India, April 3 -- Over the last quarter of a century, Ektaa Kapoor has established herself as a name to be reckoned with in Indian entertainment. In a journey that has spanned from TV to films and eventually OTT, she has been everywhere. The year 2025 marks three decades since Ektaa entered the entertainment industry, and it is no exaggeration to say she helped shape the way Indian television functioned in the first two decades of the 21st century. She has had armies of fans, many critics and even a few detractors. But Ektaa has soldiered on.

Television was the more sedate medium in the 1990s. Barring Tara, Ajnabee, and the twin successes-Shanti and Swabhimaan-it was all very low on drama and family-friendly. Even as Ektaa made her bones...