Kiran Kumar to play lead role on TV at 60

The newly launched show Sanyukt has veteran actor Kiran Kumar playing the protagonist at the age of 60. This also marks his return to television after three long years. Point that out to the actor and he smiles in agreement. He says, “I’m excited about Sanyukt. The show follows the emotional journey of an elderly couple, Govardhan Bhai Mehta and his wife Ila, who realise that their kids have misgivings and issues with the two. The couple make an effort to mend these fragmented relationships within the family. Families in India will relate to my character and I feel most men, at especially my age, will find a bit of Govardhan Mehta in themselves.”

The storyline of Sanyukt reminds one of the movie Baghban, which dealt with similar issues. Is it a coincidence or is the show actually inspired by the film, we ask. “The only similarity between Baghban and our show is that the protagonists are an elderly couple. That’s all! Baghban was about cruel kids who did not value their parents or grandparents. Sanyukt touches upon a deep-rooted Indian tradition of living in a joint family. The story will appeal to the sensibilities of every viewer as the point we’re raising is at the very core of Indian culture,” says Kiran.

With horror as a genre currently trending on Indian television, one wonders if Sanyukt, with a different storyline and elderly couple as protagonists, will be able to pull the audience. Kiran reacts, “There is a male point of view in the show which is otherwise a women-oriented domain. Horror may be working well on television today but wholesome relatable family entertainment has a far more universal appeal.”