Host Pravesh Rana with Emraan Hashmi and Ajay Devgn in Emotional Atyachaar 2

We didn’t want to come back so soon,” says Nikhil Gandhi, business head of UTV’s youth channel Bindass. But they have, with the second season of Emotional Atyachaar.

The show that set temptation in the paths of people suspected as capable of straying by their partners and made people’s private affairs as public as national television material was a hit franchise for the channel. “The TRPs went up to 1.3-1.4,” says Gandhi. Viewers apparently wanted so much of it that the channel brought forward the launch date of the second season from October. “Otherwise, someone else (read, another channel) would have picked up the format.”

Though the basic premise remains the same — the camera following the suspect as an undercover agent planted by the channel tries to get cosy with him/her — some changes have been brought about in the format. “Last time, there would be a confrontation of the accused and the victim at the end. This time, we have included friends and families. They too should know what both sides are going through,” says Gandhi.

Last season’s host Angad Bedi has been replaced by Mr India 2008 Pravesh Rana of Bigg Boss 3 fame. “There were date issues with Angad. Pravesh has a greater following,” Gandhi explains.

Rana claims not to have a girlfriend himself but sees the concept of the reality check in a positive light. “If the result is good, the relationship would only get stronger. In case of a negative outcome, one would know that it is not worth it.”

If Mumbai and Pune were the catchment areas for applications last time, now the channel has turned north. “I have seen some of last season’s episodes. I dare say people of Delhi are more emotional,” Rana says. Which means once hurt, they are more physically offensive. “There is more howling, crying and grasping,” he observed.

But the channel is making sure that the show doesn’t end up on the wrong side of the government. It was one of the three shows to have been showcaused by the information and broadcasting ministry for bold and explicit content. The content will be “toned down”, promise officials.

The show got off to a star-studded start early this month (August 7) with “serial cheater” Emraan Hashmi and “Mr Dependable” Ajay Devgn being brought in. After bringing out the agony of 17 ‘in-love’ couples in season 1, season 2 returns with a runtime of another 13 episodes. Emotional Atyachaar 2 is on every Saturday at 7pm.