Chetan Hansraj fires back at Rohit Roy: 'TV actors far superior, I've carried myself with grace'
Synopsis
Chetan Hansraj, who has spanned both television and Bollywood, didn't mince words after friend Rohit Roy called TV a 'dustbin medium' — countering that TV actors are 'far superior' performers and that movie-star visibility is largely a PR budget, not a talent gap. The spat spotlights a long-simmering hierarchy debate in Indian entertainment.
Key Takeaways
Rohit Roy recently described television as a 'dustbin medium' and claimed TV actors lack class compared to film stars.
Chetan Hansraj publicly disagreed, saying he has 'carried himself with grace' throughout his TV career.
Hansraj blamed producers and channels — not the medium itself — for television's creative decline.
He asserted that TV actors are far superior performers to film actors when given the same material.
Hansraj argued that movie-star visibility is driven by PR budgets , not inherent talent advantage.
Hansraj is currently set to appear in director Nitesh Tiwari 's Ramayana , starring Ranbir Kapoor , Yash , and Sai Pallavi .
Veteran television actor Chetan Hansraj has pushed back against remarks made by his friend and fellow actor Rohit Roy, who recently described television as a 'dustbin medium' and claimed that small-screen performers lack class compared to their Bollywood counterparts. Hansraj, speaking to reporters on 14 September 2026 in Mumbai, defended the medium and its artists while acknowledging creative stagnation in the industry.
Chetan Hansraj's Defence of Television
Hansraj, who made his television debut as the young Balram in B.R. Chopra's iconic Mahabharat, was direct in his disagreement. Rohit is a good friend of mine, but honestly, I don't know where this is coming from, he said. TV is not a dustbin medium. Yes, it has stalled in terms of creativity and progress, the stories are the same and not moving forward, and that is why it is declining.
He placed the responsibility squarely on producers and broadcasters. Producers and TV channels are to be blamed because they are not experimenting with new content and the market is ready for it. So it is definitely not a dustbin medium, because millions of people are still watching it, he added.
On the 'Lack of Class' Charge
Addressing Roy's claim that TV actors lack class, Hansraj acknowledged that every profession has outliers but firmly rejected the generalisation. There are odd ones out in every profession. There are some actors who will behave weirdly and try anything to become popular, he said.
Hansraj drew on his own career as evidence. I don't think I have experienced anything like that regularly. I think there are a lot of TV actors who handle themselves with grace. I am a TV actor and I have carried myself with grace all my life, he stated. He also noted that the film industry is hardly free of problematic behaviour: It's not like the movie industry is filled with only decent people, far from it.
TV Actors vs Film Actors: Hansraj's Verdict
Going further, Hansraj made a pointed claim about the relative craft of performers across mediums. TV actors are far superior to actors who work in films and other mediums, because if you give a TV actor and a movie actor the same lines, the TV actor will nail it, he said emphatically.
He also contextualised the visibility gap between the two industries. Movies have big budgets for PR, so a movie actor is getting that PR. It's not like he is getting it on his own — that is what people need to understand, Hansraj explained. He stopped short of dismissing Roy personally, concluding: He has been a very good friend of mine over the years.
Hansraj's Journey and What Comes Next
Hansraj built his small-screen career across popular shows including Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kkusum, Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, and Jodha Akbar before transitioning to Bollywood with films such as Bodyguard and Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara. He is currently gearing up for director Nitesh Tiwari's high-profile mythological epic Ramayana, which stars Yash, Ranbir Kapoor, and Sai Pallavi. The film is among the most anticipated Indian productions in recent memory, lending additional weight to Hansraj's voice in this debate.
Point of View
The old film-versus-TV hierarchy became harder to justify yet more loudly asserted. Hansraj's point about PR budgets is the most underreported angle — the visibility gap between a Bollywood lead and a soap star is largely manufactured, not earned. What the debate also quietly reveals is that even a veteran who straddles both worlds feels the need to defend his primary medium, which tells you something about how entrenched the bias remains.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rohit Roy say about television that sparked the controversy?
Rohit Roy reportedly called television a 'dustbin medium' and claimed that small-screen actors lack class compared to film stars. The remarks drew public pushback from his friend and fellow actor Chetan Hansraj.
How did Chetan Hansraj respond to Rohit Roy's comments?
Hansraj disagreed with Roy's characterisation, saying TV is not a dustbin medium and that he has personally 'carried himself with grace' throughout his career. He also argued that TV actors are 'far superior' performers when given the same material as film actors.
Who does Chetan Hansraj blame for television's decline?
Hansraj placed responsibility on producers and TV channels, arguing they are not experimenting with new content despite market readiness. He distinguished between the medium itself — which he defended — and the industry's lack of creative ambition.
What is Chetan Hansraj's career background?
Hansraj made his TV debut as the young Balram in B.R. Chopra's Mahabharat and went on to star in shows like Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kkusum, Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, and Jodha Akbar. He has also appeared in Bollywood films including Bodyguard and Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara.
What upcoming project is Chetan Hansraj part of?
Hansraj is set to feature in director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, one of the most anticipated Indian films in recent years, which stars Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi.
