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It’s a Women’s World!

As opposed to the male-dominated film industry, the small-screen is ruled by women. Not only is the content female-centric, it is even driven by women. From producers, writers, directors, costume designers, to editors, TV is a woman’s domain. We present some of the dynamic faces behind your favourite serials.

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Neerusha Nikhat, costume designer
Neerusha Nikhat is of the firm belief that women can do whatever a man can! Yet, their responsibility is three times more than men. “We have to balance our professional life with our personal role as a housewife. It is extra work,” she says. “When it comes to deadlines, producers don’t trust women. We have to prove ourselves time and again,” laments Neerusha, who has designed the costumes for over 20 serials including Jhansi Ki Rani, Maharana Pratap,  and Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya. She cites the example of Hatim, which she is designing.  “They will trust the action director, who is a man, to deliver within 21 days, but when it comes to me there is an apprehension about whether I will be able to work day and night,” she says, hoping things will change soon with the advent of more women designers .

Pearl Grey, writer-producer
TV is the best medium for women declares writer-turned-producer Pearl Grey. “A female writer knows exactly what women want to watch,” she says. Pearl is known best for her progressive show Pratigya that was about a woman fighting for her rights. Her current show Doli Armanon Ki shows that marriage is not the be-all and end-all of a woman’s life. “If she is not happy in the marriage, she does not have to accept it as her destiny,” avers Pearl who feels Pratigya brought in the wave of change from regressive fare. She adds that serials are more real, closer to life and relatable now. “Not only can we take up issues, women can take a stand now,” asserts Pearl happy that the regressive phase of TV is over.

Kavita Barjatya, producer
Traditionally, the Barjatya women don’t work but Kavita is an exception. She had undergone a divorce and was at a low phase when her brother Sooraj Barjatya, suggested she should work. “I wanted to take charge of my life and he told me I should start my own unit as a TV producer. It was the best thing to happen to me. Yes, the surname helped me in gaining an entry but I had to live up to it,” says Kavita. She first pitched a serial to Zee but it did not materialise so she made Woh Rehnewali Mehlon Ki for Sahara One. “At that time the channel was No.5 or 6 and everybody told me not to do it. But the channel gave me complete creative freedom so I went ahead,” she says. One of the most popular shows, it ran for five years and Kavita became a known name in TV circles. After launching several other shows, including Pyaar Ka Dard Hai, Kavita has now moved on to films and is ready with her first production Samrat And Co starring Rajeev Khandelwal.

Gul Khan, producer-director
Her name is associated with some of the biggest hits of TV including the original Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon, Geet Hui Sabse Parayi and Qubool Hai. While she has produced all, Qubool Hai has her even helming it. In fact, she is the only woman director on TV currently, besides the veteran Swapna Waghmare Joshi (Rang Badalti Odhani and Sanskaar Dharohar Apnon Ki to name a few). Says Gul, “Female directors face a lot of resistance from men, who don’t like taking orders. When you tell the cameraman you want a mid-shot or better lighting, he tends to dismiss it. And commanding a team of 250 people is difficult. Now that I am senior in the industry I don’t have problems, but initially it was tough.” Is that the reason why female directors are missing in the TV world?  “Actually it’s perplexing. We had to fight to come so far, but now girls seem to have become complacent. They have no aspirations. I had a female associate but mid-way she quit,” rues Gul. She is one director who has male actors clamouring to work with her because of the way she presents her heroes! Be it Maan of Geet.., Yash of Punarvivah, Asad of Qubool Hai or Arnav of Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon, they have all become iconic characters. “Most of my serials are about romance, so men become very important. All my heroes have some or the other version of my husband,” she smiles.  Even women in her shows are quite liberated like Qubool Hai’s Zoya (Surbhi Jyoti).

Kshitija Khandgale, editor
The only female editor in the TV industry, Kshitija says, unlike films one has to be available round-the-clock for editing serials. “That is the reason why girls refrain from entering this field. The timings are irregular. There are days when you are called in the middle of the night to edit and there are days you are not required as there’s no footage. The stress levels are very high,” says Kshitija, who has edited serials like Shakalak Boom Boom, Sshhh Koi Hai and currently Veera. A woman editor in TV can work only if she has adequate support from her home, she points out. There’s a ray of hope though. “Now, it’s become a teamwork. It’s become professional and work is balanced now,” she says. giving hope to several aspiring female editors.

Damini Shetty, writer-producer
For actress-turned-writer-producer Damini Shetty, the journey has been great as “TV is primarily for women, and the struggle is much less”.  Writer of shows like Maryaada Lekin Kab Tak and Sasural Simar Ka, Damini credits Ekta Kapoor for making it easier for women to enter the field. However, as far as the content is concerned,  despite the overwhelming presence of women  it is still regressive. “Tthat’s because it’s the reality. There is regression in India. Shows like Balika Vadhu or Bani - Ishq Da Kalma are inspired by real life. Also if you have to show women fighting the system, first you have to depict the regression,” reasons Damini, who tackled rape,  domestic violence and hinted at homosexuality in Maryaada. “Yes but all serials cannot be Maryaada. Also, we still shy away from infidelity and the heroine cannot make a mistake,” she observes. She, however, is confident that in the next couple of years, TV will become more experimental in its content.

Shashi Mittal, writer-producer
Married to producer Sumeet Mittal, Shashi was a homemaker before she discovered a flair for writing. And within a span of six years, she has penned hits like Punarvivah and Diya Aur Baati Hum. What stands out is her penchant for writing inspirational stories. While Punarvivah had the mother-in-law encouraging her widowed daughter-in-law to remarry, Diya Aur Baati Hum is about a small-town girl from a conservative family aspiring to be an IPS officer, and her husband fulfilling her dream. Recent tracks have shown a complete transformation of Sandhya (Deepika Singh) from a traditional bahu to a trainee IPS cadet. “I like my protagonists to be progressive within the boundaries of a family. I was apprehensive about Sandhya’s acceptance as an IPS trainee, but people have loved it,” says Shashi. Ask her if she faced any problems in the industry because of her gender and she says, “Apart from the normal challenges, I did not face any problems,” she smiles.

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