How Much of the Reality Show is Scripted?

Fiction is so last century. Reality TV now takes centre-stage on our TV screens. Varun Duggirala, who produced Get Gorgeous 5, Launchpad 3 and Kidnap, tells us what really goes on behind the �reality�

By Forbes India

Published: Jul 16, 2010 12:15:55 AM IST

Updated: Jul 16, 2010 07:29:00 AM IST

Illustration: Vidyanand Kamat

Do people in the show and on the set actually enjoy the bitchiness found in reality television?
Most people do. All people working on reality TV have a sadistic side to them. If we didn’t enjoy it, we’d either quit or be miserable. With time, though, you do feel odd about the fact that people crying tends to give you a sense of satisfaction.

How much of it is scripted and who does the scripting?
In most cases, things aren’t scripted. While situations may be planned, contestants’ reactions are not. The same can’t be said for some shows which have so-called celebrities as contestants. They tend to fake it to get more footage.

To what extent do you need to self-censor?
A lot. Government norms prevent us from showing anything which might “scandalise” people too much. It tends to be our inside joke that if we could show all the things that happen, our ratings would hit the roof, but we’d get arrested.

Could you give an example of a few things that you have censored?
From people getting a little too cosy, to scenarios where too much is exposed, to fights which went too far… if I told you more I’d have to kill you.

What kinds of people typically want to participate in your show?
It’s mostly the wannabes who feel the need to be on reality shows. The problem is that they come with preconceived notions of what they have to do, so they tend to seem fake and scripted. The trick is to tap fresh people who have no agenda for footage but are in it for the experience.

Do you push participants to the edge?
Yes we do. We play with their minds to an extent. But there are lines that we tend not to cross. Although, what might be ‘over the line’ for me might be okay for someone else; it’s about how far our conscience will allow us.

How does the crew handle participants who get out of control?
We try our best to calm things down. Further agitation will only result in things getting more out of control. That’s why a true reality crew member will have a very high threshold of withstanding all kinds of madness.

Do crew members and participants remain in touch once the show is done?
Sometimes. It’s not a good thing for crew members to be friends with contestants during the making of shows as it tends to influence their minds. But sometimes after shows we tend to be friends. It’s very subjective as we might even be enemies.

(Compiled by Abhishek Raghunath)

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(This story appears in the 30 July, 2010 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)