Her persona is larger-than-life on the small screen. Shraddha Jahagirdar-Saxena attempts to find out what has made the chat diva top a power list again
Her persona is larger-than-life on the small screen. Shraddha Jahagirdar-Saxena
attempts to find out what has made the chat diva top a power list again
o for Oprah! Considering the chat show diva’s worldwide appeal, it would come as no surprise if La Winfrey made it to the pages of a lexicon. She is in the news now for her topping—the second time running—Forbes magazine’s annual power list.
Incidentally, Oprah pipped golfer Tiger Woods (second) and actress Angelina Jolie (third) to the top spot. Singer Beyonce Knowles and soccer player David Beckham complete the top five of the list that ranks celebrities on their power and money quotient.
Needless to say, Oprah has a cult following across the globe. A host of Indians watch every edition of The Oprah Winfrey Show and not just the occasional desi segment like the one where she interviewed apni Aishwarya Rai!
Oprah epitomises the immense power and reach of the media—she is also head honcho of her own publication O, The Oprah Magazine. The appeal of her show would stem from the fact that she interviews not just ‘faces’ and A-listers but also reaches out to the common man, addressing myriad issues like losing weight, domestic abuse and discrimination. In her interface with her guests, she exudes a warmth and concern that puts them at ease.
Actor and host Farooque Shaikh ( anchored Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai) feels no one in the present lot would be able to come up to the level that Oprah has achieved. “We lack depth in our shows,” he says, adding that one needs good material to work on as well as better direction. “You may have liberal thought, but if there is no value and substance to the show, it’s a loss,” he adds.
Hostess Mandira Bedi has felt the Oprah magic too. “She started like all talk show hosts did. She is not white and she was an overweight woman. But she had an incredible journey,” says Mandira adding, “It was amazing to see her connect immediately with audiences not just in America, but globally as well. Unlike many other talk show hosts, she is not botoxed or plastic in any way. She comes across as vibrant and real.”
Mandira admits that many producers in India want to do something like Oprah does. “Oprah has inspired a host of other shows but there is only one Oprah. Many say that they want to recreate the same kind of impact. But you need someone who not only comes across as real, but has the maturity to carry off a variety of subjects with sensitivity.”
Mandira adds, “Interestingly, her show is without a brief. One day she may do a fun episode interviewing Tom Cruise. On another day she may do a serious episode on prostitutes and at another time zoom in on people who have lost oodles of weight. Whenever I watch her on screen, I do so with complete awe.”
Bandana Tewari (hosted Style Show) points out, “Her appeal rests in her ability to bring larger-than-life issues to the forefront and tread on very sensitive issues with caution and wisdom. These are incredible gifts that she has shared with the world.” More power to Oprah! May her tribe increase.
shraddha_js@dnaindia.net 
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