Mumbai, September 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Producer and television personality Sandiip Sikcand has responded to actor Rohit Roy’s controversial description of television as a “dustbin”, saying he does not agree with the choice of words but understands the concern behind the remark.
Speaking to IANS, Sikcand said the quality of television shows being produced today needs greater attention and argued that the industry must reassess its approach to storytelling.
“I definitely don’t agree with the words he used. But I feel what he was trying to say was that the kind of shows being made today are not up to the mark, and with that sentiment, I completely agree,” Sikcand said.
He added that Roy’s remark should also prompt the industry to examine why television has reached a point where such criticism is being made.
“The kind of shows that are being made, the programmes that are on air and the characters being created are all products of the system we have built,” Sikcand said.
While reiterating that he disagreed with calling television a “dustbin”, Sikcand said decision-makers in Hindi television need to recognise what he described as a decline in storytelling quality.
“Before it falls so far that it becomes difficult to revive, we have to do something about storytelling,” he said.
Sikcand also called for greater reliance on original stories instead of repeatedly adapting successful regional shows.
“Our dependence on regional shows should also reduce. How many regional shows can you remake? That too will eventually come to an end. We have to return to original storytelling. That is the backbone of any industry,” he said.
Roy had recently sparked a debate over the state of television while discussing whether the medium had become more professional at the expense of creativity. During an interview, he said he had been asked the question several times and acknowledged concerns about appearing ungrateful before describing television as a “dustbin medium”.
He also compared television content to a newspaper that is quickly forgotten and raised questions about the public behaviour of television actors.
Roy’s comments drew reactions from several figures in the entertainment industry, including actors Devoleena Bhattacharjee and Naman Shaw, as well as casting director Mukesh Chhabra, who voiced disagreement with his remarks.
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