TOI: Small screens abusive hubby for hit shows-Shlok

Forget monster MILs! Small screen's bahu brigade has a new nemesis to deal with, one who's making them shed glycerine induced tears during their 20 minute screen time on weeknights " their significant other. Fiercely dominating, aggressive, chauvinistic male protagonists have reduced their wives to tearjerking beings with their regressive thought and abusive behaviour.

Some are plain insecure of their wives' success (RK played by Vivian Dsena of Madhubala...) some physically abusive (Parmeet played by Gaurav Chaudhary in Bani " Ishq Da Kalma and Pramad played by Aanshul Trivedi in Saraswatichandra) some mentally and even physically torture their wives (Mrityunjay played by Viraf Feroze Patel in Ek Boond Ishq, Shaurya played by Rohit Khurrana in Sasural Simar Ka and Anshuman played by Iqbal Khan in Tumhari Pakhi) and some are married for revenge, (Shlok played by Avinash Sachdev in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? Ek Baar Phir ) " but they are united by a common strain, their abusive treatment of their better halves which could include verbal abuse, mental torture, or actual physical trauma, depending on now negative the character is meant to be.

Evidently, there's a clear sadist streak in soap-addicts who seem to love these kind of traumatic tracks where the women have to battle for her self-respect against her own spouse! Producer Yash Patnaik explains, "We can't take away the fact that India is a male-dominated country. That's why we have female protagonists who fight against abuse of any form because it's a story everyone understands. However, we try and show both sides of the story and maintain a neutral stand." Producer Sudhir Sharma says, "All these 'abusive' characters are inspired by real life people. These characters also make the storyline dramatic and the audience likes the battle of the good vs evil."

While the abusive protagonist does grab a lot of attention and becomes the most hated personality in a show, not too many actors willingly slip into such roles. Shashank Vyas who had briefly played an abusive husband in Balika Vadhu says, "A lot of Indian women have to cope with abusive and aggressive spouses, that's why such characters strike an instant connect with the audience." Aanshul Trivedi, who plays Pramad in Saraswatichandra, shares, "Every positive or negative character has a story to tell."

In the soap-studded small screen, the amount of tears shed by the harmless bahu often adds to the number of viewers. And if in the process the hero turns 'grey' then it's only for a reel purpose.