Oct 07, 2026 7:06pm IST
National Awards for Indian TV Industry: Rupali Ganguly, Sudhaanshu Paandey, Yash Patnaik Echo Aspirations (EXCLUSIVE)
The Indian TV industry has proven its consistency time and again. While the pandemic halted work in many entertainment sectors, TV artists and crews bravely continued work on sets for their daily soaps. Actress Rupali Ganguly has been at the forefront demanding national-level recognition for the Indian TV fraternity.
She tells Variety India, “There are National Awards for films, content creators and even gamers. Why is the TV industry treated as outsiders? We worked throughout the pandemic. Ek recognition humein bhi chahiye (We also want a reward).”
Ganguly is not the only one who believes this. Several others echoed Ganguly’s sentiment and demanded better.
Reaching a middle ground
It isn’t just awards, Ganguly believes that TV producers need better financial compensation. She states, “Producers hand over entire content to channels. I am hoping that broadcasters and producers come to an agreement where makers get one to two per cent of royalties after a show sees reruns. We are seeing how shows wrap up in two months causing losses to producers. I feel that after 10-15 reruns, a certain amount of the royalties should come to the producers.”
A well-researched plan
Ganguly’s “Anupamaa” co-star Sudhaanshu Paandey says that he, too, has been vocal about the National Awards. He states, “I began this campaign way back in 2020-21. In fact, I did a panel discussion with top personalities like JD Majethia, Divyanka Tripathi, Rajan Shahi and Binaifer Kohli. The movement was started by me. I have always been very vocal about the National Awards recognizing the contribution of the TV industry. The Indian TV industry is the highest revenue generator and definitely deserves to be part of the National Awards.”
He also reveals that he has done his research and made a report on how exponentially the TV industry has grown ever since it started in India. The report also focuses on the extent of employment it generates. Paandey quips, “I am very keen on taking it to the Central Government. I have spoken to some people too who are at the Centre.”
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Awards and beyond
Filmmaker Ravit Tyagi, who has helmed shows like “Diya Aur Baati Hum” (2011), “Krishna Chali London” (2018), “Badho Bahu” (2016) and more lauds Ganguly’s sentiments. He says, “This is a really good initiative. National Awards will elevate the status of the Indian TV industry, which brings in revenue of ₹25,000 crore. Also, the Government needs to upgrade Film City in Mumbai. As of now, it has nothing other than greenery, roads and some hills. There is a lot of land and studios can be built for makers.”
Long overdue for Indian TV industry
Yash Patnaik, founder of Inspire Films Limited and Beyond Dreams, feels National Awards for the TV industry would be a fantastic move. He states, “The TV audience is massive. You are talking about 220 million households. It is much bigger than the regular cinema audience. If it happens, it will be long overdue. Also, the Government needs to think about the investment in the industry. The current climate is very challenging for producers. They need to think about all the stakeholders whether it is broadcasters or producers.”
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Travesty of justice
Veteran actor Sunil Lahri opines, “It is sad that Indian TV, despite its growth and contribution to the entertainment sector, does not have national-level recognition. Television is consumed in a different manner than films. It holds the audience's attention even as people go about their activities while watching TV. Keeping this in mind, it is very important that storytelling and performances get priority and recognition.”
True testament of talent
Sheizaan M Khan, lead star of “Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan,” opines, “As TV artists, we work day in and day out without any break whatsoever when we are on a project. In a way, we are literally dedicating our lives to a show. In matters of prestige, the National Award is the trophy every actor aspires for. As kids, we grew up believing some awards were the highest honors, but slowly the hype diminished. The day you win a National Award, you can pat yourself on the back.”
He adds, “Also, the budget of shows needs to increase. They have been slashed down drastically and people’s livelihoods are affected. As an artist, would I think about my kitchen or my soul? As an industry, we are not asking for a huge investment but give us resources to make shows of a certain quality. It is fine if we do not show 500 episodes. After 100 episodes, every actor also gets a bit comfortable. The National Award will make everyone aspire for a certain standard. I feel we have the audience who wants something really engaging like a “Sacred Games” or “Asur.” We need quality of that kind in Indian TV. As of now, Indian television just feels like a market where art is similar to corporate bullshit.”
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