NOT JUST THE 70MM SCREEN FOR US: STARS QUEUE UP FOR WEB ORIGINAL FILMS
OTT originals are no longer a ‘no go’ for top Bollywood stars
The big screen experience is all set to be back with a bang, or at least that’s what the trade has been hoping for since the past 10 months. ‘Whether the charm of theatres will fade away, will OTT platforms dominate’ are the two questions on everyone’s mind. In such a scenario, actors are pretty clear that they will act, whatever the medium, small or the 70mm screen.
Apart from taking up web shows, a lot of actors have opted to even star in films that are originally meant for online streaming platforms. They are therefore not apprehensive about the screen size.
Anil Kapoor set the ball rolling with AK vs AK, a thriller which saw him alongside filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. Having been a big screen hero for 40 years, he says, “When Vikram (Vikramaditya Motwane, director) came to me with the script, I felt it is ideal. Releasing on an OTT platform was the best decision that we took. The way in which it was promoted, it was top 10 in more than 50 countries.”
More actors have followed suit. Manoj Bajpayee recently announced his web film, Despatch, based on crime journalism. Sonakshi Sinha, who for the past 10 years has done all kinds of films, right from masala potboilers to a period drama, will not only make her web series debut, but also star in a web film Bulbull Tarang directed by Shree Narayan Singh. She says she doesn’t see this film as anything different from what she has been doing.
“I honestly loved the script. With the uncertainty around theatres until now, a lot of people were moving in this direction. I am more than happy to do it. Even films that we had shot for, in 2020 so many of them released on OTT platforms. I wanted to work with Shree, he makes wonderful films with social messages. This film is also like that,” tells us the 33-year-old.
Trade experts believe that all this doesn’t mean that these actors will stop focusing on big screen films altogether. Atul Mohan says, “The big screens are where they form their fame and stardom. As an they want to explore all avenues, if they are happy with the content. Maybe it cannot be made for the big screen, it’s not viable, or needs a longer duration to tell the story. Also, if they are getting good money, that’s important. We have seen big artistes take the route of TV as well, it didn’t mean they are going to quit the big screen.”
He hasn’t had a theatrical release in a couple of years now, but Arjun Rampal couldn’t give up the chance to star in Nail Polish, a legal drama which opened to good reviews. The actor says that one gets the chance to explore different things on OTT platforms.
“You get a lot of freedom on these platforms, and you can explore only that much I believe, as much as the director and the team allow you to go. I want to be known for doing work which is not conventional,” he quips.