Indian television has previously featured medical dramas; however, they have not achieved the level of realism seen in Western productions. As Viraf Patel, a lead actor in the series Doctors, notes, "While they portrayed doctors, the genuine drama frequently unfolded in their personal lives." The new Indian series, Doctors, seeks to alter this narrative by highlighting the experiences of both male and female medical professionals within the hospital setting. The cast members of the show discuss with HT the elements that distinguish it from its predecessors.

Television is restrictive when it comes to medical dramas

Harleen Sethi, portraying the lead character Dr. Nitya, emphasizes that the most significant transformation is the ability to depict greater realism in the series. She remarks, "I had a conversation with Siddharth P Malhotra, our producer, who specializes in medical dramas." She continues, "He was responsible for creating Sanjeevani and Dil Mill Gayye. He mentioned that during his previous work on medical dramas for television, there were restrictions on depicting death. It raises the question of how one can convey the complexities of characters when the portrayal of death or blood is prohibited in a medical narrative."

There is more detail in OTT shows

Her co-star Sharad Kelkar, an experienced figure in both television and cinema, concurs that the level of detail in streaming platforms is significantly greater. "The intricacies are markedly different on OTT. This aspect is lacking in television. Moreover, the audience shows little interest in it. They prefer to witness more drama rather than the finer details in television productions," he contends.

OTT allows shows to touch on sensitive issues

The performers assert that the emphasis on heightened realism and intricate details has enabled the series to address topics that would have been unfeasible for primetime television. "The range of illnesses and subjects we have explored here – including euthanasia and organ donation – cannot be presented on television," remarks Harleen.

In addition to Sharad, Harleen, and Viraf, the cast of Doctors includes Aamir Ali and Vivaan Shah. The series commenced streaming on JioCinema on December 27.

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