Two good for TV

Couple-based reality shows on TV are a win-win for everybody —actors get better deals and the viewers, an insight into their TV character’s off screen self

Reality shows in India have been a hit from the word go. The prospect of watching a favourite television star in his or her off screen element, outside the walls of the sets is a great incentive for a viewer. But the joy of it seems to double up when that actor walks in with his or her better half. The fact that more and more television shows are incorporating couples on prime time, shows that the industry too is feeding off the viewer’s interest in the doubles game. Fear Factor introduced a season where couples participated as a team, Bigg Boss for the first time has a season where there are multiple real life couples on the show and Indian TV is gearing up for Power Couple, an adaptation of an Israeli television series.

Sharad Tripathi, television writer and participant on Nach Baliye (another couple-oriented dance show) believes that it feeds a voyeuristic audience. “We Indians love to gossip. Basically, we want to peep into people’s bedrooms. We have explored lives of single artists, so now we want to do that with couples — as a writer I find this trend very interesting. Sometimes the audience falls so much in love with the onscreen couple that they start bashing up the actor’s real life partner for no reason; it can hamper one’s relationship.”

For Sharad personally, the decision to enter Nach Baliye was very different. “Mrunal (Sharad’s girlfriend) and I wanted to take our relationship to the next level when we entered Nach... Both our families were shocked and in fact, they are still not okay with it. But we leave it all to destiny,” he adds.

Popular television duo Asha Negi and Rithvik Dhanjani are only happy to let the audience into their lives — after all, they made them the celebrities they are. “As a celebrity your life becomes an open book and hence be it a couple or an individual actor, viewers want to know more about us. Yes, there’s a fine line which every actor draws but otherwise I really believe that it is our viewers that have created us and hence we owe it all to them,” says Asha. To put things out there, does it increase the ‘brand value’ of a couple “Yes and no. I think the increased brand value of a couple is temporary but what lasts longer is how both individuals are able to excel on their own paths in the long run. Ultimately, a couple cannot take up every project together,” adds Rithvik.

One of reality television’s most loved faces, Rakhi Sawant though, isn’t one for sweet talk. On the topic of brand value, she agrees that it increases exponentially when actors come together and hence, the chances of them misrepresenting a relationship to bag a contract that wouldn’t have fallen into a single’s lap. “Ninety-nine per cent of couples fake it (relationship) to be part of a show and walk separate ways after the show is over. When two people work together, they share a rapport — it’s natural. But TV channels capitalise on this. I would never be part of a reality show where I have to fake relationships just for the money; if that were the case you would have seen me in a different show with a different boyfriend.”

Not wanting to comment on the faking bit, Ravi Dubey agrees that a couple’s value as a brand certainly shoots up. “Ever since we (referring to wife Sargun) did Nach Baliye, viewers recognise us as a couple now. It’s great that all these new shows are giving couples a chance to explore more work as a pair. How much you want to let the audience into your life remains your prerogative of course, but they certainly like to get a glimpse of your life with your partner outside a TV set.”

Teejay Sidhu, who is perennially spotted with her husband Karanvir Bohra in tow, believes that it strengthens the connection between the audience and the couple. The two were seen together in Khatron Ke Khiladi and recently turned down an offer to be on Power Couple. “I think what works for celeb couples is that the audience can connect with them. Like before every stunt, KV would fall at my feet and ask for ‘biwi ka aashirwad’ — it’s one of the quirks we share,” she says. Teejay continues, “People love the fact that celeb relationships aren’t much different from theirs. For celebs what works is that these shows are an opportunity spend more time and learn new things about your partner. KV learnt how mentally strong I am after KKK and he impressed me by volunteering for stunts that no one else would do. We respect each other more now.”

For those falsely representing an equation, producer Divya Singh has a word. “The audience knows when they are being conned; when couples come together only for a show and break up later, their credibility is lost because TV has the ability to capture the truth and you can’t fool the audience with a fictional story.” Not in a reality show anyway.