MUMBAI : Rajan Shahi started his career in 1993 as an assistant director. In 1999, he made his directorial debut with the series Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi. He then went on to direct series like Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, Hamare Tumhare, Rishtey, Kareena Kareena, Reth, Mamtaa, Millee, Virasaat and Saathi Re. Thereafter he worked as a series director for Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar, Ghar Ki Laxmi Betiyaan and Maayaka.
Eventually, he became a television producer and started his own production company in 2007. His first series as producer was Sapna Babul Ka...Bidaai on Star Plus, followed by Shital Tai, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Chand Chupa Badal Mein and Tere Sheher Mein on Star Plus.
In 2019, they started producing Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke which is a spin-off of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai on the latter show's success. In 2019, the production house entered the Marathi GEC space and produced the Marathi serial Aai Kuthe Kay Karte! for Star Network's Marathi channel Star Pravah. The Serial was later remade in Hindi as Anupamaa on Star Plus which premiered on 13 July 2020.
Tellychakkar recently got in touch with him and got to know some interesting insights.
You have been a part of the industry for so long and given us some of the most amazing and popular shows. What has the journey been like?
“I have been a part of the television industry for more than thirty years now. I have seen the time when there used to be weekly shows then they began premiering 4 times to later 5 times a week. You see how the industry grows and with each casting phase, you have to reinvent yourself, re-think your entire strategy. So it has been quite a journey. Television keeps you on your toes. Every day you see new talent coming in and you need to re-invent. So it’s an enriching experience.”
What do you look for in a cast or a project?
“I have been a director since 2006 when our first show Bidaai came out and started producing shows later till now; I believe first, the concept has to connect. We, Directors Kut productions, are known as a company which believes more in doing shows which we feel really connected to and which work sincerely towards a concept which we then adopt or re-adapt. The concept has to appeal to me and to the team of writers. Once you connect to it, casting then depends on the suitability of the character. All our shows have been known for writing, reinventing themselves and doing projects which become trendsetters.”
You have always made shows of the family-drama genre. If not that, what other genre would you like to explore?
“I have always enjoyed doing this genre and I feel that a family can come together to watch these shows. I enjoy that storytelling. I enjoy such shows where the stories are more relatable. That is my forte as a maker. Of course there are more genres which we wish to explore and we will in the future. I think as a maker in television, there are very few you can mark on or as a maker have a stamp on. There are makers in the film industry who have a stamp and make that kind of film. Likewise, in television, I always liked making such shows. But keeping in mind that the shows are not repetitive. We made sure there was a different take, a different texture and the shows are evolving. When people are watching the show, they feel that there is good content, good casting and good presentation. So I feel I need to have a stamp on shows.”
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