I’ve often been told, ‘TV acting nahi chalega’: Iqbal
TV acting nahi chalega’ is something that actor Iqbal Khan has had to hear on many occasions during his experience with Bollywood directors and producers.
“Frustrated” by the prejudices that exist about TV actors in the minds of filmmakers, he asks, “What is TV acting? These terms keep coming up... I’ve been in the spot a couple of times, (when) acting wise, I may have been slightly better than the other person but just because the person has a background in films, he got the role and not me. I’ve lost out on films just because I’m a TV actor.”
Khan also admits that this very concept is there in the minds of TV show makers, too. “When one does TV, there are a lot of limitations. Makers think that the audience has to be spoonfed. They often say, ‘act in TV fashion’. It’s not my belief,” he rues.
While the actor agrees that this attitude exists, he feels that OTT platforms are a relief to people like him as they have opened up more opportunities. “For the actors also, it’s a massive rescue. It’s a win-win situation for anyone who’s creatively involved. There’s no limit to anything anymore, which gives you a freedom to get into an area where you usually would not,” says Khan, whose latest web show is out.
The actor also feels that web is a level playing field, since everything is driven by talent. “Both in TV and films, there’s math and science involved. But on OTT platforms, by default, it’s about if you’re good, it’s going to work. Only content works. No matter how many big production houses and big stars have come on OTTs, if the content hasn’t been up to the mark, it hasn’t worked. There are a lot of TV actors out there who’re just actors, given a chance, they’ll do really good,” he concludes.