Meet the parents

What are the major issues that you intend to highlight and explore in this show?
Parenting is a very complex role.. and one that all of us have to play at some point in our lives. Yet no TV show has really explored its boundaries or worked as a guide for people who want to nurture this role. This show is not about diseases and their cures but about wellbeing from birth to teenage years. We have adopted a holistic approach and attempted to highlight the challenges a parent may face at different stages.

What’s the format of the show?
It’s a simple chat-show wherein each week I explore a new topic related to parenting. Every episode has two top paediatricians from our country,an experienced,interesting parent and a celebrity parent with whom the viewers can relate. It’s a light and easygoing banter supported by the best doctors in the business,so that the viewers can get a balanced opinion. It’s fun and friendly.

Will we see you in a different avatar as a host in this show,something that we have never seen you before?
I have always loved hosting shows of different genres because I get to learn from my work too. I get excited when I have newer challenges and new content to master. I think I am particularly good at spontaneous interactions with people,so a chat-show is something I have always wanted to do… The fact that it’s on parenting is great because I can rely on my experienceS and make it personal.

You have hosted Indian Idol and other reality shows. How different is it hosting this show?
I have been inundated and overwhelmed by viewers asking me why I am not hosting Indian Idol and where they will see me next. I’m glad I won’t be disappointing them with this show though it’s not the usual song and dance/ reality genre. According to me,a good anchor should be able to tackle a show on any subject and make it come alive with their craft. Parvarish may be low on entertainment as compared to the other big-ticket shows I have done but I get to address and reach out to a different set of people this time. Lucky me!

You were apparently in talks with Maria Goretti,Suzanne Roshan,Sonali Bendre Behl and Cyrus Broacha to appear in this show. Have they agreed? And apart from them,who will be the other celebs who will feature in this show?
I have been lucky to be able to pull in a lot of my friends for Parvarish- Maria Goretti,Farah Khan,Cyrus Broacha,Parmeet Sethi,Parizaad Kolah,Suchitra Pillai,Suchitra Krishnamurty,Roshan Abbas and Vijay Krishna Acharya. Everybody was more than wiling to come and discuss their lives as parents. It lent a warmth to the show.

Has it been inspired by any international show or is it completely original?
It’s 100 per cent original and homegrown. Parenting is not rocket science and neither is a chat-show. What makes all the difference are the guests,the content and the host.

How was the whole experience of producing this show? Were there any stumbling-blocks? Is this your first show as a producer?
My production company Camera Art has been producing classy programming for many years like Lift Kara De for Yash Raj TV on Sony,Heavy Petting on NDTV Goodtimes and many documentaries. We also produced my husband’s first film Kabul Express for YRF. But as I have been busy as a host,I have never been a hands-on producer. Parvarish is the first show I have handled from the beginning. From a germ of an idea to being on-air,I loved the experience. Rajan Kapoor and I put it together and it was rather magical.

You have been associated with television for a really long time. When you look back,how do you think television has changed?
I have come a long way from my first TV show-Tol Mol Ke Bol to Indian Idol and Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao from the jungles of Malaysia. I think technically we have jumped by miles but conceptually we tend to take a backseat. Every channel wants to replicate what works on the other channel and nobody gives new shows a chance to sink in with the viewers. If it doesn’t become a runaway hit in the first five episodes,it supposedly ‘doesnt work’. Who is to decide what works? I think the Indian audience is willing to see different content. My only grouse is… all shows look like clones because we have set ideas on what the audience will like. We should take bigger risks but present competent work.

As someone who has been in the industry for such a long time,what are the new genres and shows that you would like to explore on television?
I am game for everything that is intelligent and where I can make a qualitative difference. If the same show can be hosted by a newbie without experience,I’m not interested. I have spent many years polishing my skills as a host without being distracted by soaps and films and I want full credit for my work now. Hosting is a highly underrated skill. Not everybody can do it well.. you need to be honest and genuinely warm and articulate. Not merely popular.

As a viewer,are you happy with the current television scenario?
I’m waiting for filmstars to get bored of hosting TV shows so a few of us can have the good stuff back,ha ha ha.

What are your future projects?
My show Sports Ka Superstar is running on DD National. It’s a pure sports quiz produced by Siddharth Basu and I’m very proud of it.