TV soaps have evolved and in the last few years — from family-based dramas like Hum Log and entertaining shows like Circus to the recent issue-based ones, serials have come a long way. In this ever changing trend, now there’s a new show — Rakt Sambandh (adapted from a south India popular show Rakt Sambandham) that talks about a closet eunuch — a topic that is offbeat for a traditional Indian audience and a “daring role” for the actor portraying the character. Interestingly, many feel that TV is finally opening up to the alternate sex.
Dhruv Bhandari, who has debuted on TV with the character of Yuvraj (who is a closet eunuch), agrees. “Experimentation is the key for any creative field. And this would set a new trend,” he says. But taking up such a role was not easy for him. “I was really nervous about doing this, initially. But then I realised that this role would give me an edge over other new actors and also a chance to show my talent,” he adds.
But that was not the only reason why he took up the role. The mental state of the character that the show highlights, fascinated Dhruv even more towards the show. “And that is the USP. No other show has shown this earlier,” he says.
Agrees the creative head of a popular TV show, who doesn’t want to be named. “Such a show gives an idea to others in the industry to think differently. Like, till the time Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi started, many people would have been apprehensive about taking up the saas-bahu theme, but till now it is ruling TV. Similarly, two years back, issue-based shows took over. But now the theme is overdone and we need to think afresh. A show on alternate sex comes as a breather and also trendsetter,” she says.
But not everybody in the industry think that TV is still a medium to talk so openly about alternate sex. Even the marketing head of Imagine TV, Nikhil Madhok, is not sure if a soap that talks about alternate sex would really work.
Majority of the audience for Hindi soaps are women. I’m not sure if they are ready for such a concept. I don’t foresee the alternate sex becoming lead characters of TV soaps in the near future,” he says, adding that in the present show, the story is about a girl who has got married to this closet eunuch and the mental trauma faced by her. “Anything more, I don’t think will go down well with the audience.” Seconds Purnendu Shekhar of Astitva fame, who points that TV unlike movies doesn’t have any censor board, so it gets even more difficult to think of shows with such bold themes.