Kapil Nirmal opens up about how television’s unmatched reach, cultural influence, and emotional connection continue to keep it ahead of OTT in many Indian households.
His reflections highlight why TV remains a powerful storytelling medium that refuses to fade with time.
On World Television Day today, actor Kapil Nirmal looks back at his earliest TV memories, the evolution of the medium, and why he believes television continues to thrive even in the age of OTT.
Kapil fondly recalls a time when television was not just a device but a shared event. He shares, “I still remember watching television with people from our colony… our neighbours used to come to our place to watch programmes on Doordarshan. Shows like Chitrahaar, weekend movies, it was a ritual,” he shares. For him, the nostalgia of gathering around a single screen remains unmatched.
Over the years, television has undergone massive transformation, from content and production style to the pace at which stories unfold. “With time things change, and so does television. Cameras, shooting styles, locations, programming… everything has changed. The arrival of daily soaps made a huge impact. Now shoots mostly take place around the set instead of real locations,” Kapil explains.
Despite OTT platforms redefining entertainment consumption, he firmly believes that television is far from losing its relevance. “TV will remain special because there is still a massive audience for daily soaps. I guess they will survive apps and OTT onslaught for at least a decade and a half,” he says with confidence.
For Kapil, the true strength of television lies in its reach. “The TV audience is still in great numbers, and in this business, numbers matter,” he adds. Daily soaps and reality shows, he believes, continue to retain a deep emotional connection with viewers thanks to their consistency, familiarity, and cultural presence.
When asked about bringing back iconic shows or eras, Kapil offers a grounded perspective. He says, “Hypothetical questions deserve hypothetical answers… what is gone will never come back, especially in television. Shows like Malgudi Days, Mahabharat, Buniyaad, Fauji were not daily soaps. Today, weekend fictional programming is not successful at all. Also, you don’t have that kind of time. The progression of shows depends entirely on TRPs. There’s a reason why the term ‘golden era’ exists.”
As the world celebrates the power of TV today, Kapil Nirmal’s reflections remind us why the medium continues to resonate across generations, constantly evolving yet remaining an irreplaceable part of Indian households.
