The boom in digital streaming has given a platform to original well-created content, actors, be it debutants or prominent ones, to showcase their talent in a different light and concepts ranging from every genre. The OTT platforms have not only hooked every millennial but have caused a tremendous shift in the audience of cinema and TV lovers’ viewing habits. While the A-listers including Saif Ali Khan, Emraan Hashmi, Angad Bedi, Vivek Oberoi, Richa Chadha, Manoj Bajpayee, Tusshar Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Radhika Apte amongst others have already made their way to the digital space, some more prominent faces are on-their-way to shine on the OTT platforms. Veteran actor, Jeetendra is making his digital debut on his daughter, Ekta Kapoor’s show, Baarish, which is to be streamed on her digital platform, ALTBalaji. (Also Read: 'Samdhan' Sharmila Tagore Writes About 'Samdhi' Rishi Kapoor's Death, Says, Could Not Say Goodbye)
The ‘Queen of Soap’, Ekta Kapoor had ventured into digital space with ALTBalaji and after making an exemplary change in the face of Indian television, Ekta made her mark in the OTT world too. In 2019, Ekta Kapoor had released a Hindi web series, Baarish - When you are in mood for romance, and we had fallen for the endearing love story of Anuj and Gauravi. Baarish holds a special significance in Ekta’s life as this marks to be her father, Jeetendra’s digital debut show.
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After more than a decade, Jeetendra is all set to make a comeback and the season 2 of Baarish, marks to be his debut also. In an interview with IBTimes, when Jeetendra was asked about his cameo in Baarish season 2, he has retorted, “It's great to be back on screen and making my digital debut with ALTBalaji feels like I'm home. The cast and crew have been extremely warm on set and it's lovely to see their affection towards me. I am delighted to be playing the role of Jeetuji Gandhi as he is someone who I can relate to. My fans and viewers will see the various shades of my character. I also play cupid between the protagonists who try to reunite Anuj and Gauravi. I have a small stint in the show but I'm sure my fans will like it. I've been an avid fan of the show since its first season and I hope that Baarish Season 2 goes on to become a huge success.”
In an interview with The Indian Express, the protagonist of the show, Baarish, Sharman Joshi had shared his experience of working with the veteran actor, Jeetendra. Sharman had remarked, “We were all super excited when we got to know about it. And when he came on sets, it was a different experience altogether. He shared so many personal and professional stories. He was with us constantly, and it just made shooting so much happier. Even when he had no scenes, he would still hang around with us. He was happy to be on sets. And his high spirit was contagious as we all were always excited around him.” (Also Read: Riddhima Kapoor Sahni Shares Rishi Kapoor's Unseen Picture With His Mother, Krishna Raj Kapoor)
In April 2020, Ekta Kapoor’s OTT venture, ALTBalaji had turned 3 and her brother, Tusshar Kapoor had given a sweet twist to their father, Jeetendra’s song, Dhal Gaya Din, to mark the special day. Sharing the video, Tusshar had written, “Congrats @ALTBalaji for 3 years... many many more to come! Thank you @farhadsamji @ektarkapoor @paritosh.painter and team #boosabkiphategi.” Reposting her brother, Tusshar’s post, Ekta had captioned it, “Waaaaah thankuuuu @farhadsamji! credit: @tusshark89...”
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Behind Ekta Kapoor’s success, it is her parents, Jeetendra and Shobha Kapoor, who had given their daughter the wings to fly. On TED Talks India Nayi Soch, Ekta had revealed how her father, Jeetendra had reacted when he was asked to buy gold for his daughter instead of investing in her career. Revealing what Jeetendra had said, Ekta had recalled, “The gold should be within her. What will she do with tangible gold?” Speaking on women empowerment, Ekta had continued, “I want every girl to find the gold within her. And that gold should shine on the entire world.”
In an interview with Pinkvilla on completion of 3 years of ALTBalaji, Ekta Kapoor had poured her heart out on how she had felt like a newcomer when had started her digital platform and the criticism she had received. Ekta had said, "I was so scared because everyone told me you don't have catch-up content queen, koi Indian TV shows nahi hai, you don't have any international content, you don't have a brand name like Netflix or Amazon. You are an Indian app and anyway, people will think you will make saas-bahu shows. I made Gandi Baat and someone told me it is such a progressive show. I was trying to do just that... I was trying to get stories that were slightly edgy in small-town India. Of course, it was sexual, I had no problem with that but it was far more progressive than anything else I had done. There were stories about women who had discovered their sexuality." (Also Read: Dulquer Salmaan Pens A Poem For Daughter, Maryam On Third Birthday Wondering Why She Grew Up So Fast)
Can’t wait to see the veteran actor in his digital debut show, Baarish!
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