Actress Chahatt Khanna, best known for her role in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, has backed actor Rohit Roy's controversial remarks about the state of Indian television, saying she broadly agrees with his assessment on the quality, concepts and creativity currently on offer on the medium. Her comments add fresh fuel to an ongoing debate about where Indian TV stands against films and OTT platforms.

What Chahatt Khanna Said

Speaking on the matter, Khanna was careful to note that she had not watched Roy's full interview before weighing in. 'I don't know about that statement because I haven't seen the entire interview. But, yes, the quality of work. See, I am from TV and I respect TV medium the most. Because TV makes us actors very strong,' she said.

She acknowledged the punishing pace of television production, pointing out that shoots run for 12 to 15 hours daily — a grind rarely seen in films or OTT productions. However, she argued that the creative latitude afforded by those formats is qualitatively different. 'In OTT, creativity and detailing is of a different type,' she added.

When pressed specifically on concepts and storytelling, Khanna did not hold back. 'But when you talk about concept and when you talk about creativity, I think it has been said from that aspect. So, definitely, if you look at the story and creativity, TV is standing nowhere, right?' she said.

The Mass Audience Factor

Khanna was also candid about the commercial logic driving television content, acknowledging that the medium largely serves what its vast mass audience demands. 'But definitely, it targets the masses. So, the audience wants what the TV is targeting. And that's why they are showing that. It's absolutely business, I believe,' she said.

This distinction — creativity versus commercial reach — sits at the heart of the current industry conversation. Television in India commands an audience of hundreds of millions, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas, giving it unmatched penetration even as its creative reputation comes under scrutiny.

A Creative Actor's Dilemma

Reflecting on her own experience, Khanna said that actors who prioritise creative satisfaction often find it hard to connect with mainstream television offerings. 'Yes, if you are a creative actor, then definitely you won't be able to relate to TV, which even I don't do. Like, I can't relate to TV shows, the offers I get like Naagin etc, I can't relate to them,' she said.

She did, however, acknowledge the professional trade-off this entails. 'But I think if I could relate to them, then it would have been a better opportunity for me. But what I can relate to, I can relate to. So, I think it's each to its own,' Khanna added.

What Rohit Roy Originally Said

The remarks that sparked this conversation came from actor Rohit Roy, who himself rose to fame through television with shows such as Swabhimaan and Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand. In a recent interview, Roy described television as a 'dustbin medium', arguing that much of its content is quickly forgotten and that the industry produces repetitive material with limited creative ambition.

Roy also drew a contrast between how television and film actors present themselves publicly, suggesting that film stars tend to carry themselves with greater 'style, class, grace and dignity' — remarks that have drawn both criticism and support from across the industry.

This is not the first time the television-versus-OTT debate has surfaced publicly; industry voices have periodically flagged the creative gap, but blunt assessments from well-known TV alumni such as Roy — and now Khanna's partial endorsement — give the conversation renewed urgency. How Indian broadcasters respond to this creative critique, at a time when OTT platforms are aggressively expanding original content, will shape the medium's next chapter.