If there is one person who can be credited for changing the face of Indian television it is Rajan Shahi. He has given superhit shows like “Sapna Babul Ka … Bidaai”, “Kuch Toh Log Kahenge”, “Amrit Manthan”, “Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke”, and “Anupama”, “Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai”, “Woh Toh Hai Albelaa”, which are currently on-air. As the ace producer and director turns a year older on December 3 we give you five reasons why we love Rajan Shahi and his shows.
Multitalented: Can you believe in his initial days he would be a part of the crowd during ad shoots for almost 30 advertisements, and look where he is now. His maternal grandfather, the late P Jairaj, was an acclaimed actor, filmmaker, and Dadasaheb Phalke awardee, but Rajan chose to carve his own niche. From direction to production, working on the scripts to his involvement in all the departments, there is nothing this man can’t do. Spending so many years in the industry, especially starting from the grassroot level, has definitely added to his overall experience.
The passion this man possesses: There is no one in the industry who is as involved as Rajan Shahi when it comes to his work. Be it his regular interaction with the cast and crew or his presence in their moment of need, Rajan doesn’t believe in leaving his people behind and takes care of them like their family. Not just that, he is personally involved in the story-making process and is physically present during the shoot to keep his team motivated. His regular visits to the sets show the passion with which he works.
Trendsetter: In an era when people were obsessed with saas-bahu dramas or kitchen politics, Rajan brought to life the story of two sisters with “Sapna Babul Ka… Bidaai”, and many later took inspiration from it. His longest-running TV show “Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai” too became a trendsetter with the story focussing more on family values. Even now, his show “Anupama” based on the life of a middle-aged woman quickly became the chart-topper and gave way to many other shows based on similar lines.
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There has never been a mismatch: Rajan has an eye for casting, pick any character from his shows and you will see that the actor playing it is the perfect fit. His actors play their characters like their second skin, not more nor less.
In the end, it’s all about the family: The other reason why Rajan Shahi and his shows are so popular is because of the family values. Come what may nothing is or can ever be more important than the family, something that Rajan lives by in his personal life too. The bond that he shares with his mother Deepa Shahi, who is also the co-producer of “Anupama”, and his daughter Ishika Shahi, who co-produced “Anupama: Namaste America” and is currently pursuing her higher education in Sydney, speaks volumes about the family man that he is. No wonder all his characters in the shows possess this quality. It’s the unconditional bond that he portrays in his shows that has made the fast-changing generation believe in family once again.
Here’s wishing the all-rounder a very happy 51st birthday.
