“After Saat Phere Became a Hit, We Got the Courage to Try Again” — Sunjoy Waddhwa on the Journey of Balika Vadhu
Producer Sunjoy Waddhwa opens up about how Saat Phere gave him the confidence to take a bold leap with Balika Vadhu, a show that went on to redefine Indian television and travel across 70+ countries.
In a world where most TV shows follow trends, Sunjoy Waddhwa made a career out of breaking them. The man behind hit shows like Balika Vadhu, Gangaa, and Saat Phere – Saloni Ka Safar, and web series like Ranneeti, Your Honor, and Dark 7 White, Waddhwa is one of the few producers who consistently puts bold, conversation-starting content on Indian screens.
Under his production house Sphereorigins, he’s built a reputation for doing what others hesitate to—taking risks that spark real dialogue. But as he reveals, it all started with a single show that made them believe in the power of different stories: Saat Phere.
"It was the first time a show talked openly about color discrimination," Waddhwa shares. “We wanted to remind people that a girl’s worth isn’t skin-deep—it’s about her heart. Saat Phere was more than a show, it was a statement. And when it worked, it gave us the courage to push further.”
That push led to one of Indian television’s most iconic and internationally acclaimed series—Balika Vadhu. But here’s something not many know: the idea for the show existed even before Saat Phere. It came from writer Punyendu Shekhar, who pitched the story of child marriage with emotional depth and authenticity.
“We had this idea even before Saat Phere, but the timing wasn’t right,” says Waddhwa. “After Saat Phere succeeded, we got the courage to try again. Balika Vadhu was greenlit when Colors TV had just launched. It was a fresh channel, and still, they believed in the story. We both took the risk, and the rest is history.”
Balika Vadhu struck a chord instantly. Its characters were layered, its storytelling unapologetically real, and its message—against child marriage—strong yet sensitive. The result? A show that didn’t just top TRP charts in India, but also found audiences in over 70 countries.
For Waddhwa, it's not just about success. It’s about impact. His shows didn’t just entertain—they started dialogues, challenged norms, and made space for empathy in mainstream entertainment.
And today, years later, Balika Vadhu still lives on—not just in reruns, but in how it changed the way we look at television storytelling in India.
