Actor Vijayendra Kumeria, who has spent 15 years in Indian television, is speaking out against the small screen's most enduring storytelling habits — from sudden wedding twists to the infamous circular trolley camera shots that became shorthand for melodrama across a generation of Hindi serials.

The Clichés He Wants Left Behind

Kumeria, who made his television debut in 2011 with Chotti Bahu 2 - Sawar Ke Rang Rachi, named the tropes most viewers will instantly recognise. 'Clichés? There are so many. Wahi shadi ho gayi achanak se... Namak, kisne namak daal diya, kisne chana zyada upaal diya. All these things, you know. Those have already stopped, I guess,' he said.

The 39-year-old actor was referring to the once-ubiquitous 'sudden marriage' plot device and domestic drama built around kitchen mishaps — storylines that dominated prime-time Hindi television through much of the 2000s and early 2010s.

The 'Zoom-Zoom' Camera Problem

Beyond plot devices, Kumeria also took aim at a specific visual grammar that defined the era. 'Those over-the-top dramatic scenes where everyone is shouting, the camera keeps circling on a trolley with endless zoom-ins — that style may still exist in some places, but things have changed a lot. I hope those clichés never make a comeback,' he said.

The repeated zoom-in shot — typically used to punctuate a revelation or confrontation — became so associated with Hindi soap operas that it entered mainstream pop culture as a reference point for exaggerated drama. Kumeria's comments reflect a growing sentiment among television actors who have watched the medium evolve, particularly as OTT competition has pushed producers toward more restrained storytelling.

His Current Project: Juhi Mui

Kumeria is currently seen alongside actress Eisha Singh in Juhi Mui, airing on Colors. The show centres on Juhi Suri, a young autistic woman whose cognitive strengths set her apart in a world that frequently misunderstands her. In the current track, Juhi is navigating grief after the death of her father — the figure who had shielded her from society's harsher judgements.

The show's subject matter marks a departure from the family drama format Kumeria is critiquing, positioning itself around a protagonist whose neurodivergence is framed as a strength rather than a narrative obstacle.

Television's Changing Landscape

Kumeria's remarks come at a moment when Hindi general entertainment channels are under sustained pressure from streaming platforms, which have drawn younger audiences away from linear TV. Several long-running daily soaps have wound down in recent years, and producers have experimented with shorter episode runs and more contemporary storylines.

Whether the medium has decisively moved past its cliché era remains debated — but voices like Kumeria's, from within the industry, add weight to the argument that audiences and creators alike are ready for a different kind of television.