Sep 27, 2026 5:09pm IST
‘Love Island,’ ‘90 Day Fiancé,’ ‘Love Is Blind,’ ‘Too Hot To Handle’: Global Dating Reality Formats That Indian Platforms Are Shying From
"Love Island," "Love On The Spectrum," "90 Day Fiancé," "Love Is Blind," "Too Hot To Handle" are living proof that dating reality shows are big money-spinners globally. But Indian creators are reluctant to dip their feet into the pool. Save for the homegrown “Splitsvilla,” (loosely based on “Flavor Of Love”), no other dating series has managed to establish itself as an iconic brand in India. And while global formats are ripe for the picking in the Indian market, no Indian creator will definitively tell you when to expect the Indian “Love Island.”
On reaching out, a few Indian contestants shared their thoughts with Variety India on why they think creators aren’t keen on making Indian versions of dating reality formats just yet.
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The Lure: A Stepping Stone to Showbiz
Mohit Hiranandani, who was a part of “Splitsvilla 10,” believes that young Indians are pretty cool about reality TV concepts around dating. He states, “I don’t feel they’re apprehensive about dating shows. At this point everyone wants to do any kind of reality show because it’s the quickest route to a massive Instagram following. It’s just that we have fewer dating shows in comparison to other genres.”
Akanksha Choudhary, a former beauty pageant finalist, discusses how her career skyrocketed after “MTV Splitsvilla X6.” She candidly admits. “No one goes to a dating reality show to find a partner. It is just to kickstart a career in showbiz,” adding, “I felt that doing a reality show would hamper my image but things turned out so differently. I wanted to reach 100-200K on Instagram so I could bag some Punjabi music videos. Today, I have touched 4 million.”
The Obstacle: Cultural Block
The concept of dating is yet to register in the psyche of the Indian masses. In 2023, “Temptation Island India” too got flak for being too toxic and cringeworthy. Hiranandani agrees, “A hundred percent, there’s a cultural block. There’s a thin line dividing bold and vulgar. A reality show, not too long ago, crossed that and I think that has made it difficult for other makers to come up with better concepts.” There are certain shows that are viewed globally, but their Indian version seems impossible.
Baseer Ali, who won “Splitsvilla” Season 10, contends that Indian audiences aren’t ready as yet for such content. He notes, “Indian audiences are sensitive because of religious beliefs, culture and traditions. You have to be careful because somebody is putting in a lot of money. From a producer, channel or platform’s point-of-view, they do not want content going up on their platform to be so controversial. It could land them and their finances into trouble.”
He further cites the example of “Temptation Island India,” saying, “It's a huge show, a huge brand. They brought in couples, hot singles from both the genders and put the couples to test. I had a few friends who were a part of the show. The kind of content that was coming out, the kind of things that were happening, they couldn't show the stuff on TV. I spoke to the people who made the show. They said because of the content, the platform didn't want to show a second season.”
Ali also highlights how kids would come to him saying that their families did not allow them to watch “Splitsvilla,” while “Roadies” was permitted. “I think that has changed over the decade. Also, I feel like a lot of that audience also has matured thanks to the wave of social media,” he adds.
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The Risk: Fear Of Judgement
Many contestants on shows like “Roadies,” and “Splitsvilla” come from small-town India. While a bold dating show brings in attention, handling the backlash is not everyone’s cup of tea. “Once I entered the reality show, I only cared about not being eliminated. I do not know about others but I feel the ones who care about judgment don’t go too far in the show,” quips Hiranandani.
Chetna Pande, who was last seen on “Haunted 3D: Echoes Of The Past,” took part in “Temptation Island India” with her partner, Nishank Swami. Their reality TV journey was tumultuous. She opines, “One person's tragedy is another person's entertainment. I did a dating reality show where I was hurt emotionally; but I believe I provided a lot of entertainment by my vulnerability. The voyeurism of pain will remain a regular pastime of the masses like in the old Roman days. The arena is now the television, the gladiators are the reality game show participants and the call for blood is now TRP.” She believes that wearing skimpy clothes for a reality TV show is no big deal, adding, “It is the undressing of your soul in front of the world is what takes courage. And when you are courageous - you are bold.”
Choudhary admits that there is a stigma around such shows. She shares how she hid the fact that she was going on “Splitsvilla,” simply mentioning that it was a captive reality show. “My parents wanted me to prepare for GMAT and study abroad. If I had taken permission, no one would have allowed this show,” she says.
The Clinch: The Brand Name
The quality of advertisers determine the success of a reality show on TV and streaming platforms. Pande believes that a well-crafted dating show holds endless possibilities. She opines, “It may never have the same audience profile as a family singing show or a comedy programme, but that doesn’t automatically make it less commercially attractive. The challenge is really about positioning. If a show is marketed purely around scandal, nudity or shock value, naturally some mainstream advertisers may hesitate. But if it is positioned around relationships, modern dating, psychology, compatibility and contemporary youth culture, suddenly a much wider category of brands can participate. So, I don’t think boldness is the problem. Context is the difference between something looking progressive and something looking gratuitous. And ultimately, successful entertainment always finds advertisers.”
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