Inside India’s Reality Show Boom: The Gen Z Connection Behind Record-Breaking TRPs

To be honest, most of us have found ourselves doom-scrolling on Twitter (or X, whatever we’re calling it nowadays) at two in the morning, passionately defending a reality TV opponent as if they were our best friend from childhood. It’s emotional survival in action, not just insane drama.

Image credits: Deccan chronicle, Bigg boss

Bigg Boss 13 and similar shows felt a bit like group therapy sessions than competitions. It wasn’t “content” when Sidharth and Shehnaaz sat there in that courtyard. It was a messy, guarded, and intensely real form of love that was raw, twisted, and strangely familiar. We saw a connection that was both personal as well as international; we weren’t solely observers. Then there’s Splitsvilla 14, a “dating show” that connects a lot with anyone exploring modern love. Beneath the playful edits, it reveals our personal weaknesses and craving for acceptance. It feels like our own group debates come to life every time we watch Hamid’s show of loyalty or the “Vibe Check” challenges’ pure, relatable craziness. It’s the pain of a “heard” message or the gut-punch of watching an ex move on, only with better lighting.

Image credits: Just watch, Splitsvilla

Lock Upp entirely altered the course of affairs. The honesty was more crucial than the tasks. It was like taking an overall deep breath as we saw Munawar drop jokes to discuss real pain. Being that “raw” felt like a quiet act of disobedience in a world wherein filters are essential. It served as a reminder that everyone has a few hidden secrets.

The problem about reality TV is that it’s like our contemporary campfire. We congregate around the digital glow to analyze every alliance and heartbreak—not because we want to gossip, but because we want to connect. Every impetuous outburst and every “ugly cry” is a reflection of ourselves. At times when their chaos is chaotic, dramatic, and sometimes silly, we find our calm in the middle of it. Perhaps that’s the reason why we are unable to turn away. These shows remind us of something deep, somewhere between the TRPs and popular hashtags: being human is a complex, beautiful tragedy—a tale worth witnessing.