Why Did Sooraj Barjatya Echo Rupali Ganguly Call for TV Stars to Get National Awards?

In a significant nod to the unsung heroes of the small screen, renowned filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya joined hands with TV star Rupali Ganguly to advocate for National Awards to honor television actors. Ganguly, known for her powerful portrayal in Anupamaa, voiced a long-held sentiment among many actors—that half the industry sweats it out day in, day out, yet rarely gets its due share of national recognition.

TV: A Fast-Paced Bootcamp of Performance

Barjatya didn’t just offer lip service—he dug a little deeper. He emphasized that the process of directing just one episode of a TV show can take up to an entire week. Imagine the daily grind for actors who shoot those episodes, often under extreme time pressure and with little rest, while maintaining authentic performances alongside evolving scripts.

A Silent Backbone of the Industry

This plea isn’t born of momentary frustration. It’s rooted in a cycle where TV actors, often overlooked, carry high viewership and tight deadlines on their shoulders. Day in, day out, they deliver episodes that shape evening routines for millions of homes. That consistency—under constraints of time, energy, and budget—is no simple feat.

Changing Perceptions, One Award at a Time

The combined weight of a veteran filmmaker and a beloved TV face calling for recognition sends a strong signal: it’s time to rethink how the entertainment world values performance across mediums. In many homes, TV stars are just as influential—if not more so—than their big-screen counterparts. Yet awards and accolades often don’t reflect that truth.

Reflection

Barjatya’s support for Ganguly’s demand isn’t just solidarity—it’s a reckoning with industry norms. Recognizing television talent at the national level isn’t about tokenism; it’s about honoring craft, resilience, and the daily labor that keeps India’s entertainment heart beating.