Ekta kapoor icon> Interview with Balaji Telefilms creative director Ekta Kapoor
The ever-forthright Ekta Kapoor has no qualms about admitting she had a minor scuffle with Sony Entertainment - or its head honcho Tarun Katial to be precise.
"I was rather annoyed with Tarun. They had left out my soap 'Kkusum' from the invitation card of their party celebrating their successful soaps. Though Tarun said it was an oversight, I thought it was a deliberate attempt to push our 'Kkusum' hastily out of sight," Ekta told IANS in an interview.
This 27-year old entrepreneur is a Jeetendra-Shobha product biologically and a Bombay Scottish School one academically. Later, she joined Mithibai College, but lazed around aimlessly. She did not believe in hard work and excellence in academics, unlike her brother Tusshar who wept even when he secured 96 per cent marks! Trying her luck, she hung around the shoots of Kailash Surendranath, the ad and feature filmmaker - but to no avail. Seeing his daughter's predicament, papa Jeetendra came to his daughter's rescue. Men are more attached to their daughters than sons, and Jeetendra is no exception.
What makes Balaji Telefilms tick?
It's very simple.My company works on two principles. One, nothing is bigger than the programme, not even the company. Two, if you believe in me and really want to share my goal and vision, please join me; else don't show me your face. I have never told this to anybody before, but seriously, the company needs an attitude. No company which does not have an attitude can ever be successful
How long will the 'K' factor continue?
'K' and Balaji are together as an organic entity. It will continue till eternity.
It's said that you are a very tough taskmaster? I know what you mean, even though you aren't saying it. But I'll answer you. Aren't you hinting at the things you get to hear that people here are scared of me, and if they leave, they get blacklisted etc? Is that possible? About 2000 people are working for Balaji Telefilms across the country, how can so many people be scared of me and yet give off their best? I am just paying the price of being successful and famous. Therefore, you hear all this loose talk against me. It's just that there is a strong sense of achievement in all the people who work under me.
How? Sometimes it becomes difficult to retain the talent. An entry into Balaji Telefilms is considered as the criterion of your skills. Consequently, these people are offered premium salaries by my rivals. and they get lured.
And those who don't? Those who don't are sensible. They understand that stability in life is the most important thing. And that, they get it here. In a period of few years with me, some creative guys are drawing eight to ten times of what they were given at the time of joining.
Why the hunt for actors? Is there a scarcity in Mumbai?
I always cast fresh people. I am looking for talent all around and Mumbaikars have a better chance of getting into the industry as all production houses are based there. I don't think Mumbai has a scarcity of talent though.
How were 'Kyunki' and 'Kahaanii' conceived?
There's an old lady called Amma in my house. Looking at her, I realized how we tend to ignore and neglect the elderly people around us. That's how Kyunki... took shape. Then I wanted to make a modern Ramayan. Doesn't every home have a Ram? That's how Kahaani... took shape.
What is the source from where every serial of your's germinates?
There is no fixed source. There are some people who relate to personal experiences only. There are some people who relate to what they read or see or even hear. I am a combo of all these people (laughs).
You told me last time that nowadays you don't like comedy, so how about making a theme for a social cause?
You really want me to do that? Or, are you pulling my leg? Didn't I tell you last time how much I was panned for showing that rape scene in Kahaani? And why had I shown that rape scene? To inform the people that they should be wary of domestic rape. Alongside, films like Bandit Queen and Mirch Masala whch were more objectionable than what I had shown, were labeled as creatve pieces of art!
How long will you continue to make soaps?
As long as they last.
And how long would that be?
This genre may suffer a slight dent, but not at least for the next three years. This is my vision. Face it. Indian television is mainly catered by women. The television is on when the man leaves in the morning for his office, and often, remains so even after he is snoring in the night! Women like to see 'saas-bahu', 'bhai-bhabhi', 'ma-beti', 'nanand-devrani' relationships, the gossip, the misunderstandings, the jealousy, and above all, the unity in adversity times. KBC was a stray case. Even before KBC it was soaps all the way.
Weren't Hum Log and Buniyaad soaps? Please don't get misguided by the look of those programmes. Keeping with times, only the look has changed, a few new permutations and combinations have come in but the gist remains the same. It would be foolish if I switch over on some other track and allow my competitors to perform a dance of victory on an empty field!
There is a school of thought that your serials tend to focus on the denigration of women...
(Interrupts) It is not necessary that those who care for their family are the backward type of women. It is likely that if I show a mother leaving her kid at home and going to office, people would come out and say that I am breaking up homes. Think of it, my serials have so much clout (laughs). To tell you the truth, I am the favourite target of the so-called critics
