Festive overdose on TV

So you like Diwali? The sweets, the parties, the socialising, and, above all, the dressing up for it all? But what if you didn’t have to do it just on that one day, but at a stretch for 10 days?

So you like Diwali? The sweets, the parties, the socialising, and, above all, the dressing up for it all? But what if you didn’t have to do it just on that one day, but at a stretch for 10 days? We’re talking 10 days of heavy, colourful designer outfits, and 10 days of wishing people ‘Happy Diwali’. Beginning to sound a little tiring? For a TV star, that’s just a part of their job.

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TV shows will never let go of the opportunity to play up a festival to the hilt. Diwali is one of the biggest festivals in India, and a great opportunity to play to the audience’s sentiments. So the festive look and the celebrations start early. We’re talking elaborate décor, crackers and stars dressed to the nines in Diwali finery. One moment, they will be giving customary “have a safe Diwali” message to the audience; the next they could be part of an intrigue plot on their respective shows that, needless to say, will have the festivities as the backdrop.

As a result, we’ve seen elaborate festive plot developments on Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlta Hai, Balika Vadhu and Diya Aur Baati Hum, among others. Now, spare a thought for the TV actors. Yes, it’s part of their job and, yes, being an actor is a coveted profession. Yet, this is one of the most rigorous times of the year for them. And after dressing up numerous times for their shows and ‘celebrating’ as their reel selves, very few of them are left with any real enthusiasm to dress up and do the whole drill as their real selves as well.