Can Smriti take on Ekta Kapoor?

As small screen's favourite bahu gets on with her plans in production, Sarah Salvadore finds out if this move will give a new direction to Indian television.

We've heard of this one before too. Telly actors shifting loyalties to move to other production houses or setting up one of their own. You name them and they have done it. But in the end it's always Ekta Kapoor who has the last laugh.

The actors would either come back to Balaji or lead a nonexistent professional life. But this time around it's television's favourite bahu who has decided to take on Ekta.

After being the face of Kyunki... for years, Smriti Irani, came off her own when her first show Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasman, as producer, came on air a few months back.

Earlier, one of Ekta's closest associates, creative producer Sandiip Sickand, left Balaji to join a channel. Now Smriti and Sickand have joined hands. Smriti's production company will be producing shows for the channel Sickand works for currently.

The television fraternity is abuzz with this news. Sickand says, "Though it's too early, I'm happy with this tie-up." The one question that lurks in everyone's mind is whether the the Smriti-Sickand collaboration would be lethal enough to shake Ekta's empire?

Actor Hiten Tejwani feels that nothing of this sort could hurt the TRPs of the Balaji soaps. "Smriti is the face of Kyunki... no doubt, but I don't think anything could hurt the popularity of the show. We've got a faithful audience who would not switch loyalties," says Tejwani.

Actor Anuj Saxena who earlier worked with Balaji is also known for his fallout with Ekta. He later went on to start his own production company. We quizzed him on this issue and he said, "As producers, we work towards putting up good shows, irrespective of competition.

Personally I don't think that any competition is bad or tough. This whole issue is getting a lot of publicity and at the end of the day any publicity is good publicity, be it for Ekta or Smriti."

But does he in any way think that Ekta needs to be careful this time around? "Every production house has its ups and downs, it's a part of business. As far as I know Ekta, I don't think it will upset her much because she is confident and a good business woman.

A Smriti Irani or Anuj Saxena will not scare her. But it's left to see what happens next though," adds Anuj. In fact, Anuj and Sickand are working together for the former's new show.

Another actor who went on to start her own production house after being unceremoniously shown the door at Balaji is Manasi Joshi Roy. She says, "I think at the end of the day it all depends on the kind of show you put out there for the audience.

They like variety and if a subject is handled well it pays off, irrespective of who produces it. Healthy competition is good for anyone," says Manasi. An insider from Balaji, on conditions of anonymity says, "Ekta is taking it seriously this time. The wait and watch game is definitely on."

Many actors who distanced themselves from Balaji on grounds of stagnation and monotonous shows, feel that people today are ready to watch any show as long as it is fresh and has something new to offer.

"Almost all shows today go the saasbahu way, so when other production houses can change that, then why not?," says actor Aman Verma who has consistently kept away from the saasbahu sagas.

Whether Smriti and Sickand can prove to be tough competition for Ekta remains to be seen. After all at the end of the day, it's the audience who wields the remote.