Sameer Nair is to Indian television what Rupert Murdoch is to the home medium worldwide. In the year 2000, when satellite broadcast on India was struggling for an identity, Sameer Nair joined Star Plus as Head Of Programming and turned the tides of television viewing by spearheading the ultimate game-show Kaun Banega Crorepati and the Mataji of all soaps Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
You are the guy who brought us KBC and Kyunki… Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi…
I’ve known Ekta for many many years. We are very comfortable with one another. She still possesses the same zest and energy that she did when she did Kyunki and Kasauti Zindagi Ki on Star. Not too many people remember that Kyunki Saas… and KBC began telecast on the same day. Both Balaji and I started in July 1994. Ekta Kapoor is an incredibly competent storyteller. Because she is so successful at fiction, audiences are not exposed to her insight into other genres. Before the year 2000, Star Plus had an elitist image. After we did a hi-tech game show called KBC, the home-viewing medium was turned upside down.
As the CEO of Applause Entertainment you have built the company from scratch to its current position of a leading content provider. What is your secret formula?
The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you what or how to think and feel, but to give you something to think and feel about. This is what we strive to do. Building a scalable creative business requires art, science and magic blended with considerable fiscal discipline. It has been a dramatic yet rewarding ride and the love has been definitely worth all the risk. Heading into the future, we are excited to continue telling stories that are intensely local, but also aspire to resonate with diverse audiences across the globe.
How would you describe the journey from being ‘Applause Entertainment’ to becoming the ‘House of Applause’?
It has been a dramatic yet rewarding ride and the love has been definitely worth all the risk. Heading into the future, we are excited to continue telling stories that are intensely local, but also aspire to resonate with diverse audiences across the globe.
