyavidhaata..Zindagi badal sakta hai-Hadsa.. Tujh Sang Preet Lagayi Sajna..Simply Sapne…amongst others. Which is the best show of yours till date? All shows have been special, none have been inferior. But Bhagyavidhata was more challenging. We swam against opposite wind and made it possible. Kahani Hamare Mahabharat Ki was the biggest show of my career. I learnt in 6 months what I couldn’t learn in my 10 years of career. How do you feel the television industry has changed over the years? It is a tremendous change, technically, format-wise and content wise. I started my career with Low Band. Now we have HD and Red cameras. It’s a journey of roughly 25 years. Television used to be secondary, now is primary. That is why people from films have entered into TV Programming. Satyamev Jayate of Aamir Khan, 24 of Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saraswatichandra are the latest ones. Today, TV is neither an alien nor an inferior medium, which it used to be 20-25 years back. The content and making have been on a continuous changing process. Even the writing has changed. The format has also been improved. I think there are phases of everything. At this juncture Indian Television is going through mature phase. It’s more bright and competitive. What is your ultimate goal when it comes to career? I am a filmmaker and want to do meaningful films and television which can solve the purpose of mass media. What does it take to be motivated in your work? The balance between responsibilities and authorities, is the key to success. Tell us about Khalidji- the person? I am a straightforward person…a manager of resources and responsibilities, I am not a diplomatic guy. I have faith only in honesty and dedication. I believe that people make the show. Hence, for me my team is the most important asset. It has never let me down, till date. What keeps you motivated? My faith in Allah and faith in myself and my capabilities. What is the message that you would pass to all the strugglers in the industry. Patience, patience and patience- survival in industry is as good as success as per the goal. Being a part of mass media we all are strugglers every day. There are no short cuts for achieving our goals. The means are as important as goals. Be honest to your work and to yourself. If you are worth it, you will prove it one day. What is your personal take on TRPs? It is a cruel fact that a show’s life depends on TRP. Otherwise I don’t give it much importance. This is the only thing which I could not understand through reasoning. I feel the show should be good in totality-in content, in execution and in production value as well as shelf value. Even today, we remember Buniyad and Ye Jo Hai Zindagi, which are the shows you remember today..? Do you think the production houses should be given a free hand by broadcasters in terms of creativity? It depends. The stake of channel is more. Hence profit and loss is more. I don’t think free hand is possible. And free hand is not the solution. Some very good shows are axed due to marketing and other reasons. Revenue is also important to run a show. As everything costs, channel has to take into account all of these things. Practically speaking, I feel producers are petty contractors. They have to deliver goods as per the specifications of channels and specified deadlines. Why do you think many of the shows of today do not sustain and get closed in few months of launch? Self confidence and confusion. The team (which includes channel and Production house both) is not sure about what they are doing or what they want to do. There may be lack of team work and miscommunication between the team members. As the stake of channel is more, the credit of its success and failure is also more than the producer. Both have to take the onus in particular. A good face or a good actor, what would you choose? A good actor is must for a show or a film. A good actor may carry the role even if he doesn’t have a good look. But a bad actor spoils the show and cannot handle the role given if he/ she has good looks. If an actor with good looks can learn performance during the making of a show, we have more in the bargain. It has happened couple of times when we cast new actors as leads. Where do you see yourself 5 years down the line? Making meaningful shows and films. I don’t believe in doing 100 films, just want to do a Mughl-E-Azam. I am happy doing fiction and nonfiction shows. I wish to have guts to do shows like Satyamev Jayate. We heard you are starting your production house. What is the plan? It has already started almost two years back. It’s a partnership venture. My another partner Supriya Karmakar is an MBA (HR) and a creative person. We are struggling together to make it happen. It’s just a small beginning against all odds. Since you asked I told you, but I want to keep it low profile till I don’t do a great job to mention. I don’t want to give it a news value till it doesn’t deserve. My production house Kconnect Story Productions has a long way to go. I need blessings of my seniors and people from the industry with whom I have worked with and with whom I wish to work.