She started her career at 17. She once didn’t go home for 6 months and slept at the office. Ekta Kapoor reveals how she built her TV empire

Ekta Kapoor has been making TV shows for decades now and they have become a part of Indian pop culture. She has made a career out of knowing what people want to watch, whether it’s family dramas, thrillers or youth-oriented stories. She has acted in over 130 serials during her career. In a recent interview, Ekta Kapoor recalled the sacrifices she made early in her career and shared the key to her success.

Ekta Kapoor reveals the secret behind her success

In a conversation with Ranveer Allahbadia, Ekta spoke about how closely she followed the television shows she produced. When asked how she managed to watch every episode despite knowing what happened in the story, she explained, “I had no life clearly. But I like doing this. Main sab episodes dekhti thi. I didn't use to come home. I didn't come home for 6 months. No one knew this. I reached home only to have a bath or rest for 1-2 hours and went back. I had my toothbrushin office. I've slept in office. "

While such a routine meant putting her personal life on hold, Ekta said she genuinely enjoyed the work.




Her mother showered her with flowers when she returned home

Ekta also recalled an emotional moment involving her mother, Shobha Kapoor. After spending months working at the office, she once called home to say that she would return at 11 pm to sleep there.

Her mother’s response was unexpected. She welcomed Ekta by showering her with flowers.

For those who don't know, Ekta started her career early and went on to become one of the most important producers in Indian television. She started Balaji Telefilms with her family and is the daughter of veteran actors Jeetendra and Shobha Kapoor.

The company’s first major hit in television was the 1990s comedy series “Hum Paanch” on Zee TV. Ekta later produced several shows that became household names, including Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kasautii Zindagii Kay and Pavitra Rishta.

From television serials to films and digital shows

After establishing a strong foothold in television, Ekta expanded into film production. Her projects include Shootout at Lokhandwala, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, Ragini MMS, Ek Villain and Main Tera Hero.

She later entered the digital entertainment space through ALTBalaji, which focused on web series and stories aimed at younger viewers.



Ekta has previously spoken about how her content choices have changed over time. In an earlier interview with IANS, she said that while she had made family dramas in her early twenties, she was now producing more youth-oriented shows for digital platforms.

Her career has spanned several shifts in Indian entertainment, from the popularity of daily television soaps to the growth of streaming platforms. Her account of spending months at the office offers one explanation for the personal commitment she brought to her work. Alongside her ability to identify stories that appeal to audiences, that commitment has helped her build a production career across television, films and digital entertainment.