Key Highlights:

• Devoleena Bhattacharjee sharply responded to Rohit Roy calling television a "dustbin medium."
• She said most people only recognise Rohit as actor Ronit Roy's brother, questioning his individual contribution.
• Devoleena pointed out the irony of Rohit criticising an industry he worked in for years.
• She argued his comment indirectly targets Bollywood stars who frequently appear on television.
• Devoleena credited television with giving her career, identity and respect, calling it her "home."

A Sharp Response to a Controversial Remark

Actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee has issued a pointed rebuttal to Rohit Roy after the actor described television as a "dustbin medium" and claimed that film stars possess a level of style and class that television actors lack. Speaking to IANS, Devoleena, best known for her role as Gopi Bahu in "Saath Nibhaana Saathiya," did not hold back in her response, framing Rohit's comments as an act of ingratitude toward the very industry that built his public profile.

Questioning the Source of the Criticism

Devoleena drew a sharp comparison, saying, "People have a strange habit of biting the hand that feeds them, of poking holes in the very plate they eat from, and his words feel exactly like that." She went further, admitting she could not even recall which television series Rohit had worked in, and suggested that his public recognition largely rests on his connection to his brother, actor Ronit Roy. "If I am being honest, most people only know him as Ronit Roy's brother," she said, adding that this familial association appeared to be his most defining public identity, given her uncertainty about the scale of his individual career achievements.

Why This Exchange Resonates Beyond Personal Rivalry

The debate Devoleena has reignited touches on a long-running tension within the Indian entertainment industry, the perceived hierarchy between television and film work, and how that hierarchy is often invoked selectively. Her framing, that Rohit spent years benefiting from television before publicly disparaging it, echoes a broader industry sentiment: that criticism of television carries less credibility when it comes from someone whose own career was substantially shaped by that same medium. It also raises the recurring question of why career-long participation in an industry doesn't preclude later public criticism of it, an inconsistency Devoleena directly called out.

Turning the Argument Toward Bollywood's Own TV Presence

Devoleena extended her critique further, suggesting that Rohit's remarks carried an implicit dig at Bollywood actors who regularly appear on television today. "Today every big Bollywood star comes to television to promote their films, host reality shows, and stay connected with the audience," she said, questioning whether Rohit's logic would classify all of that activity as work in a "dustbin medium" as well. She characterised his comment as "a desperate attempt to grab attention by demeaning the very industry that made him," directly challenging the premise that television lacks the prestige of film work, especially given how frequently film stars now use television to reach audiences.

Devoleena's Personal Stake in the Debate

Beyond the direct rebuttal, Devoleena used the moment to reaffirm her own relationship with television, describing it in deeply personal terms rather than purely professional ones. "It is my home. It has given me everything, work, identity, respect and a career. Whatever I am today, I am because of television. I will always be proud and grateful to be a part of it," she said, positioning her defence of the medium as rooted in gratitude rather than mere professional loyalty.

A Debate Likely to Continue

With Devoleena's comments now public, the exchange adds to television's recurring battle for legitimacy against a film industry that has historically positioned itself as the more prestigious medium, even as the lines between the two continue to blur through Bollywood's increasing reliance on television platforms for promotion and audience engagement.