Industry REACTS to the Pehredaar Piya Ki Controversy!

Producers and actors share their thoughts on Sony TV's latest show.

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Swarupa Tantravahi

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Even before Sony TV's Pehredaar Piya Ki went on air, it created a huge amount of intrigue. And now that the show is on air, it has become a huge controversy. 

With actor Karan Wahi bashing the show's concept, few other actors too shared their opinion on Karan's thoughts. 

We at Tellybuzz, decided to get in touch with few actors and producers and here's what the industry has to say about the ongoing Pehredaar Piya Ki controversy. 

VIKAS GUPTA (Lost Boy Productions)


When a 'Balika Vadhu' came, a segment of people spoke... when a Sunny Leone came on Bigg Boss, another segment of people spoke. '13 Reasons Why' is loved but there is yet another set of people who run down the show for having their own set of beliefs. No matter what story you tell, there will be a set of people it is meant for and there will be a part of audience it will not be meant for.

'Pehredaar Piya ki' is about a 10 year old marrying an 18 year old. Does that happen in real life? Yes, it happens in more occasions than one and even if it doesn't, everyone has a right to make or tell a story they wish to. If it's not good, it will flop. What is our moral obligation of showing content? Yes, we do... but let me tell you, no matter how many people blame 'Balika Vadhu' for glorifying child marriage and '13 reasons why' for glamourizing suicide... Both have ended up reducing the issues they dealt with and that's in stats. What's better than not speaking about an issue and putting it under the carpet for it to continue, is talking about it.

In 'Meri Aawaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai' a 9 year old girl was shown being in love with a 25 year old man. Why was it ok there? Why can't a 10 year old boy be fascinated with a 18 year old girl? Can't he be attracted to her? Stop being the moral police and pushing your views on other people. When such a seasoned actor like Karan Wahi speaks about the show and thrashes it on a public platform without even realizing that he himself has been part of shows which have themes about objectifying women and slotting them like Baat Humari Pakki hai and other shows. Same goes to lot of others, it's just stupid.

Every one has a right to tell the story they wish to tell and if a channel or a production house have worked hard and decided to put their energies to tell a story kindly keep your opinion in your back pocket cause frankly no one is asking for it. Stop running down people who are working hard and let them enjoy their work just cause you have nothing better to do than being on twitter and instagram. There is no difference between these people and the moral police who both try to run down and force their belief of what India should see, live and do .

SUSHANT KUMAR (Badho Bahu Producer)


This show is in the news  before it came on air.. see personally, I haven't watch the initial episodes. Yes it is sounding so creepy that a 10 year old guy is getting married to an 18 year old girl, but I guess it's too early to judge a show. We can not judge a book by its cover. Let's watch some more episodes and then decide. I'm sure Shashi Sumit's Production House and Sony channel both are sensible enough to approve a concept... they won't hurt public sentiments.

MEENAKSHI SAGAR (Producer of Jamai Raja)


I am sure the producers and channel must have done their research before putting it on air. I think its an eye-grabbing concept. All the best to the teams! 

RAVI DUBEY


I haven't yet seen the show, but have been hearing a lot. However, about its story line, I am sure everyone has a legitimate perspective on it. But since I have not yet sampled it, I'd like to see it for myself and then comment on it. Otherwise I'd be basing my opinion on hearsay.

MANSI SRIVASTAVA


I think the audience should give the serial some time and not start judging and bashing them in the start only. This was actually a custom from what I have heard about it that in the Royal families earlier they would get their sons married early only while they are small and to an elder girl so that she takes care of the boy as well or may be the marriage has been done due to some other reasons like someone's parents have passed away or whatever. Its a story and also showing some reality as well. People are just highly prejudice to anything that's different. What I'm saying is that lets just give it a chance at least and then see where the story is going.

AMIT BEHL


I think it is too early to judge or pass a comment on the show. Its just few episodes, I am sure there must something for the audience'. Shashi Sumit has always given good concept, they have always given standard thing. I have full confidence on Shashi Sumit and Sony Channel with regards to the content.

KRITIKA KAMRA



Whatever little I have seen of the show including the promos, is uncomfortable to say the least. And it is obviously time we discuss what kind of content we serve to the TV audience. Glorifying a 9 year old or a 10 year old putting sindoor on a grown up woman's forehead, glorifying a marriage of that sorts and the same guy ogling at and stalking a woman is not my idea of entertainment. I did not find it fun to watch at all. But, it is also difficult to predict the fate of the show. The controversy has already given it enough eyeballs and I wont be surprised if it gets the ratings or the viewership for whatever reason and frankly that's okay because it won't be the first time that something regressive and bizarre has topped the TRP charts. My personal opinion is that its something disturbing to me. 

KAMYA PUNJABI


I would say live and let live and work and let others work. The makers must have thought of something. Lets wait and watch as to what they show us. As an actor I would like to know what is new and different in this concept and what they want to showcase. I obviously do not support child marriage. But being a part of the industry for so many years, I would want to know what the makers are showing, but as a mother, if the show is running on TV, I don't want my daughter to want the show and will shut the TV off. 

Well, everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and judgement, aren't they?

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Kamya Punjabi Thumbnail

Kamya Punjabi

Karan Wahi Thumbnail

Karan Wahi

Amit Behl Thumbnail

Amit Behl

Kritika Kamra Thumbnail

Kritika Kamra

Vikas Gupta Thumbnail

Vikas Gupta

Ravi Dubey Thumbnail

Ravi Dubey

Mansi Srivastava Thumbnail

Mansi Srivastava

Baat Hamari Pakki Hai poster

Baat Hamari Pakki Hai

Balika Vadhu poster

Balika Vadhu

Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai poster

Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai

Pehredaar Piya Ki poster

Pehredaar Piya Ki

Badho Bahu poster

Badho Bahu

Comments (47)

The issue was with the treatment of this concept.
Had the show been created minus the drama and shown some sensible & meaning ful content. People would have liked it. For instance, Yeh Unn dino ki baat hai.. is refressing.. no over the top acting..no unnecessary melodrama. The show has become one of the most watched shows in recent times. The producers need to understand we are totally done with the uncalled for melodrama or reactions..This is not for Pehredar Piya ki.. its goes for all shows.

6 years ago

I also find it creepy but what hypocrisy Kritika Kamra. Few years back you were part of a show on same channel, where your character was in love with a man of ur uncle's age. Yes I am talking about Kuch tioh log kehenge

6 years ago

I don't understand India-forum's obsession with this show. Can't they show some different story? Why from the inception of the show they are just porting one article after other. This is really disgusting from their part. Show has started now let people decide what they wish what not. why the hell each day one article either justifying or bashing the show. I can understand they have been given a lot of money for publicity but this is a headache to see it every single day.

6 years ago

What happened to the concept of hiring a bodyguard or she could have been his legal guardian. Marriage was not needed at all. Really disgusting to see that some people are justifying such a puke worthy storyline.

6 years ago

The crux of the show is pathetic and illegal. Just coz it happened in the past, doesn't mean it's okay to try and normalize this practise. What next? Someone normalizing Sati pratha? I am appalled at how the makers, channels and actors have decided to produce something so disgusting just to grab eyeballs.
No matter what the situtaion, this "wedding" doesn't have any legal status too whatsoever. Apart from lack of conscience and morality. Contemporary hindi shows have been regressive in their show of the ML who is always manhandling the FL in the name of angsty love but this here takes the cake. It's horrifying that PPK is shown on tv for masses.
There would be no prob as long as both the characters were atleast above the age of consent. Then the age gap is fine.

Kudos to Karan Wahi and Kritika Kamra for saying the right thing.

6 years ago

rajeev.verma589
Who told you everyone who comments here has some "ship to worship'? Hypocrisy? You call having an opinion against that has a pedophilic relationship at its crux hypocrisy? Then let it be. Standing in today's society, when a show try to lay cool with a 9-years-old stalking a woman and normalize the act, a person with normal sense and sensibility will find it regressive. I am not even talking about the marriage that happened in the show. I am amused to see how people still can defend something that is outright filthy. Saying this, I have problem with almost all Hindi TV shows .. they would promote abusive relationship, regressive ideas, superstition, and what not. But, this?? Doesn't matter if no physical relationship is involved in this equation or not, this idea is unacceptable. Period.

6 years ago

Wow, came back after a long time to see such a furore over this show. My comments and observations are based on reading the written updates so correct me if I'm wrong. As a neutral viewer, I agree with the fact that child marriage is wrong and it should not be done for any reason. However, I don't think it's right to demand to ban the 4-5 episode serial yet. As Mansi said such child marriages had happened and continue to occur in Rajastan so it is based on regressive practices. Ultimately, it depends on the purpose of the serial. If it's romanticising the relationship between the female lead and the child, then it should be banned immediately. However, if it speaks up against child marriage, it could send a good message to society and it would be doing more good to society than the saas-bahu dramas on TV. Hopefully, it could get more people to talk openly against child marriage that's still occurring illegally in India. I think that it's still too early to judge if this serial is regressive yet. And definitely, it's unfair to pit a 4-5 day old serial with completed serials like Gulaal, BV and Phulwa as in the latter cases, we have seen the serials fully and our judgement is based on watching the entire series. I hope that the PH sends out a strong message against child marriage.
That being said, I have a few grips with the serial and the promotion of the serial. When advertising the serial, instead of the sindoor promo and all, they should have shown hints of pain at least in the female lead's expression to start pointing out the problems with child marriages; show how such marriages impact both parties negatively. I hope that the female lead's happy expressions and all in the ads were just to grab the viewer's eyes and that's not the actual content of the serial. I'm giving them the benefit of doubt as most serials start off with misleading ads. Another thing I wasn't happy about was the stalking and all. I get the part about the boy having a crush...

6 years ago

@SayaneeH.Lecter The fact and the hypocrisy is when you put your favourites under the closet and preach morality for others. Quite a few days ago, there was a scene in so called popular show where the man puts girl's saree on fire and smirks she looks better without it. My bad I happened to watch that scene and became mentally disturbed and occupied and to see viewers reaction I visited the show's forum and what I found is way too garish. Rather than condemning that seen, the so called fans of the male lead were seen condemning or rather bullying one or two people who posted against it. What would you call this, content, ship shipping or sheer stupidity. In an another show, the man in in ego ends up taking the father of girl to deathbed and asks for marriage for assistance. Few days down the line, the girl was shown head in heels with the same man and now after years, audiences or fans deems that show as path breaker. Where is the moral preaching then, where is the idea of society everybody is talking about. In comments, somebody said that all those things happen between adults. Now my fellow friend, this is hypocrisy I am talking about. Over the years, Indian TV has given us only outright regressive and objectionable content. Why doesnt this furore happen for other shows too. People say TRP aunties are the sole cause of degradation of Indian TV, If that is the case why was the shit continues Kundali Bhagya was trending on twitter the night it premiered on TV. Shows like Saathiya and Simar have always been the prime target of bullies but no one goes mad when fan favourites shows like Ishqbaaz, IPKKND serve preposterity for their fans to go gaga for. This is ship shipping I am talking about. <br/>And when I say this, dont get me wrong that I support this shows content. Out of Harassment and gender oppression, this show has gone one step ahead by presenting female subjectification in most horrifying way. It represents patriarchal rigidity and gender st...

6 years ago

In addition. just because it happened in the past does not mean it should be shown as entertainment. the Indian society is so regressived, filled with archaic and inhuman practices that subjects like this should not be glamorized or glorified. there are enough topics to make shows so why choose something so disturbing? yes it used to exist in the past, but no anymore, why? because it is wrong and therefore it has been abolished. before you foolishly defend this show just because your favourite is in it, remember that an adult got married to a minor. No is this excusable.

6 years ago

Agree with Kirtia & @pomegranate- My problem is not with the age gap per se, the hero is still a child and it's uncomfortable to watch the girl enjoying him acting all grown up.
Stop romanticising & legitimising pedophilia.If it had been a custom in the past, ther's no reason to pedal it again in beautiful packaging.

6 years ago

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