Screen Stories: How Television Shapes Who We Are

On World Television Day, we asked five inspiring personalities what television means to them from comfort shows to life lessons, laughter, and lessons in resilience.

Television has long been more than just a screen that flickers in the corner of a living room. It’s where we first learned to laugh, cry, and empathize with characters who felt like friends, mentors, or even mirrors of ourselves. From classic sitcoms to gripping thrillers, reality shows to nuanced dramas, TV has a way of quietly shaping the way we see the world, our careers, and even ourselves.

For many, TV is a source of comfort a space to revisit familiar laughter after a long day. For others, it’s inspiration, sparking ambition, creativity, and courage. And for some, it’s a lens into the complexity of human emotions, relationships, and choices.

This World Television Day, we reached out to a diverse group of personalities artists, influencers, food bloggers, and entrepreneurs to discover the shows that have left an indelible mark on their lives, the characters they admire, and the narratives that resonate most deeply with their own journeys. From nostalgic Indian classics to modern international hits, from sitcoms that make us laugh to dramas that make us think, their stories remind us of why television remains such a vital part of our cultural and emotional landscape.

Through their answers, we get a glimpse not only into their tastes but also into how these shows influence perspectives on friendship, ambition, resilience, and creativity. Television, it seems, is never just entertainment it’s a companion, a teacher, and sometimes, a reflection of life itself.

Voices and Stories

Jahanvi Jethani, a dancer and content creator, has always gravitated toward shows that blend humour, relatability, and timeless comfort. “Well, there are two!” she begins, almost defensively. “One has to be Friends, of course. The characters have been my friends in my head for years now. The second has to be Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. So much nostalgia and such amazing writing — I love every episode.” For Jahanvi, these shows offer laughter and companionship. “Sarabhai vs Sarabhai is one of the best shows India’s ever produced, and so underrated,” she adds, hinting at a shared secret between her and fellow fans.

Rewatching is part of her ritual, too. “I’m currently rewatching Brooklyn 99 because, honestly, who doesn’t love Jake Peralta? And Modern Family I LOVE Phil!” she laughs. Asked to imagine her life as a TV show, Jahanvi quips, “Juggler, because that’s how life’s been lately. I’ve been juggling too much, and like a circus act, no one takes me seriously!” Her humour extends to the characters who have influenced her: “Jake from B99 or Chandler from Friends I can’t take anything seriously in life, so I make a joke out of it, even if everyone yells at me.”

In contrast, Megha Singh, influencer and socialite, gravitates toward shows that combine comfort and aspirational storytelling. “F.R.I.E.N.D.S forever,” she says, almost reverently. “It’s fun, it teaches friendship especially female friendships and it’s my comfort zone.” Thriller and suspense also appeal to her, and she’s currently engrossed in Monster: The Ed Gein Story on Netflix. When asked what her life would be called as a show, Megha laughs, “P.H.A.T — Pretty Hot And Talented! Ha ha ha.” The character who inspires her most? Carrie from Sex & the City. “Her confidence, ambition, and strength through heartbreaks I completely admire her. And the shoes!”

Mohini and Saumay Kapoor, the food blogging duo behind Momo + Saum | Food & Fun in Hyderabad, approach television with both critical insight and emotional resonance. For them, storytelling is a lens into identity and purpose. “Severance is incredibly compelling a masterclass in storytelling that leaves you questioning work, identity, and what truly matters,” they explain. Meanwhile, The Office offers laughter and human connection: “It makes you love, hate, and laugh with its characters, no matter how many times you watch it.”

Their current obsession is Bon Appétit Your Majesty, a Korean drama that beautifully revolves around food, merging passion with narrative. “If our lives were shows,” they joke, “they’d be called The Adventures of Kids Pretending to Be Adults.” Television has also shaped their professional and emotional growth. “MasterChef inspired Saumye to pursue hospitality it made food feel like magic. For Momo, This Is Us opened up a whole inner world she hadn’t yet explored empathy, meaning, emotional depth.”

For Bushra Lokeman, an influential personality, suspense and thrillers dominate her viewing habits. “Any suspense thriller I love how it slowly reveals everything and keeps me guessing,” she explains. Her pick for must-watch TV? Money Heist, “full of twists, emotions, and brilliant storytelling.” Currently, she’s captivated by Wednesday, drawn to the protagonist’s attitude, dark humour, and unapologetic individuality. Bushra imagines her own life as a show titled Expressions, reflecting her tendency to display emotion vividly. The character who shapes her mindset? Emily from Emily in Paris. “Her confidence, creativity, and drive constantly remind me to chase what I love with style and courage.”

Finally, Nio Endo™, rapper and founder of Big Media Solutions, brings a philosophical lens. He urges aspiring entrepreneurs to watch Shark Tank, not for the drama but for insight into business, scalability, and innovation. Currently, he’s revisiting Seinfeld, appreciating how mundane daily arguments are blown into relatable comedy. When asked what his life would be called as a show, Nio responds without hesitation: “Let’s f**ing go.*” He laughs at the language but elaborates: “I’ve always lived by two principles: if it’s a great story, it’s worth it, and exploration is intrinsic to my DNA. Life’s ups and downs business, friendship, personal growth make it incredible. The complexity is beautiful. Every path is unique, every experience extraordinary.”

Nio’s most influential character? Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders. “I’m not selling guns or fighting the mob, but the sheer struggle of Tommy Shelby mirrors my unconventional journey. Watching the show taught me that influence and success come with prolonged struggle, patience, and resilience. It’s a slow burn, the ultimate come-up story and it shows that at the base of any mountain, the climb shapes you far more than the peak.”

Across these five voices, one truth is clear: television is more than entertainment. It’s a mirror reflecting our joys, anxieties, dreams, and flaws. Jahanvi finds laughter and lightness in sitcoms, while Megha draws confidence and style inspiration. Mohini and Saumay see storytelling as a source of professional insight and emotional depth. Bushra discovers motivation and identity in complex characters, and Nio frames TV as a lens into resilience, strategy, and philosophical reflection.

TV teaches, comforts, and challenges us. It connects generations, cultures, and personalities in ways no other medium can. Whether it’s laughter from Friends, scheming in Peaky Blinders, empathy in This Is Us, or inspiration from Shark Tank, television continues to guide how we navigate our worlds personal, professional, and emotional.

This World Television Day, perhaps the best way to celebrate is to hit play on a favorite show, revisit a childhood classic, or discover a series that challenges your perspective. Because television, in its myriad forms, reminds us of one universal truth: stories matter. They teach, heal, inspire, and connect us one episode at a time. And in the end, that is the most human experience of all.

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