Pooja Gor on changing landscape of small-town dramas: Audiences interested in rooted stories
Mumbai, May 24
Actress Pooja Gor opened up about the changing landscape of small-town dramas on the OTT platform.
Talking to IANS, she stated that the viewers are now drawn towards rooted stories that belong to the heartland.
The 'Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya' actress also stressed that the audience, which earlier was attracted towards glamour-driven stories, now looks for characters they can relate to and projects real emotions.
She was asked, "Shows like Mirzapur have changed the landscape of small-town crime dramas on OTT. Do you think Looteri Dulhan also presents North Indian storytelling from a fresh perspective?"
Pooja told IANS, "Audiences today are deeply interested in rooted stories from the heartland. Earlier, glamour-driven stories dominated the screen, but now people want relatable characters and realistic emotions."
Sharing what sets her show, "Looteri Dulhar," apart, she added, "What makes Looteri Dulhan special is that it combines drama, comedy, action, suspense, and emotion into one entertaining package. Family entertainers are always important because they bring people together. Thankfully, our series offers that balance while still being thrilling."
Pooja essays the role of Sub-Inspector Sandhya Yadav, a fearless and determined officer, who is investigating a series of mysterious cases where brides loot their grooms and disappear overnight.
Shedding light on her character, Pooja said that she was drawn to the emotional depth of Sandhya.
Pooja shared, "What attracted me to 'Looteri Dulhan' was how emotionally layered Sandhya is. She is strong and fearless on the outside, but internally she's constantly battling judgment, expectations, and the pressure to prove herself. She isn't just solving a case, she's fighting for her own identity in a world that constantly tries to define women in limited ways."
Directed by Glen Barretto, along with Ankush Mohla, "Looteri Dulhan" premiered on Hungama OTT on 19th May this year.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I appreciate Pooja's point about emotional depth. As someone working in media, I've seen how the 'glamour-first' approach dominated for decades. But honestly, stories like this still need better writing. Why always crime? North India has so many other real stories to tell. Let's hope the industry explores more genres too. 🙏
Interesting to see how Indian OTT content is evolving. I'm from the US but have family in Gujarat, and they were telling me about this show. The concept of 'brides looting grooms' sounds like a wild premise—it's refreshing to see female-led crime dramas that challenge stereotypes. Hope it gets international distribution too!
Big fan of Pooja Gor since 'Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya'. She's right that viewers want relatable characters. But I'm slightly skeptical—OTT platforms often claim 'rooted stories' but still add unnecessary glamour and commercial elements. Hope 'Looteri Dulhan' stays true to its small-town setting and doesn't become another formulaic show. Yamraj! 🕊️
As someone from a Tier-2 city, I completely agree. We're tired of seeing the same high-rise Mumbai life stories. Sandhya's character—a female cop fighting judgment while solving crimes—that's something I can show my daughter. But I wish the industry would also focus on non-crime themes. There's so much to tell from our heartlands! ❤️
Living in Canada but keeping
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