Feb 14, 2026 7:35pm IST
Sharad Kelkar Opens Up On ‘Tumm Se Tumm Tak’ Success And The Reason Why Seemingly Clichéd Shows Rule TRP Charts (EXCLUSIVE)
Sharad Kelkar, who shot to fame with his 2005 Zee TV serial "Saat Phere - Saloni Ka Safar" is again enjoying the success of "Tumm Se Tumm Tak" on the same channel. Audiences have showered love on his comeback on TV in a daily soap. Sharad Kelkar plays the role of a Delhi industrialist who falls for a much younger woman played by actress Niharika Chouksey. The show’s promo grabbed eyeballs due to the odd pairing, with many calling out the age gap between the leads. Sharad Kelkar spoke to Variety India about his successful comeback in the daily soap space, how to handles criticism and a lot more.
Sharad Kelkar has been working actively in films and web series for a few years now. He admits that he found it tough to take time out for a TV serial while working on films and streaming. “I just could not find out the dates and numbers of days to fit in one TV show in my scheme of things. When Prateek Sharma of Studio LSD came to me, I had rejected it outright. But he was insistent that I hear the story. I knew I could not give him the dates and did not wish to generate false hopes,” he says candidly. However, it seems like "Tumm Se Tumm Tak" was destined for Sharad Kelkar. The series shoot got delayed, and Sharad’s date diary kind of opened up, much to Prateek Sharma’s delight.
“I have a lot of respect for Prateek. To date, he has told fresh, original stories on TV irrespective of the TRP outcome. His content is always good. I said I had some dates, but we would need to accommodate a few things. He agreed, and it finally materialized,” Sharad shares.
The TV star further said, “The way he narrated the story felt different. I was looking forward to playing such a character. If you see the format, you will find that "Tumm Se Tumm Tak" is devoid of the excessive melodrama that is a staple in most Indian dailies. Also, the show is filmed across sets and not in a single house. The manner in which the stories of the supporting cast play out also appealed to me. My instinct told me it was a good script," he asserts.
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While age appropriateness might be a huge topic of debate on social media, quite a few believe that a story and its context is what matters the most. Sharad Kelkar feels the freshness of the story, and his character found acceptance with viewers. He confesses he did not bother with the online flak, as he’s faced such situations before. “I felt I fit the story. I am a man in my 40s, and I can relate to this. I know the mindset of a 40-45-year-old. There are couples with big age gaps in society, and they have successful relationships. This show is not a biopic. A writer has a concept, and the director’s treatment is what matters while narrating such a love story,” he opines. Sharad says the colloquial language used in the show is a plus because people can actually identify with them as a family from Delhi’s Chandni Chowk. At this stage, he is unfazed by bouquets and brickbats. “When I did Bairi Piya, I was heavily criticized. I did a movie Operation Romeo and people said, “Yeh Kaisa Role Kar Raha Hai."
If someone visits a platform like X or Reddit, the discontent of young Indian TV viewers with current content is palpable. They complain that the late 1990s and 2000s had so much variety. There are many who have gravitated towards foreign content, mainly Korean dramas that they see as a better substitute. “ A channel or TV show runners make shows depending on what people want to watch. There is a lot of research and analysis on this topic. After an in-depth recce on viewers’ preferences, a show gets commissioned. Also, I feel disheartened when I see TV writers not getting their due. They should be motivated properly so they want to be at their creative best. Also, a lot of interference in their original script is sad to see,” he says candidly.
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