Actor Ananth Joshi has weighed in on the debate surrounding Indian television after his death the magnet Co-star Rohit Roy described TV as a “dustbin medium”. The actor, who has worked in television, acknowledged the concerns surrounding the industry but said he would not want to dismiss television altogether.

Responding to the debate, Ananth offered a different perspective from his experience working in television, in an exclusive interview with NDTV.

The actor recalled his time What’s wrong with the staff?which he described as one of the most intense and rewarding projects he had ever worked on.

He added that people often form opinions based on their personal experiences. Recalling his time on television, Ananth said, “I got the opportunity to be a part of television shows. When I did two television shows, they were such amazing shows and film adaptations that I felt. What’s wrong with the staff? was the most intense performance. We shot in Dharamshala for three months.”

He added that the experience was on par with working on films and web series with strong production values. “I can equate it to my experiences shooting any film or any web series with great production value. So, my personal experience has been great,” he shared.

Anant Joshi on Television’s TRP-driven content

While Ananth does not agree with dismissing television as a medium, he acknowledges that the industry’s reliance on ratings has affected the content being produced.

“I feel like I wouldn’t put the stigma on television that is television. But I get where it’s coming from, mainly because it’s such a TRP-driven medium,” said the actor.

He further suggested that the pressure to attract an audience influenced creative decisions, sometimes creating content that failed to meaningfully engage the audience.

“So, yeah, I think the creators backed off and it became a medium where it was only meant to satisfy a very kind of intellectually unhealed audience, let’s say. Even if it was jokes, even if it was humor, it doesn’t engage you as intensely as a creative medium,” he said.

However, he pointed out that bad storytelling isn’t just for television. Films and OTT platforms have also produced projects that have failed to impress audiences, making it unfair to judge an entire medium by its weak offerings.

“But at the same time, in any medium – you look at the film industry, you look at OTT – you’ll find really bad scripts, really bad films or bad series. And the same, in television. But I think there’s definitely something that I feel very sad about: there’s a stigma attached to television,” he added.

Anant Joshi says that making a daily soap is not easy

Ananth also expressed concern that the negative perception of television could discourage both viewers and creators. He said the effort required to produce daily television content often goes unnoticed.

“I think by saying that, we are just disappointing the viewers and producers on television who are probably putting in a lot of effort. And to be honest, it’s not an easy medium. A daily soap is like presenting a 30-minute episode every day. It’s not easy,” he said.

The actor admitted that there is room for improvement but maintained that television has its own challenges and cannot always be compared to cinema or high-budget OTT productions.

“We can’t compare it to cinema or a good OTT show. But television has also given some of the most popular and memorable shows. And then there are shows that we feel don’t quite deserve it,” he said.

Joshi concluded that the medium produced both memorable shows and content that failed to connect with audiences. Instead of attaching a blanket stigma to television, he believes more recognition should be given to those working to improve it.

What did Rohit Roy say?

Rohit Roy’s comments stemmed from a discussion about perceived hierarchies within the entertainment industry, where television actors are often considered less prestigious than their film counterparts despite television’s wide reach.

During his appearance on the Kindle Cast YouTube channel, Roy argued that there was a difference in how actors conducted themselves during public appearances. He said that film stars often exhibit a certain grace and style, criticizing the behavior of certain television personalities.

“Cinema is cinema. It is for generations. Television is a dustbin medium,” Roy said during the conversation.

“Having had a career in television, I’m always mindful of how I conduct myself in public,” Roy said, adding, “You have to carry yourself with a certain amount and dignity. You can’t hoo-ha and make stupid comments because you know the paparazzi are there.”