For the television industry, Thursdays are like judgment day. It’s the day TRPs are released, determining the success or fate of a show. Little did Naman Shaw know that when he arrived on set, he’d end up happily losing a bet over the ratings of his show Mangal Lakshmi.
Naman shares, “Ten minutes before the TRPs were announced, one of my directors predicted we’d climb the ratings chart and hit 1.7.Without expecting much, I promised that if we hit 1.7, I’d treat the entire unit. A few minutes later, the director excitedly announced that we had hit 1.7! I am over the moon and now treating the whole crew — all 90 of them!”
He admits that the pressure around TRPs has become more intense these days. Naman says, “As an actor, TRPs aren’t in our control, but after 20 years in the industry, I’ve noticed how much more they matter now. Earlier, TRPs didn’t affect things as much, but today, they determine the survival of a show. Shows get pulled off air within two months if the numbers don’t come through, so the stakes are much higher now.”
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He adds, “Every Thursday morning, I’m filled with nervous excitement, waiting to see the ratings. We’ve been incredibly fortunate with Mangal Lakshmi — the show has sustained its strong start, and now we’ve reached a new milestone by becoming the number one show on the channel. Positive ratings lift everyone’s spirits, from the actors to the writers. But when they dip, it creates panic affecting everything, including performances and scripts. Unlike before, when shows were given six months to find their footing, now they get just two months, and replacements are already lined up.”