Actress Tejasswi Prakash, currently appearing in the 5th season of the gaming reality show 'Playground', has lavished praise on producer Ektaa Kapoor, describing her as a sharp-minded entrepreneur who has consistently reinvented herself to stay ahead of shifting audience tastes. The remarks came during promotional activities for the show held at a five-star property in the Juhu area of Mumbai on 9 August.

Tejasswi's Take on Ektaa Kapoor

When asked whether Ektaa Kapoor's influence was fading as daily soaps lose ground to reality programming, Tejasswi was unequivocal. 'No, Ektaa Kapoor has always been the queen of television, but at the same time, she is a mastermind and an impeccable businesswoman. She knows what's in trend,' she said.

Tejasswi elaborated on why she admires Kapoor's adaptability: 'She is not someone who is so old-school that she will only walk her own path no matter if it's a hit or a flop. I have seen a lot of people who don't want to change their way of dealing with things, and because of that, they are stuck in the same way. And that's why they are not able to move forward in life. With time, I have also realised my mistakes, and have made necessary tweaks. You have to change with time, that's what she is doing, and she is doing it smartly.'

Reality Shows Reshaping the Landscape

The comments arrive at a moment when Indian television is undergoing a visible structural shift. Daily soap operas, long the backbone of primetime ratings, have ceded ground to reality formats that command both live viewership and social media engagement. Ektaa Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms moved early into this space with 'Lock Upp', a reality show that later migrated to Netflix for its second season — a platform-level leap that signals the producer's willingness to follow audiences wherever they go.

Tejasswi noted the show's cross-platform success with evident pride: 'The 2nd season of 'Lock Upp' has been so successful for a platform like Netflix or even for the makers Balaji. I'm so happy and so proud of them. I was a part of 'Lock Upp' on a smaller scale. And it was so much fun to be a part of the show.'

Tejasswi and Ektaa Kapoor's Working Relationship

The two have a professional history that predates 'Playground'. Tejasswi worked with Ektaa Kapoor on 'Naagin 6' following her 'Bigg Boss 15' victory — a collaboration that placed her at the centre of one of Balaji's flagship supernatural franchises. That association appears to have deepened Tejasswi's appreciation for Kapoor's instincts as a producer.

Beyond Television

Tejasswi also pushed back against any suggestion that Kapoor's identity is limited to the small screen. 'She's also a filmmaker. So the films are also doing well. She's never just been television. And she has something great coming up as well. So I don't think the spark is going down,' she said. Notably, Balaji Motion Pictures has produced several theatrical releases, reinforcing Kapoor's positioning as a multi-platform content creator rather than a television-only operator.

With 'Playground Season 5' now streaming and 'Lock Upp Season 2' performing strongly on Netflix, Balaji's multi-format strategy appears to be bearing fruit — and Tejasswi's endorsement adds a prominent on-screen voice to that narrative.