For fans of ‘CID’, the show’s exit in 2018 was never just another television farewell. Behind the scenes, there was apparently a bigger fight involving producers, the channel and a cast that had spent years becoming a family. Now, years later, actor Dayanand Shetty, best known as the much-loved Daya, has opened up about what happened.
Speaking to Siddharth Kannan on his podcast, Shetty said the popular crime show was taken off air because of what he described as “internal politics”. He also shared a surprising detail about legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who he said strongly opposed the decision.
A show that became a television favourite
‘CID’ first premiered in 1998 and continued to entertain viewers for almost two decades before going off air in 2018. The series later made a comeback with a new season in 2024, bringing back its familiar characters and reconnecting with its loyal audience.
According to Shetty, the trouble behind the original show’s ending began much earlier, in 2016.
“The problem started in 2016. The channel wanted to change the producers, which the actors didn’t agree to,” he said.
Cast had no formal contracts
Shetty revealed that the actors had developed a close relationship with the show’s producers and were not comfortable with the proposed change.
He said the cast had worked with the producers based largely on trust and had never signed formal contracts with them.
“We didn’t know Sony; we were fireworks actors. It had been 21 years, but we never signed any contract, all on the producers’ words,” Shetty recalled.
The situation reportedly surprised the channel. Shetty said that when the channel asked for the actors’ contracts in 2016, the producers informed them that no such contracts had ever been signed.
He added that the cast initially felt hurt by the developments.
“Initially, we felt bad,” he said.
Lata Mangeshkar stood by the cast
One of the most striking parts of Shetty’s recollection involved Lata Mangeshkar. The late singer was reportedly a huge fan of ‘CID’ and its actors.
Shetty said Mangeshkar supported the cast when the show was taken off air and even confronted the makers over the decision.
“Lata ji was a big fan. She loved us. She was a big support for us,” he said.
According to Shetty, her support went far beyond simply expressing disappointment.
“Even when the show went off air, she fought for us,” he recalled.
‘Why are you pulling it off air?’
Shetty claimed that Mangeshkar even contacted Sony’s US operations to express her anger over the show’s cancellation.
“Matlab Sony America tak call karke gaaliyan di hai unhone,” he said, explaining that she questioned the decision directly.
“She said I watch this show, why are you pulling it off air? What is your problem?” Shetty recalled.
- CID
- dayanand shetty
