Aarush Bhola says nobody goes 'below the belt' in 'Playground 5'
Mumbai, Aug 7
Content creator Aarush Bhola, who is set to join Elvish Yadav and Tejasswi Prakash in the new season of the gaming reality show 'Playground', has shared that the show stays clear from "going below the belt" unlike other reality shows despite the competitive spirit being its cornerstone.
Aarush spoke with IANS along with Elvish Yadav and Tejasswi Prakash at a 5-star property in the Juhu area of Mumbai during the promotions of the show.
When asked how the new season of the show makes its place among a sea of reality shows currently owning the digital space, he said, "What I've seen in the shoot, what I've edited, I've seen that this show is very positive. It's not like we're just sitting here and fighting. There's a competition going on inside".
He told IANS, "There's a lot of fun in it. Other games are being played. Strategies are being made. But no one is going below the belt. And everyone is coming and pushing their team well. So where you see earlier shows, I think it's an updated version of that. Made for Gen Z, made for new people. And this platform is open for new influencers, for gamers, for everyone. So where there are reality shows, there's a lot of negativity. There's a lot of personality".
"You fight a lot, they still make you angry. Or you're very famous, they'll make you angry. But there's nothing like that. New people are getting a start in this. They're also happy to see that they're coming and doing all this", he added.
'Playground' blends gaming, entertainment, competition and influencer culture into a single format. It is designed around a virtual playground, and brings together young creators, gamers and internet personalities who compete in a variety of challenges while navigating rivalries, friendships and team dynamics.
'Playground' season 5 is available to stream on Amazon MX Player.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I appreciate Aarush's point about not going "below the belt." Indian reality TV has become too toxic lately - remember how contestants used to get instigated to fight on purpose? It's good that a show aimed at Gen Z is promoting healthy competition instead. But I hope they still keep it entertaining, because positivity without spice can get boring too! 😄
"Made for Gen Z" - this is exactly what the OTT space needed. We have so many talented gamers and influencers in India who never get a proper platform. Amazon MX Player is doing a great job with this. Tejasswi Prakash being there adds a nice balance too. Hope season 5 sets a new benchmark for gaming reality shows in India. 🎮🇮🇳
Interesting concept - but I wonder if this actually works in practice. Reality shows always claim to be "positive" in promos, but once the cameras roll, drama happens. As someone who watches both Indian and international shows, I think the "no below the belt" approach is noble but might make the show less gripping for viewers who enjoy conflict. Let's see how it turns out.
As someone who's been following Indian gaming content creators, this is a breath of fresh air! Elvish Yadav's fanbase alone will make this huge. And Aarush is right - earlier reality shows used to literally instigate people to get angry for views. It's time we normalized respectful competition. Also, giving new influencers a platform? Now that's what I call inclusive. 🌟
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