Mumbai, July 8 (AHN) Actress Shiny Doshi believes Indian television needs to move beyond portraying women as "soft" and "helpless girls" and instead focus on stronger, more contemporary female characters.

Speaking about the changing landscape of television, Shiny said that most of the roles she has been offered over the years have revolved around a similar image of the ‘ideal’ television heroine.

In an exclusive conversation with AHN, Shiny said, "Television, I feel that all the shows that have been offered to me and all the shows that I have done so far, they wanted to see a very soft, very positive girl. A girl who is very relatable to the audiences also because an audience of our television likes to see helpless and ‘bechari’ girls," she said.

The actress added that the portrayal no longer reflects the realities of today's women.

"I feel that now girls are way more stronger. Digitally, the world has advanced so much now. We have so many platforms to watch shows. Now, television especially, I feel, they really need to work on the content that they are making," she shared.

The actress acknowledged that television is ultimately driven by business and viewership, Shiny said audiences also have a role to play in bringing about change.

"I understand when it comes to business, people only want to produce what is being seen, which is what is being sold the most, what people like to see. So, as an audience, we need to take accountability and stop accepting helpless heroine roles" she said.

The actress clarified that while stories of women facing hardships remain relevant, television should broaden its narrative canvas.

"I know it does happen with a lot of women in small villages, it happens with girls. But I believe television is also going through a transformation. Every four or five years, there is a small dip where, content-wise, we grow a little ahead. I feel that's where television is lacking right now."

Calling for fresher storytelling, Shiny concluded, "There are such amazing concepts and such amazing stories still to be told on television."

For the uninitiated, Shiny Doshi is known for her performances in television shows including 'Saraswatichandra', 'Jamai Raja', 'Pandya Store', 'Bahu Hamari Rajni Kant' and 'Laal Ishq'. She was last seen in the reality show 'The 50', where she appeared as a challenger.