TV lacks content due to daily soap concept: Sulbha Arya

Bollywood's 'Kanta Ben' Sulbha Arya, who has over three decades' experience in showbiz, says Hindi soap operas are deteriorating in quality because scripts are penned in fast mode on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, it's because of viewers that concepts become stereotypical in telly land, she says.

Sulbha, who has appeared in TV shows like "Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi", "Piya Ka Ghar" and "Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki", says daily soaps have made a writers' job difficult because of hectic shooting schedules.

"The shows that were made earlier were as per the atmosphere of that time. When I started, we used to have weekly shows. But now we have daily soaps and both of them are totally different.

"A writer's job has become difficult now because they have to write dialogues for so many characters on a daily basis. They have less time to think about scripts," she said over phone from Mumbai.

However, this daily demand has had a positive impact on the industry too, noted Sulbha. "The demand for manpower has increased in the industry. We can't blame shows for lacking a subject because scripts are written in a fast way now."

Sulbha says TV shows are made as per viewers' choice, and that's why concepts end up being stereotyped sometimes.

"Viewers' appreciation makes TV shows stereotyped. If a show or its characters get more popularity, producers try to make similar kind of shows because of the demand of viewers," said the actress, best remembered for her role as Kanta Ben in 2003 romantic comedy-drama film "Kal Ho Naa Ho".

The actress is currently portraying 'Badi Dadi' - head of Thakur family - who is highly opinionated and gives everyone a run for their money with her cutting remarks in &TV's show Begu Sarai.

Talking about her character, she said: "She is strict and keeps on taunting everyone. She is a strong woman, who looks after each and every person of the family."

"It's a character that I have never done in the past. For the first time in my life, people are seeing me with a gun in my hand. I've done all kinds of roles -- from comedy to serious -- in both films and TV, but this one is really different."

"Begusarai" is based on the "lifestyle of Begu Sarai (Uttar Pradesh)" and delivers the "real atmosphere" of the place. It revolves around Thakur family -- how they become head of the village and people get scared of them. It also has "love angle" and "property issues" in the storyline.

Asked why more of small towns are being targeted as shooting locations, Sulbha said: "With this effort, the gap between small towns and metro cities will decrease. Begu Sarai and other shows are bridging the gap between people from all areas."