Although Colors detective show, Dev 2, has not really set the TRP charts on fire, Amit Dolawat is quite happy. “Not only is my police officer role in the sequel much bigger (strong dialogues and romance as well), but it has been widely appreciated as well. I have real cops telling me that I have the right kadak image. Even the channel honchos are happy with my output.” Season 1 was a one-hour bi-weekly, starring Ashish Chowdhry, Pooja Bose and Sumona Chakravarti, besides Amit.
“Season 2, which now airs daily (Mon-Thu), will have 44 episodes, out of which 20 had been pre-shot before telecast. We might even go up to 50. With Dev being a tough show to write and shoot, the budgets would have gone awry, had the schedule been longer.”
“One other plus point is that we have come back with Season 2 as promised. Very few shows return so fast and that too with the same principal cast. Also, the fact that our ratings are similar to where we ended means our audiences have come back on different days and time slot.”
Here, he added, “Just how strong our narrative was in Season 1 can be gauged by the fact that although it would be telecast around 45 minutes late due to Khatron Ke Khiladi, our loyal viewers stuck on.”
So what explains the low numbers?
“I personally don’t judge a show on TV ratings alone. Today, the matrix has changed. There are a lot more other platforms available–we are #3 on Voot; we also simulcast on Jio Cinema. It was a matter of pride to be told that Etihad Airlines has included Dev as part of its in-flight entertainment menu.”
“The channel also did not really go out to promote Season 2, as was the case with Season 1.There were no hoardings this time around. The premier episode of the season was not really as shocking and suave as with most thrillers. Rather, we simply took the story forward.”
Going on, Amit says, “We smartly retained the positives from Season 1, while infusing newer elements (Dhawani, aka Jigyasa Singh). In a bid to attract new viewers, the makers focused more on the crime stories rather than the linear saga involving Dev (Ashish) and Mahek (Pooja). Also, the Chakravyuh part involving Dev’s crime-don father does feature regularly.”
In closing, Amit does not foreclose a possibility of Season 3 as well. “While the plot has legs for the same, the final call will have to be taken by the channel and the production house.”