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India Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Indian TV was better in the 90s - and it's not just nostalgia
There was a time when Indian television felt like an evening ritual, not just background noise. A time when stories unfolded gently, characters felt like neighbours, and the screen reflected who we truly were, not who algorithms thought we should be. The 90s were that rare era when TV didn't chase shock value or drama for drama's sake. It paused, breathed, and let real emotions take centre gathered under whirring ceiling fans, watching women like Shanti, Priya, and Simran navigate life with dignity, doubt, and strength. These weren't just serials, they were mirrors. And for many of us, especially women, they offered something today's TV rarely dares to: a chance to feel WHO WEREN'T JUST CHARACTERS - THEY WERE US Mandira Bedi in Shanti (UTV Software Communications) There was 'Shanti', played powerfully by Mandira Bedi, a journalist uncovering dark secrets while carrying her pain with dignity. She wasn't waiting to be saved; she was writing her own story, and thousands of women saw their silent strength in her."I still remember waiting for Shanti every afternoon. It wasn't just a show — it felt like watching a woman find her voice when we were still learning to find ours. My mother and I never missed an episode, and we'd talk about it like those characters were people from our own mohalla (neighborhood)," recounted Rekha Sharma, 47, a homemaker. There was Priya in 'Swabhimaan', elegant, intelligent, unapologetically flawed. Kitu Gidwani's portrayal of a mistress-turned-socialite was groundbreaking. She wasn't a villain. She was human, and that alone made her revolutionary for her time. "Shows like 'Swabhimaan' and 'Hasratein' were bold for their time, but they never felt vulgar. They showed real problems, real choices — not the over-the-top stuff we see today. It was like watching a mirror of society, not a circus," commented Anil Mehta, 52, a government employee. Neena Gupta in Saans advertisementIn 'Saans', Neena Gupta as Priya Kapoor, gave us the quiet devastation of a woman dealing with infidelity and finding her way back to herself. Her breakdowns weren't theatrical, they were hauntingly real. Many women didn't just relate to her, they were her. Nikki Aneja and Varun Badola in Astitva (Ananda Telefilms) Then came Dr Simran in 'Astitva' played by Niki Aneja Walia, a successful doctor navigating a relationship with a younger man, societal judgment, and her own evolving identity. Her character made space for conversations around self-worth and ageism, topics barely whispered on screen back Dey, 44, a schoolteacher, recalled watching the show and aspiring to be like Dr Simran. "I was in college when Astitva aired. Dr. Simran wasn't just a character — she was an aspiration. A strong, independent woman who made choices on her own terms. For many of us, it was the first time we saw someone like that on Indian TV and thought — maybe we can be like her too," she said. Seema Kapoor in Hasratein 'Hasratein' - led by Seema Kapoor as Savi, a woman in an extramarital relationship - didn't paint women's desire as shameful. It treated it as something honest, complex, and deeply human. These stories didn't offer fantasy. They offered a mirror. Women across India looked into it and whispered, 'That's me."COMEDY THAT LEFT YOU SMILING, NOT SQUIRMING Dekh bhai Dekh advertisementDekh Bhai Dekh gave us Sameer Diwan (Shekhar Sumar), Sunita (Bhavna Balsavar), Sanju (Vishal Singh), and the lovable chaos of a joint family we all secretly wished we had. It was warm, relatable, and full of quirks not noise. Zabaan Sambhal ke Zaban Sambhal Ke made us laugh at our cultural confusions through Mohan Bharti, the bumbling Hindi teacher played brilliantly by Pankaj Kapur, surrounded by a hilarious mix of immigrant students. It was witty without being mean, silly without being could laugh with your parents. You could watch with your kids. That kind of comedy didn't need HAPPENED TO THAT TV?Today's television often feels disconnected from reality. Women are either deified or demonised; plots stretch and exaggerate, driven more by TRPs than by truth. The rich storytelling and subtlety of the '90s have been replaced by spectacle and noise. Despite more money, more technology, and more channels - somehow, we've lost the WHEN TV SAT WITH YOU LIKE A FRIENDThose 90s shows weren't just stories. They were companions. They stayed with you long after the episode ended. They made you think, feel, and sometimes, heal. We didn't binge-watch them. We waited for them. One episode a day. And in that wait, we connected with the show, with each 90s didn't rely on flashy graphics or gimmicks. They relied on truth. Maybe it's time we stopped chasing trends and remembered how it felt when TV saw us in all our strength, flaws, and humanity. Because sometimes, the future of storytelling lies in remembering where we came from.
India.com
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress who was betrayed by a cricketer, became preganant without..., was forced to ask for..., her name is...
Bollywood celebs and their affairs have always turned heads. While some of them converted into beautiful weddings, others became controversies. Today, we will discuss an actress who became a mother of one before getting married. The pregnancy of this actress came as huge news to many in the industry. For the longest time, she raised her child as a single mother, and then at the age of 59, she got married to another man, who is not the father of the child. However, despite the highs and lows in her personal life, this actress is one of the most talented, versatile, and celebrated celebs in Bollywood. She has contributed to the industry for four decades and continues to do so. If you are wondering who we are talking about, then this actress is none other than Neena Gupta. Born in Kolkata, Neena always had a keen interest in acting. She made her debut in 1982 with the film Saath Saath. Her performance was recognized widely, and as a result, she became a director's first choice. Following that, Neena appeared in six movies in a single year. Not just on the big screen, Neena Gupta has also shown her magic on the small screen. The actress has contributed to serials like Saans, Buniyaad, Khandaan, Daddy, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, and more. While her professional life always made news, it was her personal life that created massive buzz inside and outside the industry. The actress has seen various ups and downs in her personal life. Neena has been married twice. The first time she got married to Amlan Kusum. The marriage lasted for a year, and they eventually parted ways. In 1980, Neena met West Indies team captain Vivian Richards, when the West Indies team was on a tour of India. The two connected quickly and began dating. In 1989, Neena found out that she was expecting her first child. However, at that time, Neena was not married. She continued with the pregnancy and gave birth to a baby girl. She named her Masaba Gupta and raised her as a single mother. During this time, Vivian was already married and had two kids. He refused to divorce his wife, and hence, Vivian and Neena never got married. Neena also faced ups and downs in her professional life. She had to ask for work as she was not getting any good scripts. In an interview with BollywoodLife, Neena said, 'My post was a huge hit, but I did not get work even after that. I got small roles that I used to get before as well. My life changed after 'Badhaai Ho'. This post was of no help and it only gave me scandalous fame, but only after 'Badhaai Ho' did I get work.' Later, at the age of 59, Neena tied the knot with Delhi-based chartered accountant Vivek Mishra.
News18
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Meet Jatin Prithviraj Kapoor, The Famous TV Actor Who Is Also Kareena's Uncle
Last Updated: Jatin first stepped into showbiz as an assistant director, working with his uncle Shashi Kapoor on the film Ajooba. When you think of the iconic Kapoor family, names like Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor instantly come to mind. These icons helped shape the very foundation of Hindi cinema. Over the years, other members of the Kapoor clan, such as Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor, also took the industry by storm. However, another member of the renowned family who quietly carved his own path is none other than actor Jatin Sial. Now known as Jatin Prithviraj Kapoor, he made a name for himself on television. Jatin is the son of Urmila Sial, Prithviraj Kapoor's daughter and the only sister of Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. He started his career in showbiz as an assistant director. He worked with his uncle Shashi Kapoor on the 1990 film Ajooba, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia. Here's everything you need to know about the popular TV actor. Jatin stepped into the world of glitz and glam in the '90s. After his stint as an assistant director, he worked on television shows such as Tehkikaat, Vansh, Rishtey and Saans as an actor. Following this, he made his debut in Hindi cinema with Rishi Kapoor-directed Aa Ab Laut Chalen, starring Aishwarya Rai and Akshaye Khanna. Speaking about the film, Jatin told Free Press Journal, 'Aa Ab Laut Chalein was one of the most interesting parts of my life. Again, I approached Chintuji (Rishi Kapoor) because I had become an actor. Even though he was my cousin and I was friendly with him, I took an appointment via his secretary." He further recalled how the late actor asked Jatin to accompany him to America, not for an acting schedule but for assistance, which he obviously lovingly accepted. Jatin also talked about his career in television, revealing how companies would repeat him as an actor on their projects. Jatin explained, 'I got a call from Neena Gupta's office for my role in Saans (1998-99). It was a very successful show, and I got a lot of work after it. I just kept doing a lot of TV shows and never went into films. Whichever company I worked for, they always repeated me in their other serials too or extended my roles." Furthermore, Jatin shared that after the 2000s, production houses focused more on the actors' fees rather than their creativity. Shedding light on how it became difficult for him to get roles after his stint on TV, the actor said, 'In television at that time, I would say they became a little casual about the actors. It would be more about how much the actor would be charging compared to the creativity. So I took a backseat then, waiting for something better to come." As of now, Jatin has made his comeback with OTT projects. The actor was seen on shows such as Ramyug, Mismatched and Potluck. First Published: May 12, 2025, 13:28 IST
