EXCLUSIVE: Nikita Dutta BLAMES ‘Unrealistic’ Saas-Bahu Serials And ‘Exaggerated’ Supernatural Dramas For Destroying Good TV Content; Says, “You’re Experimenting With Everything”

Nikita Dutta is an actress who primarily works in Hindi films and television. After participating in Femina Miss India 2012, she made her acting debut with the romantic drama Lekar Hum Deewana Dil (2014). Dutta made her television debut with Dream Girl (2015) and achieved recognition with Ek Duje Ke Vaaste (2016). In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble, Nikita Dutta reveals why TV content is no longer fascinating audiences and how exaggerated are saas-bahu and supernatural dramas.

Nikita Dutta On Why TV Content Is NOT Fascinating Audience

When asked about how TV content doesn’t meet audience expectations, Nikita Dutta said, “I’ll tell you. I can speak in support of both sides because I feel like I’ve been on both sides myself. As an audience member, I’ll be honest—I didn’t enjoy watching too many Indian television shows. I can name very few that I liked. If I had to name shows I liked, there were very few. There was a phase when a new channel launched and had some really nice shows—India Calling and others. So yeah, there were a couple of shows that weren’t the typical ‘saas-bahu’ dramas. I remember those shows had a huge fan following. I sat and happily watched them. And going further back, I used to love watching Shararat and Shaka Laka Boom Boom as a kid. I really enjoyed those.”

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She continued, “But apart from that, I think the ‘saas-bahu’ dramas and later the supernatural dramas became so exaggerated that, as an audience member, I felt the respect for good cinema and good content got lost somewhere. There was a time when the audience was very much into television. I still remember a show like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, which was a great concept. But then I think we all fell into the trap—of TRPs and audience demands. And that happens with every show. I don’t want to point fingers at any specific show because I know what goes on behind the scenes. The moment TRPs fluctuate, there’s panic in the office. Then, suddenly, you’re experimenting with everything.”

Nikita Dutta On Western Sitcoms

Speaking of how Western shows worked, she said, “And let’s be honest, these shows literally defined television—they opened up the business model. From the audience’s point of view, the West hasn’t done that. When we talk about Friends, or Grey’s Anatomy, or The Big Bang Theory—these are long-running sitcoms. Of course, they also have unrealistic moments, but they kept people engaged. They had humour that made you laugh. They were relatable. We’ve picked up mannerisms and phrases from them. But somewhere, I feel that kind of consistency and relatability got blurred in Indian television. A lot of the ‘saas-bahu’ content became too unrealistic.”

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She added, “If you go back, Indian television used to be very forward-thinking. If you look at Shanti, Saas, Kora Kagaz—those shows were way ahead of their time. So I feel like we suddenly went very regressive with television. That, in my opinion, is probably the reason that, from the audience’s point of view, TV didn’t remain everyone’s cup of tea. It worked for some people and not for others.”

Nikita Dutta On How TV Shows Were In Demand

She said, “From the actor’s point of view, the amount of hard work you’re putting in is the same. That doesn’t change. It’s still long hours and a lot of effort. But what happened is that the demand became so high. If you remember, earlier shows used to air from Monday to Thursday. Then it became Monday to Sunday—7 days a week. Then came weekend bonus episodes, maha-episodes—they did it all. To deliver all of that, quality started getting compromised. And I know how badly it gets compromised. Sometimes, the episode has to air the same night, and you’re still shooting it in the morning. It becomes chaotic.”

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In conclusion, “And I don’t blame anyone—it’s just how the system and business model works. So yes, the quality gets affected. That’s one of the reasons why TV actors are often looked down upon, and also why TV actors take offense—because there is a lot of hard work involved. And with the limited time, space, and resources they’re given, they’re still trying their best. And that’s why the content turns out the way it does.”

Watch The Full Interview

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Nikita Dutta Admits Debating About Nepotism, Favouritism In Bollywood Is A Waste; States, “People With Surnames, Positions Will Be Given Preference”