Juhi Mui creator Dhruv R Jain: Television is not going through an identity crisis
With over 17 years in the entertainment industry, Dhruv R Jain has worked across television and OTT, contributing to shows including Mahabharat, Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan, Tara From Satara, Hero – Gayab Mode On, Aladdin, Code M – Season 2, Dear Ishq and Ishq Mein Ghayal. As Head of Content at Rose Audio Visuals, he has worked on both original stories and adaptations, with the company’s latest fiction offering, Juhi Mui, starring Eisha Singh and Vijayendra Kumeria, premiering on June 29.Having spent much of his career in television, Dhruv believes the medium continues to have an important place despite the growing prominence of OTT. He says, “I think television deserves far more credit than it often gets. It’s a medium that caters to millions of viewers across age groups, regions and backgrounds, so storytelling comes with a very different set of challenges. While some familiar formats exist, television has also evolved significantly, with more diverse characters and fresh narratives than before. Ultimately, I don’t think the success of a story depends on the platform; it depends on how honestly it’s told.”He also does not see television and OTT as competing mediums, pointing to the changing ways in which audiences consume content. Dhruv says, “I don’t think television is going through an identity crisis. It’s evolving alongside changing viewer habits. Today, many people watch television content on OTT platforms through catch-up viewing, which shows that the distinction between television and OTT is becoming increasingly fluid. Both platforms have their own strengths. OTT offers greater flexibility for experimentation, while television continues to build long-term emotional connections and reach audiences at an unmatched scale. Rather than competing with each other, they complement one another by serving different viewing preferences.”His latest project, Juhi Mui, takes that conversation into the realm of representation, with the show centring on a protagonist on the autism spectrum. The show faced comparisons with Extraordinary Attorney Woo soon after its first promo was released. Addressing the criticism, Dhruv says, “The comparisons are understandable because both shows feature protagonists on the autism spectrum, and there haven’t been many mainstream stories exploring this subject. However, beyond that broad premise, Juhi Mui is a completely different story. Our narrative, characters, emotional journeys and the world they inhabit are unique to Juhi Mui. Anyone who watches the show will quickly realise that it is not a frame-by-frame adaptation. From the very beginning, our intention was to tell an original story that resonates with Indian audiences while portraying autism with sensitivity and authenticity. For me, inspiration can come from anywhere, but originality lies in the story you choose to tell, the characters you create and the emotions you evoke.”The makers also focused on ensuring that Juhi was presented as an individual rather than being defined solely by her neurodivergence. Dhruv says, “Authenticity was at the heart of creating Juhi. From the beginning, we wanted audiences to see her as a person first, not just through the lens of her autism. We spent a great deal of time researching, speaking with experts, therapists, families and individuals on the autism spectrum to ensure the portrayal was respectful and nuanced. We also worked closely with Eisha Singh through workshops so that every aspect of Juhi’s behaviour felt natural rather than performative. Beyond that, we ensured authenticity across the show, including the legal aspects, with guidance from experts. I also have to credit our producer, Goldie Behl, who was deeply invested in telling this story with honesty and sensitivity. He constantly encouraged us to stay true to Juhi’s character and never compromise her authenticity for the sake of drama. His support gave us the confidence to tell the story with empathy rather than sensationalism.”
