Rohit Roy’s latest gaffe landed him back in the headlines—but this time it’s not about a new film, it’s a verbal misstep that rattled the small‑screen community.
The actor, who first burst onto the scene with the 1990s drama Swabhimaan, said he’d called television a "dustbin medium" in a casual chat last September. The comment, meant as a jab at the medium’s often forgettable content, flew off the rails when a dozen TV performers—including Naman Shaw, Devoleena Bhattacharjee and Pankit Thakker—took to social media and press to rebuke him.
In a recent interview with Lehren Retro, Rohit admitted he should have chosen a softer word. "I didn't mean to insult anyone," he said, adding that the phrase was a poor choice that could be interpreted as demeaning to the craft. He also revealed that his wife, TV actress Manasi Joshi Roy, gave him a stern talk after the outcry. “I’m not going to call anyone trash,” he quipped, “but I was talking about the medium, not the people.”
The veteran’s career‑building love for television is no secret: he credits the serial Swabhimaan for turning a 30‑year‑old actor into a household name. He’s clear that he’s never been ungrateful towards the industry. "If there was no television, I wouldn’t be where I am today," he told the audience on the Kindle Cast YouTube channel, lamenting how the medium’s rapid turnover often leaves quality scripts in the dust.
Actors’ reactions were sharp. Naman Shaw called the remark “unnecessary and offensive,” while Devoleena Bhattacharjee tweeted that the comment “doesn’t reflect the dedication of TV artists.” The backlash prompted Rohit to re‑evaluate his stance on TV content, hinting that he’d consider focusing more on films and OTT projects if the medium’s quality doesn’t rise. Yet he remains convinced that talent can shine even within TV’s constraints, a stance that has earned him both criticism and support.
While the dust settles, the incident is a reminder that words matter—especially in an industry where a single term can ignite a storm. Rohit’s public apology and the candid dialogue with his wife signal a turning point: he’s learned to pick his words more carefully, but the conversation about television’s evolving standards is far from over.