Ekta Kapoor: Calling me TV czarina is overrated

Ekta Kapoor

Ekta Kapoor does not like being referred to as TV's czarina. "It's overrated and hyped," she says. "Everyone has a few hits and misses. I am doing what everyone else is doing. Everyone has a few hits and misses." Ekta is all set to start a new show, Ek Mayavi Prem Gatha Chandrakanta on Colors, in competition with Life OK's 'Chandrakanta'. We caught up with her last week at her Juhu home.
Excerpts from the interview:

Chandrakanta's trailer was launched last year. What caused the delay in its going on air?
It got delayed because I was in the middle of doing several things at the same time. Chandrakanta requires extensive planning; it's not like a daily soap. Every scene and episode requires detailing. I was busy with Kavachh, followed by Naagin and then the web shows on Alt Balaji.

It's not the first time Chandrakanta is on television.
Doordarshan, Imagine TV and Life OK have had several versions. I am not afraid of competition. It forces you to do better. The treatment and the plot have no similarity. We've given Chandrakanta a different tweak.

The show's look seems to be inspired by Baahubali and fantasy fiction movies like Harry Potter.
I have not seen Harry Potter. I am more of a Game Of Thrones fan. As for lead actor Vishal Aditya Singh's costume in, it is not lifted from Baahubali. The amount of hard work he has put in is commendable. We've tried to create a fantasy world of ayaaras and magical creatures.

A mega audition was conducted for the show.
We auditioned several people for the lead roles, but Madhurima Tuli had the height and an innocent face. I wanted a 21-year-old looking girl for the role.

A still from Ek Mayavi Prem Gatha Chandrakanta

You launched the web show, The Test Case, in April, but aired only one episode.
I have been conducting meetings about it. We ran it with a certain amount of budget. There's a lot that goes into the making of these shows. There were budget constraints, but it is being worked on. Besides The Test Case, there are about four to five more new shows that will come on the app soon. Wait and watch. In fact, I will be coming up with a love story, which will blow people's mind, besides other shows.

Kumkum Bhagya is having a spinoff.
Kumkum Bhagya has occupied the top 5 spot on the TRP chart. It's spinoff is titled Kundali Bhagya. Gul (Khan, of Four Lions Films) has already done it. They have Dil Boley Oberoi, a spinoff of their show Ishaqbaaz. I always wanted to do a spin-off, but they beat me to it. It creates a kind of validation for me. Frankly, I have grown up watching American shows and spin offs of their shows are a big hit. So, why not."

What are the plans for the plot of Kumkum Bhagya?
Kumkum Bhagya has had at least a dozen kidnapping plots and several more murder plans against Pragya. But the show is still getting great numbers. People in the interiors love the drama. In spite of the trolls, the show is doing well. My job is to deliver numbers and if I am able to that, I have no reason to complain, right?

Test Case

What's happening on the film production front?
Lipstick Under My Burkha is releasing soon. It is a film about us. I have been waiting for the movie. Some films you do for money, some for your heart, this is one of those. I have another film in the making, Laila Majnu.

Has life changed now that you are an aunt?
Ever since Tusshar's baby Laksshya arrived, I can't wait to get home. Everyone in the house has changed their schedule to match it with the tot. I wrap up things as fast as I can to spend time with the little one.