How Much of the Reality Show is Scripted?
Fiction is so last century. Reality TV now takes centre-stage on our TV screens. Varun Duggirala, who produced Get Gorgeous 5, Launchpad 3 and Kidnap, tells us what really goes on behind the ‘reality’
Illustration: Vidyanand Kamat
Do people in the show and on the set actually enjoy the bitchiness found in reality television?
Most people do. All people working on reality TV have a sadistic side to them. If we didn’t enjoy it, we’d either quit or be miserable. With time, though, you do feel odd about the fact that people crying tends to give you a sense of satisfaction.
How much of it is scripted and who does the scripting?
In most cases, things aren’t scripted. While situations may be planned, contestants’ reactions are not. The same can’t be said for some shows which have so-called celebrities as contestants. They tend to fake it to get more footage.
To what extent do you need to self-censor?
A lot. Government norms prevent us from showing anything which might “scandalise” people too much. It tends to be our inside joke that if we could show all the things that happen, our ratings would hit the roof, but we’d get arrested.
Could you give an example of a few things that you have censored?
From people getting a little too cosy, to scenarios where too much is exposed, to fights which went too far… if I told you more I’d have to kill you.
(This story appears in the 30 July, 2010 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
