The Lady in the Bubble

Why Simi Garewal’s new show, India’s Most Desirable, will not last

Watching Simi Garewal’s latest venture at prime time on Sunday was a curious experience. The unhinged excesses of the previous week had been swept clean, replaced by a relatively sober vein of programming. There were cards shuffled and fortunes revealed, yes, but to her credit, Garewal displayed a hint of sheepishness when she introduced the segment by saying that it required a sense of humour. It became quickly apparent that the volume had been dialled down deliberately.

The episode was given a touch of respectability by its guest, Deepika Padukone, who figured that parrying questions about Ranbir Kapoor was pointless, but holding on to the more personal details of her relationships was paramount. At one point, when Padukone said she couldn’t answer a question, Garewal pleaded, “Why?” Here’s why: it’s on national television.

Garewal’s demeanour and line of questioning have placed her somewhere in the Venn diagram between Barbara Walters and the fake-caring-Colaba-aunty who wants to know everything. This is the show’s template, and her guests come prepared. A small admission here, a little life story there, a slow answer, and their work is done. There are hugs, all is well with the world. Garewal and the show’s producers don’t seem to think this is a problem. Television lurched towards reality a dozen years ago, and shows like Garewal’s could have brought a calmer perspective to the rough and tumble world of that genre of programming. The conceit central to all reality programming is the promise of human revelation. Where shows such as Survivor revealed how people dealt with daily life, Garewal’s reality, had it been real, would have been the equivalent of an autobiography.

Why has that not happened? Well, like a Hafeez Contractor building, Garewal doesn’t go beyond facades. And security assurances. And so what comes out is not reality. In fact, if any reality manages to escape the bubble, it’s despite Garewal’s approach. Deepika’s refusal to answer the question was far more real than any revelation she made that night.

It can’t survive. It might live, sure, but this kind of stuff can’t thrive. You can only parody reality for so long.

PS: Someone get Padukone a show. She’s nothing but real.

About The Author

Rahul Bhatia