In 2004, when Sarabhai vs Sarabhai launched, little did anyone know that it will emerge as a cult hit. Starring Satish Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Sumeet Raghavan, Rupali Ganguly, and Rajesh Kumar, the show wrapped up much to the dismay of its fan in April 2006. Amid requests, demands and even threats, the makers decided to bring the show back, as a digital property in 2017. However, the season failed to recreate the magic of original. But that hasn’t deterred ardent fans from messaging creators JD Majethia and Aatish Kapadia for another season.
Indianexpress.com recently Rajesh Kumar as he was busy promoting his show Yeh Meri Family. The actor played the much-loved Rosesh in the show, who stood out for his peculiar way of talking and bad poetry. When we asked the actor if the team has been discussing Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, he replied, “Uss baare mein baat nahi horahi hai (We aren’t talking about it yet). Let’s wait, jab hoga tab hoga (when it has to happen, it will).”
Reflecting on what could have gone wrong for the second season that it did not yield a better response, Rajesh said, “(The craze for) OTT was not as much as it is today. Sarabhai was anyway ahead of its time. It’s been 20 years and we are still talking about it. But when it came to OTT, that wasn’t the right time for web shows. But I do believe, if the content is good, it does manage to get an audience. Honestly, we were all waiting for something like this (Yeh Meri Family). Something that is original, refreshing, and not a cut, copy and paste of another show.”
He added that amid the over-the-top drama and thrillers, a simple project like Yeh Meri Family would stand out for audiences to cherish. Talking about his latest project, the actor further shared, “The positioning of the show may seem different because it’s away from mainstream content. But these are the kind of projects that promote families to come and enjoy watching something together. Otherwise, everything else is about creating differences.”
Given he plays a father in the show based in the 90s, we asked him to point out the difference in parenting, then and now. “Today, it’s all about how you perceive your child, and look at them as individuals. I have two boys and thus I feel more responsible for creating humans for the next generation, who are not fear to society. I want to inculcate the right values in them, help them become better as people. I know they will be secure financially but how are they as members of society, is what matters. I remember reading a line in the Bhagwad Geeta that the future of kids is already decided, what we need to work towards is helping them evolve. This is why, parenting for me is enjoyable and not a pressure. I am never bothered about how much they score, even if they don’t score. I want them to know they have us, their families, and a safe place they can call home,” Rajesh Kumar added.
Also starring Juhi Parmar and Hetal Gada, Yeh Meri Family is streaming on Amazon MiniTV.
