Sandeep Siickand: Hindi TV not making enough original shows
Synopsis
Actor-producer Sandeep Siickand has delivered a pointed critique of Hindi television, saying it has stopped making original shows and is leaning on Western imports and regional remakes. His remarks expose a gatekeeping culture in TV approvals that, he argues, is choking creativity in a medium that still reaches hundreds of millions of viewers.
Key Takeaways
Sandeep Siickand said Hindi television is no longer producing enough original shows, relying instead on Western and regional adaptations.
He criticised gatekeepers within TV networks for being 'stuck in a particular mindset' and discouraging creative risk-taking.
Siickand argued that Hindi TV storytelling is still rooted in 'earlier decades' and fails to reflect contemporary realities, especially for today's women .
He acknowledged the medium's enormous reach, noting it has built careers — including his own — making its creative decline more consequential.
Despite his criticism, Siickand expressed hope that the medium can revive, calling for shows that make audiences say 'Wow.'
Actor and producer Sandeep Siickand has called out a deepening creative crisis in Hindi television, arguing that the medium has stopped telling original stories and is increasingly reliant on Western adaptations and regional drama remakes. Speaking in an exclusive interview, Siickand said the situation was 'extremely disheartening' for a medium that once commanded mass cultural authority.
The Originality Problem
Siickand was candid about the state of Hindi TV's content pipeline. 'Hindi television, which is supposedly one of the biggest storytelling mediums, is now seeing shows and stories that are either inspired by the West or adapted from regional productions,' he said. 'We are not making enough original shows, which I find extremely disheartening.'
He stopped short of offering a single explanation, admitting openly: 'Even I don't know the answer to that.' The admission is notable coming from someone who has worked both in front of and behind the camera in the industry.
A Gatekeeping Problem at the Top
Beyond the content itself, Siickand pointed to a structural issue within the approval process. He argued that a system has been created where those greenlighting shows are 'either stuck in a particular mindset or are not willing to encourage creativity.' This, he suggested, creates a feedback loop that consistently filters out bold or unconventional ideas before they reach production.
Television's Reach Makes the Failure Bigger
Siickand was at pains to stress that the stakes of this creative stagnation are higher for TV than for any other medium. 'Television is a far-reaching medium, and countless people watch it. It has also given careers to so many people. I am one of them,' he said. 'I feel really bad that the television we once had is not there anymore.'
His concern is not merely aesthetic — it is about relevance. He argued that Hindi television continues to tell 'stories that belong to earlier decades,' bypassing the realities of contemporary Indian life. 'We are not sufficiently exploring the stories of today's people, today's women, today's circumstances and today's realities. I feel that is one of the biggest challenges facing television today,' he said.
A Hopeful but Conditional Outlook
Despite his sharp criticism, Siickand expressed genuine optimism about the medium's potential for course correction. 'I am hoping and praying that this changes. I genuinely want this change to happen so that people can once again look at Hindi television and say, "Wow, this is such a good show,"' he said. His remarks land at a moment when OTT platforms have pulled significant urban viewership away from linear television, intensifying pressure on Hindi channels to differentiate through storytelling quality rather than volume.
Point of View
Not the writers' room, as the primary blockage. That points to a structural problem no amount of creative talent can overcome on its own. Unless channels restructure how shows are greenlit — and who gets to decide — originality will remain an aspiration rather than a broadcast schedule.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sandeep Siickand say about Hindi television?
Sandeep Siickand said Hindi television is not making enough original shows and is too dependent on content adapted from Western productions or regional drama. He called the situation 'extremely disheartening' for a medium with such a vast audience.
Why does Siickand think Hindi TV is creatively stagnant?
He attributed the problem to a gatekeeping culture within TV networks, where those approving shows are either locked into a fixed mindset or unwilling to encourage creative experimentation. This, he said, systematically filters out bold or original ideas.
What storytelling gap does Siickand identify in Hindi TV?
Siickand argued that Hindi television continues to tell stories rooted in earlier decades rather than reflecting the realities of contemporary Indian life — including the experiences of today's women and today's social circumstances.
Is Sandeep Siickand optimistic about Hindi TV's future?
Yes, conditionally. He said he is 'hoping and praying' for change and genuinely wants Hindi television to produce shows that once again excite audiences. However, he stopped short of outlining specific solutions.
Who is Sandeep Siickand?
Sandeep Siickand is an Indian actor and producer who has worked extensively in the Hindi television industry. He has credited the medium with building his own career, which makes his critique of its current creative direction particularly pointed.
