One of the most enduring and iconic series in television history, CID premiered in 1998 and entertained audiences for nearly two decades before going off the air in 2018. Recently, the beloved show made a triumphant return with a new season, bringing its legendary characters back to the screen. Amidst this comeback, actor Dayanand Shetty, who famously portrayed Daya, has shed light on the exact reasons behind the show's abrupt cancellation back in 2018, while also revealing how legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar intervened to try and save it.
Internal Politics and Unwritten Trust
Opening up about the cancellation, Dayanand revealed that internal politics was the true driving force behind the shutdown, a conflict that actually began brewing back in 2016. The network wanted to replace the show's producers, a move that the star cast staunchly opposed. The actors' primary allegiance was to the producers rather than the channel itself. In a surprising revelation, Dayanand noted that despite working together for 21 years, the team never signed a single official contract, operating entirely on verbal agreements and mutual trust. This unorthodox arrangement shocked the channel when administrative reviews began. When the network demanded formal paperwork in 2016, the producers had to admit that no official agreements existed, leaving the cast devastated when changes were eventually forced upon them.
Fan Backlash and Lata Mangeshkar's Intervention
The show enjoyed an immense fan following, which became strikingly obvious when the network attempted to promote another crime series, only for viewers to flood the comment sections with outraged demands to bring back CID. Beyond the fan outcry, Dayanand shared a remarkable detail about how legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar stood up for the cast during their darkest hour. She was an ardent fan of the program, deeply fond of the actors, and acted as a pillar of strength. When the show faced the axe, she personally intervened, making a call all the way to Sony America to reprimand the decision-makers. She questioned their motives directly, asking why they were canceling a program she loved and demanding to know what their real problem was.
A Legacy That Defined Television
For context, CID originally launched on Sony in 1998 and ran continuously until 2018, securing a permanent place in television culture through its gripping suspense, unforgettable characters, and iconic dialogues. The 2024 revival successfully bridged generations, capturing the attention of younger viewers while honoring its storied past. Among the show's standout figures, Dayanand Shetty's portrayal of Senior Inspector Daya and his signature move of kicking open doors became a massive pop-culture phenomenon across the country. Alongside ACP Pradyuman played by Shivaji Satam and Senior Inspector Abhijeet played by Aditya Srivastava, Daya formed the core dynamic that drove the show's immense popularity and ratings for decades.
