Right from the unconventional title, to the sets and the make-up or the lack of it, you might need re-assurances to be convinced that it’s from Ekta Kapoor’s turf. Burying many of her trump cards, including the K-factor, her latest venture seems to be a new gamble altogether. As Balaji Telefilms’ newest experiment Pavitra Rishta goes on air, Kapoor explains the switch and its implications.

A regular visitor to the city, Kapoor was here along with Ajay Bhalwankar, senior vice-president, programming, Zee TV to seek blessings of the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati and also spoke about the soap opera that is presently being aired on Zee TV. “Pavitra Rishta deals with minor issues, social and cultural happenings in a middle-class Maharashtrian family. The story is quite identifiable; it stresses on and highlights the magnitude of housewives in our homes and revolves around the important relationship of a mother and daughter and the girl and a guy,” informs Kapoor.

“It seeks its inspiration from this super show in South India called Mrs Selvam, which is amongst the few shows that deal with small issues in a big way. We got rights of the essence of the show and developed our own story. When I had explored the K-factor for long, people asked me why don’t you go for a change and when I am doing that, people are asking why the change. Let’s see if this works; it might be dubbed the P-factor henceforth,” she grins.

Terming her shows to be representative of the masses, she accepts the contradictions of the content and its producer, adding, “I live a paradox. However, all of us largely have the same insecurities. Besides, I make shows for the masses and they are not regressive; what you are watching on television might be actually happening in a house. For instance, Kkusum was inspired by a girl in my office. I have deliberately chosen a Marathi set-up for this one since my father’s upbringing happened in a chawl in Girgaum. So, I spent a lot of time there, observed it very closely and have been largely exposed to that culture. Also, Maharashtrians are one of the most culturally-rich, close-knit and educated families, where conservatism and progress go hand-in-hand,” she adds.