Homegrown OTT shows modelled along the lines of Keeping Up With the Kardashians and The Real Housewives are growing in numbers, with Uorfi Javed-starrer Follow Kar Lo Yaar joining the fray of late.
The mainstay of these shows are dramatic characters who can up the shock quotient and also spill the beans when necessary, never mind if it amounts to cringe. Sometimes they feel relatable, sometimes they definitely look staged but keep-them-coming seems to be the verdict from the audience. Here are four such guilty pleasure OTT shows for a binge watch.
Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives; Netflix
The first two seasons of the Netflix series revolve around the personal and professional lives of Bollywood friends Neelam Kothari, Maheep Kapoor, Bhavna Pandey and Seema Sajdeh. The section on Neelam gives a peek into her life with actor-husband Samir Soni and their daughter while managing her jewellery business, being a socialite and often missing the good ol’ days of being an actress.
Maheep and Bhavna’s lives are similar in the sense that neither is an actor and both are busy being a ‘momager’ to their actress daughters – Shanaya Kapoor and Ananya Panday, respectively. A part of the focus is also on their equations with their actor husbands after decades of marriage.
Seema is the odd one out in the group, having separated from her actor husband Sohail Khan after 24 years of marriage. Her single status brings with it a revived interest in her career as a fashion designer and raising her two sons.
The show gives a sense that the lives of these ‘Bollywood wives’ are an endless stream of parties, getaways, spa retreats, dinners and gossip sessions. After two successful seasons, Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment is set to give the series a twist by turning it into ‘Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives’ Season 3 where Delhi-based socialites Riddhima Kapoor Sahni (Ranbir Kapoor’s elder sister), Shalini Passi and Kalyani Saha will join the Mumbai girl gang. This looks like a face-off between the swish sets of Delhi and Mumbai.
Moving in with Malaika; Disney +Hotstar
Though the title promises a look into actress Malaika Arora’s life from up close, the show rarely has anything that she hasn’t already shared on social media. Stretched over 16 episodes, the show’s format features a guest in every episode with whom Malaika discusses or does things of her preference, like hitting back at her naysayers with Neha Dhupia, or sharing bits and pieces of her acting journey with Farah Khan.
In some of the other episodes, she tries her hand at standup comedy under the guidance of Sumukhi Suresh, goes street shopping with friend Karan Johar, does a choreography routine with Nora Fatehi under Terence Lewis, sits down for a heart-to-heart chat with comedian Bharti Singh, spends time with her sister Amrita Arora Ladak and son Arhaan, and celebrates Christmas with friends and family.
Hansika’s Love Shaadi Drama; Disney+Hotstar
Hansika Motwani — the cherub-faced child actor who appeared in popular films such as Koi… Mil Gaya — got a headstart in the South industry when she grew up, working in several successful Tamil and Telugu projects. The theme of the Disney+Hotstar show is her wedding preparations. In the six-part series, Hansika highlights the social, emotional and cultural aspects of Indian weddings as she gets ready to wed her longtime boyfriend Sohael Kathuriya. From guarding her reputation to scrutinising every little detail of the wedding, Hansika puts her best foot forward for the show.
Follow Kar Lo Yaar; Prime Video
The latest in the line of celebrity-driven reality shows, Follow Kar Lo Yaar is about internet sensation Uorfi Javed who shot to fame for her shocking wardrobe choices. The Prime Video tries to capture Uorfi the girl-next-door and the dynamics in her family consisting of her mother Zakiya Sultana, elder sister Uruusa, younger sisters Asfi and Dolly and younger brother Sameer. Peppered with flashbacks of her difficult childhood, the show thrives on the endless squabbles between the siblings, which might give you a feel of the Bigg Boss house.
Alongside, there’s a glimpse of Uorfi the strategist who has an unerring eye for grabbing media attention. With aims to become an entrepreneur of nipple pasties, Uorfi joins a talent management agency to grow as a brand and gain overall respect for her work. She candidly talks about using Botox and fillers, and shares her plans to opt for a breast augmentation surgery. Uorfi is also seen seeking therapy for her mental well-being.
