Emotional Atyachar: Is It Real Or Just Drama?

Emotional Atyachar is an Indian reality TV show that aired on Bindass. The show centres around a person who doubts their partner's loyalty and decides to put them through a 'loyalty test'. The show has been criticised for being scripted and for invading the privacy of its participants.

Emotional Atyachar is an Indian reality TV show

The premise of the show involves a person (referred to as the "lead") who doubts their partner's loyalty and requests a "loyalty test." The show's crew follows the partner (referred to as the "suspect") and arranges for another person to act intimately with them, capturing the interactions on camera and presenting them to the lead.

The show has been controversial, with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against it in 2011 by an NGO, Indraprashtha People. The NGO's president, Sanjay Tiwari Ujala, argued that the show "spread vulgarity and demoted social and moral values." The Law Commission also raised concerns about the use of hidden cameras and the exposure of infidelity, stating that such practices violate the right to privacy.

Despite the criticism, Emotional Atyachar gained popularity and completed five seasons. The first season was hosted by Angad Bedi, while seasons 2 to 5 were hosted by Pravesh Rana.

However, in 2010, allegations surfaced that the show was "rigged." A participant revealed that she was paid by the channel to pretend to be in a relationship with a boy she did not know, and that the "loyalty test" was staged. Several other individuals supported this claim, stating that they were offered money or exposure to pretend to be partners of participants on the show. While the channel's spokesperson denied these accusations, the reports sparked a debate about the authenticity of reality TV shows and the ethical boundaries they should respect.

Participants conduct sting operations on their partners

Emotional Atyachar is an Indian reality TV show that aired on Bindass. The show's premise involves participants conducting sting operations or 'loyalty tests' on their real-life romantic partners to determine their loyalty. The person checking their partner's loyalty is referred to as the 'lead', while the person being tested is called the 'suspect'.

During these sting operations, crew members of the show follow the suspect and introduce them to an attractive boy or girl, referred to as an 'undercover agent'. The agent is directed to act intimately and flirtatiously with the suspect, with the interaction being caught on hidden cameras and later shown to the lead.

The show has been controversial due to concerns about its ethics and authenticity. In 2011, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by an NGO, Indraprashtha People, claiming that the show "has been hurting the feelings of viewers, spreading vulgarity, and demoting social and moral values in our society". The Law Commission also raised concerns about the use of sting operations in such a context, stating that they "are violating the right to privacy and taking civilisation backward".

Despite the show's popularity, there have been allegations that it is rigged or scripted. Participants have come forward claiming that they were paid by the channel to enact fake relationships and loyalty tests. One female participant revealed that she was paid to pretend to be in a relationship with a boy she had never met before, who was introduced as her boyfriend on the show. There are also reports of models being offered money to audition for the role of the 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend'.

The channel has denied these claims, stating that it is a tactic by contestants to gain mileage from the show's popularity. However, similar allegations have been made about the American show Cheaters, on which Emotional Atyachar is reportedly based.

The show was accused of being scripted and fake

The Indian reality TV show Emotional Atyachar was accused of being scripted and fake. The show, which aired on Bindass, saw participants conducting sting operations or 'loyalty tests' on their real-life partners.

In 2010, a female participant revealed that she was paid by the channel to enact a drama with a fake boyfriend. She claimed that she did not know the boy who was presented as her boyfriend on the show and that they were told to say they had been in a steady relationship. The channel also shot footage of the couple getting cosy to set the scene. The participant was paid Rs 20,000 by the channel, half in cash and half by cheque.

These revelations were supported by several male models who were offered money to audition for the role of the 'boyfriend'. Anish Khanna, who played an undercover agent on the show multiple times, confirmed that the show was scripted, including the way the girl would cry and slap her boyfriend.

The channel's spokesperson denied these accusations, claiming that it was a tactic by contestants to gain mileage from the show's popularity. However, similar accusations have been made about the US show Cheaters, on which Emotional Atyachar is reportedly based.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed against the show

Emotional Atyachar, an Indian reality TV show, was the subject of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2011 by Indraprashtha People, an NGO, through its President Sanjay Tiwari Ujala. The PIL alleged that the show, which tests the loyalty of romantic partners by having an attractive person seduce them, hurts the feelings of viewers, spreads vulgarity, and promotes social and moral values that are contrary to those of Indian society.

The Law Commission of India supported the criticism of the show, noting that "instances of Television channels exceeding the limits of decency by using sting operations (hidden camera) as a tool in ongoing reality shows to expose infidelity of a spouse, boyfriend, etc. have been noticed." The Commission further argued that such sting operations violate the right to privacy and do not serve any public interest or purpose. It characterized these practices as "taking civilization backward."

The Law Commission's discussion paper on the issue also highlighted the potential for sting operations to cause embarrassment to law enforcement agencies and shake people's trust in the government. The commission expressed doubt about the effectiveness of the News Broadcasting Standard Authority (NBSA) in enforcing discipline on news channels and called for responses from stakeholders before finalizing its recommendations.

The public and online forums had mixed reactions to the show and the subsequent PIL. Some people agreed that the show was obscene and absurd, while others argued that it was entertaining and served a social purpose by testing people's character and exposing infidelity. There were also questions raised about the legality of airing someone's private life on television without their permission and the potential for defamation lawsuits.

The Law Commission criticised the show for violating the right to privacy

The Indian television series *Emotional Atyachar* has been criticised for violating the right to privacy. The show, which aired on Bindass, is a reality programme in which a person can test their partner's loyalty. The "lead" suspects their partner, the "suspect", of being unfaithful and, with the help of the show's crew, sets up a sting operation to expose infidelity. The show's crew follows the suspect and asks another boy or girl to act as if they are intimate with them. These interactions are caught on camera and then shown to the lead.

In 2011, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Indraprashtha People, an NGO, through its President Sanjay Tiwari Ujala. The NGO argued that the show was "hurting the feelings of viewers, spreading vulgarity and demoting social and moral values in our society". The Law Commission, which is set up to help reform the law, floated a discussion paper that criticised the show for its use of sting operations, stating that:

> "Such sting operations, showing the private life of common men and women, are not conducted for exposing public wrongs and do not serve any public interest or public purpose. They are violating the right to privacy and taking civilisation backward."

The Law Commission's discussion paper also noted that sting operations, especially on criminal cases, were accused of causing "embarrassment" to law-enforcement agencies. The paper expressed doubt about the effectiveness of the self-regulatory mechanism of the News Broadcasting Standard Authority (NBSA) and asked all stakeholders, including the media, to give their responses before firming up its recommendations.

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