Indian TV not just about ‘saas-bahu’ sagas anymore: Somya Seth

Mumbai, May 1 (IANS) Actress Somya Seth, best known for her roles on TV shows like “Navya... Naye Dhadkan Naye Sawaal” and “Yeh Hai Aashiqui”, feels the Indian television industry, which is often perceived as a women-oriented field for showcasing too many "saas-bahu" shows, is no more about daily soaps only, as a lot of production houses are coming up with shows based on different genres.

“Indian TV is not just about ‘saas-bahus’ anymore. I’m so glad how Indian TV industry has evolved today and I really love that we are coming up with so many different characters every now and then. It’s getting evolved day by day,” Somya told IANS.

While Indian TV industry has broadened its reach in India to a great extend over the years, Somya feels that Indian shows are equally popular abroad too.

“I’m so thrilled and proud to tell that when I was in Indonesia, Indian television was doing so well over there even when their own television industry is not doing that good.

“Even I went to US. There, every sixth person would be an Indian and he knows that Indian TV shows that are going on air currently. So one can imagine the reach that Indian TV shows and actors have. It’s absolutely fantastic,” Somya said.

“I wouldn’t have traded this space with anything on earth because I think this (Indian TV industry) is a great place to be in and has a great market. Also, we are getting up there with such good shows,” she added.

So should Indian TV remain a women-oriented industry?

She said: “I love our TV industry because we have so many women here. We have so many women-oriented shows. At least there is some place where women are doing better than men."

Somya will be seen next as Princess Kaurwaki in popular historical show “Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat” after it will take a leap of 10 years.

“Being a warrior princess is why I decided to be part of this show, and more importantly, it was about women empowerment,” Somya said.

“Kaurwaki is not a fragile and delicate darling. I don’t know if there is any other warrior princess in our history except for Rani Laxmibai and a couple of them. But in 200 BC, that era, she was the epitome of a warrior princess,” she added.

“Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat”, aired on Colors, will also star “Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev” fame actor Mohit Raina in the post-leap episodes, which will start on Monday.