Happy Birthday Ektaa Kapoor: A Look at the Soap Opera Queen's Journey

Ektaa Kapoor and her company Balaji Telefilms are undeniably significant names in the television industry. Often referred to as the Queen of Television, Ektaa Kapoor’s unparalleled storytelling prowess has left an indelible mark on the industry. Her remarkable TV shows and films have resonated deeply with audiences. As she celebrates her 49th birthday this year, let’s trace her journey in the entertainment industry so far.

Ektaa Kapoor began her career at the age of 17. She was a trainee with an advertising agency and worked under filmmaker Kailash Surendranath.

With a passion for cinema, Ektaa embarked on her production journey. She took some assistance from her father and veteran actor Jeetendra to set up her production banner Balaji Telefilms.

The first few years came with a lot of failures for the television queen but she chose not to give up. Consequently, she gave her first hit in 1995 – Hum Paanch.

Since then, Ektaa Kapoor never looked back. Her family drama series Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, starring Smriti Irani in the lead role, became one of the iconic shows of Indian television. Not only did it showcase Kapoor’s prowess in the industry, but it also catapulted Irani to enduring popularity that she continues to enjoy.

Soon after realising that ‘K’ is her lucky charm, she continued to introduce several shows starting with the alphabet. The shows including Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kabhii Sautan Kabhii Sahelii, Kaahin Kissii Roz, Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Kahiin To Hoga, Kasamh Se, Kalash, and Koi Apna Sa were showered with immense love and appreciation which was never witnessed earlier.

Not one to be satisfied easily, she decided to expand her empire further. With more wings, she took a flight to mark a place for herself in the film industry as well. Soon, she started producing movies under banners. As of now, the producer has nearly 140 daily soaps and around 50 films to her credit.

Being the unstoppable force she is, Ektaa also forayed into the OTT industry. With a motive to take over the digital entertainment world, she created a new banner ALT Digital Media Entertainment. Under the banner, she produced many shows. Further, she was honoured with Padma Shri in 2020 for her outstanding contribution to the field of arts.