“It’s Not About Women Who’ve Achieved, But Those Trying”: Ekta Kapoor On Empowering Women Though Her Stories

Ekta Kapoor has long been regarded as a powerhouse producer brand in Indian entertainment industry, a creator who didn't just follow trends but defined them. Starting her journey at the young age of 17, she went on to reshape Indian television, turning daily soaps into a cultural mainstay. With an intuitive understanding of audience emotions and storytelling, Ekta built a legacy that brought family dramas into millions of homes, making her one of the most influential forces in the medium.

At the heart of her work lies a deep focus on women and their lived realities. Addressing whether her stories empower women, she shared, "Yes, because people see a woman in a saree, crying, so they think it will be a very weak story. None of the women, all the women whom we have shown, we have shown them in their real life struggles. And this happens, people have to listen to the taunts of their family members every day. They have to fight for their position. They have to fight for everything. That fight is real. If you feel that this doesn't happen, then you see how many women have to struggle."

"But after that struggle, when they rise up, then that's a triumph. That's a win. So, I feel that strength doesn't only come when you are running a big company. Strength means that life has given you very little. What have you made of it? And I am very interested in those stories. Whether it's a story of a girl who has got something less in life. Whether she has a lack of upbringing. Whether she has a lack of money. Whether she has a lack of opportunities. And she has made her life from there."

"Honestly, people should see this. A story is not always about women who have achieved. It's always about women who are trying to achieve. Women who have made a lot out of nothing that was given to them."

Through these narratives, Ekta Kapoor has consistently highlighted a powerful idea, that strength is not always loud or glamorous, but often found in persistence and resilience. Her storytelling continues to resonate because it mirrors reality, reminding audiences that even in the face of adversity, growth and triumph are always possible.