Pankaj Kapur: Today, people like me can't find their path in TV

Pankaj Kapur has been an integral part of the world of small screen for over 15 years in his over two-decade-long career. But the veteran actor says that despite television having been a “huge part of my life”, he would like to maintain distance from the current face of television. “What is happening right now on TV is not suitable for my talent”, the veteran actor candidly told IANS. For some, he is “Karamchand” detective, for some he is retired schoolmaster Mussaddi Lal Tripathi from “Office Office” and for some he is still the Hindi teacher Mohan Bharti of “Zabaan Sambhalke”. But the actor feels that with "the face of television completely changed", he has his doubts whether “people like me” can find their path in the world of television now.   When asked if he is planning to make content for television, Pankaj told IANS over phone from Mumbai: “Not right now. With the face of television today and because of the way TV is happening today I don't think people like me will find their path.” Pankaj made his directorial debut with a TV show “Mohandas B.A.,L.L.B.” in 2001, and even directed a Bollywood film “Mausam” in 2011. The actor went on to say that he will be willing to make content for television if he is given “independent hand in creativity”. He said: “But if there is some change or some channel, which would ask us to have an independent hand in creativity and in terms of the content, if they agree to it, then we can make content. But if they want to treat us like managers and themselves as creative people, then I am better off not doing that and better off surviving with whatever I am doing in films and on stage”. Pankaj, who also appeared in show “Neem Ka Ped” that highlighted the suffering of a bonded labourer in a village, noted that “television has been a powerful medium and it has been a huge part of my life... at least 15 years”. “I have worked in television and I am very proud of that work. But the fact of the matter is that the face of television has completely changed today,” he said. Asked what are the changes he is talking about, the voluble actor clammed up: “I don't want to comment on that... All I am saying is that what is happening right now is not suitable for my talent.” Pankaj shared his views with IANS after an event organised by detergent Ariel India on the topic 'Why is laundry only a mother's job?' in Mumbai.   IANS

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