They're a potpourri of the good, bad and sometimes even the ugly. Meet prime time's most envied anti heroes 

There's something about the grey shade that draws attention. In the dichotomy of the good vs the bad, characters with shades of grey on television shows have always grabbed audience's attention and have become popular. Remember the ideal son, lover and husband Anurag of Kasautii...Zindagi Kay? His was the character moulded to perfection. But with his enigmatic entry in the show Mr Bajaj played by Ronit Roy took all the share of glory with his impeccable performance. 

With audiences looking forward to characters no longer 'picture perfect' -the small screen has made way for the anti-hero. What's more, most of the characters are sketched to render it a factor of believability. Take a look at the current prime time slot. Talk of Ram Kapoor (Ram Kapoor) in Bade Achche Lagte Hain who constantly keeps arguing and blaming his wife Priya, Arnav Singh Raizada (played by Barun Sobti) in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? who is always arrogant and rude with his newly acquired wife Khushi whom he blackmailed into a secret wedding, Viraj Dobrial (Karnvir Bohra) in Dil Se Di Dua...Saubhagyavati Bhav? or Sameer (played by Mrunal Jain) in Hitler Didi who leaves the female protagonist heart broken. That apart, aggressive and short-tempered Indu Singh (enacted by Anirudh Dave) of Ruk Jaana Nahin or Krishna ( Arhaan Behl) of Mann Ki Awaaz... Pratigya, and straying husbands Pradeep (Pawan Shanker) in Kya Huaa Tera Vaada and Jagya (played by Shashank Vyas) of Balika Vadhu also fit into the league of 'imperfect heroes! 

Producer Hemal Thakkar says, "Good guys with shades of grey make for interesting characters as they have a darker side with a heart of gold. The energy of such characters gives a different dimension to the character which creates interesting drama. And women audiences somehow love anti-heroes. Anti heroes surely raise the spice factor in the story. Shah Rukh Khan's Baazigar and Darr where SRK played the anti-hero had appealed to masses and classes." 

Agrees producer Sudhir Sharma. "Anti heroes are unconventional and unpredictable. Since audiences are used to seeing good guys playing male leads, when they see a protagonist in a grey shade, they find him more appealing. The anti hero character connects to audience for making it close to reality kind of image. With their good looks, anti heroes surely make female audiences happy!" he says. 

And how convinced are the actors who take up such 'grey' roles? Karanvir Bohra says, "Initially I was apprehensive about my image getting tarnished, I had to say yes to the role because it was so meaty and multi dimensional. Ekta Kapoor had given me a bad boy image in Kasautii... as well. She told me then 'bad is good' and I completely second that. If you are a good actor with a great screen presence and blessed by the almighty, there is nothing stopping you." 

Barun Sobti says, "To play a business tycoon who is arrogant, curt, no nonsense and always gets what he wants was something 'different' from the roles I'd done earlier. As it is TV doesn't have many variations to offer, in terms of roles/characters. So to play someone like Arnav was a challenge." 

No wonder then, even audience love these droolworthy grey guys over the boringly perfect heroes - probably because the audience also hopes that these anti heroes might just turn into good boys the minute they fall in love. Until then, going grey's one sure shot TRP-tripping formula for these small screen scorchers..