Ektaa Kapoor, India’s undisputed “Czarina of Television,” is back in the spotlight—this time not just for her upcoming seventh season of Naagin but also for her brutally honest takes on the current state of the entertainment industry. Speaking at the India Today Mumbai Conclave, Kapoor peeled back layers on the pressures, politics, and paradoxes of film, TV, and OTT, sparking conversations that are hard to ignore.
Women Rewriting the Rules
Kapoor’s session, aptly titled “Queen of Content: Woman Who Shaped Indian Screens,” celebrated women in entertainment who are changing the game. She proudly named Guneet Monga, Rhea Kapoor, Zoya Akhtar, Deepika Padukone, and Kareena Kapoor Khan as trailblazers who inspire her.
- With Guneet Monga, Kapoor co-produced the National Award-winning Kathal.
- With Rhea Kapoor, she’s delivered films like Crew and Thank You For Coming.
- With Kareena Kapoor Khan, she’s partnered on Crew and The Buckingham Murders.
- She hasn’t yet collaborated with Zoya or Deepika but admires their fearlessness.
Her list itself is a statement—celebrating women who refuse to fit into industry stereotypes.
Entourage Costs and Censorship
When the discussion turned to industry issues, Kapoor didn’t mince words.
- On censor board rules, she called them a “much-needed trouble”—a nod to how essential regulation is, even if frustrating.
- On entourage culture, her verdict was cutting: “It’s not TV killing films, or films killing TV. It’s entourage killing both.”
This comment is already buzzing in industry corridors. With film budgets ballooning, star entourages draining producers dry, and creativity often compromised, Kapoor’s words strike a raw nerve.
TV in the Digital Age
Despite OTT taking younger audiences away, Kapoor dismissed the “TV is dead” narrative.
- She admitted she misses urban audiences watching television, but assured TV’s survival.
- She said the TRP rat race is “a thing of the past,” but TV still commands unmatched reach.
- On reality shows, she quipped they’re “very entertaining,” but actor tantrums are “very not entertaining.”
It’s a reminder that while OTT is trendy, TV remains the heart of Indian households.
Ektaa Unplugged: Indulgence Over Balance
In her signature unapologetic style, Kapoor revealed that if her life were a TV show, it would be titled Kasautii Zindagii Kay. Asked if Tulsi or Parvati was sassier, she dismissed the rivalry, saying: “We can’t have women compete with each other. They are both adjusting each other’s crowns.”
And when asked what she’s truly the queen of, Kapoor laughed: “Indulgence. I don’t believe in balance. I indulge my phobias, my creativity, my food, my life. It’s full of indulgence.”
The Return of Naagin
As the industry debates censorship, OTT dominance, and entourage excesses, Kapoor is already gearing up for her next big move—the much-awaited seventh season of Naagin on Colors TV. Love it or hate it, her shows remain a cultural storm.
Ektaa Kapoor isn’t just breaking norms; she’s rewriting the script—and making sure everyone’s watching.
By – Nikita