Iqbal Khan: We need to put less maths in making a TV show for it to work

In Lucknow recently as a chief guest and mentor at a creative session in an all-girls school, actor Iqbal Khan shared that the city has held a special place in his heart for reasons more than one. In an exclusive chat with us, the Na Umra Ki Seema Ho actor shared about what all he did in Lucknow and how being a part of the television industry for more than two decades feels like. Excerpts...
‘Lucknow is a beautiful place to be in’
I first visited Lucknow to promote my show Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai in 2005. But I hadn’t had the chance to go out and promote it as I was shooting continuously. So, we went to a mall in Gomti Nagar, where a stage was set for the actors of the show. So, when I climbed the stage I saw hundreds of youngsters surrounding the stage and cheering for me and going crazy for me. That’s when I realized that a lot had changed for me professionally as far as stardom was concerned. This realization hit me when I was in Lucknow so definitely this place holds a special place in my heart. Lucknow is a beautiful place to be in. This time since I had some time at hand so I went to Deva Sharif Dargah early in the cold morning and the trip was amazing.
Also, at the school I visited, I was blown away by the sheer talent in the city. The students painted amazing artworks. They were such confident girls, and it was good to interact with them and share my experience with them too. I considered myself lucky that I was invited to interact with the girls, as I myself am a father to two beautiful daughters.
‘So much research and surveys in what will work is harming TV shows’
Everybody has their own way of doing things and their own maths and science, but I believe so many shows are going off-air because nobody is really understanding that we have to make shows with emotions. We need to put less of maths in making a television show for it to work. Now there is so much of research on the taste of television audiences, as in what is working and what’s not, whereas there was a time when there was no research and shows were made from the heart and they worked so well. Strangely, because of these researches and surveys, these shows are not able to work and are going off air so soon. This analysis is harming TV shows rather than working for them.
As far as the content is concerned, we do have one or two shows which are nice and change the pattern that people are used to watching. When I had started working on television, the content was really cool. The research done now on the viewing says that the TV audience wants the present content, but I wonder why are the shows not working then.
Working in the TV industry has become more streamlined
Working for the TV industry has definitely changed a lot in the decade since I began working. It used to be crazy hours working on TV when I had started working on the medium. Nobody used to go home then which included not only the actors but the whole cast and crew and the producers too. At that time, I used to go home just to take a shower and then come back on set. Now things are much better and streamlined. In fact I haven’t shot for more than 10-12 hours a day for my last few shows and I have also seen the unit packing up at the same time. It has become more disciplined and regularized.