ET Online
Jun 7, 2023
With an aim to change how people watch TV, Ekta Kapoor founded Balaji Telefilms, one of the largest content production houses in the country, with her superstar-father Jeetendra in 1994 when she was just 29.
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At a time when TV serials like 'Hum Log', 'Buniyaad' & 'Shanti' dominated DD National, Ekta felt there was a need for some drama and colour in the content India watched. She started with a family entertainer like 'Hum Paanch' and the real-life-inspired thriller 'Mano Ya Na Mano'.
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Ekta started experimenting with plotlines, characters and various concepts. In a span of a few years, she was able to revolutionise the Indian TV landscape with more than 130 TV serials under her leadership.
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Ekta's K-serials like 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi', 'Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki', and 'Kasauti Zindagi Kay', among others, dominated the prime-time space on TV. A believer in numerology and astrology, she soon started coming up with more shows that started with 'K' such as 'Kkusum', 'Kasamh Se', and 'Kkavyanjali', among others.
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Ekta introduced idealistic characters in her TV shows. Within a short span, these leading ladies became a household name.
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Ekta also felt that idealistic characters were not enough to make a show popular. She introduced the people to powerful female characters like Ramola Sikand in 'Kahin Kisi Roz' and Komolika in 'Kasauti Zindagi Kay', who became a part of daily conversation in Indian families.
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Ekta never hesitated to give younger talent a chance. She introduced talent like Smriti Irani, Sakshi Tanwar, Shweta Tiwari, Sushant Singh Rajput, Ankita Lokhande, Prachi Desai, Divyanka Tripathi, Mouni Roy, Anita Hassnandani, among others.
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Ekta also tried to revive her brother Tusshar Kapoor's acting career with movies like 'Kucch To Hai', 'Kyaa Kool Hai Hum', 'Shootout at Lokhandwala' and 'Shor in the City'.
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In 2020, Ekta received the Padma Shri award, the fourth highest civilian honour, for her work in the field of arts.
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