Things have changed for the better over the years in the film industry, says Shreyas
Shreyas Talpade has been a part of the Hindi film industry for over 15 years. The actor, who has starred in hit films such as Iqbal (2005), Om Shanti Om (2007) and Golmaal 3 (2010), says, “There are certain subjects and issues that have more acceptance now, which were earlier considered taboo. Our consumption patterns and attention spans have changed over the years. You always know that you’ll have an audience today, so you can go ahead and try new things.”
Talpade who just came out with his new show Teen Do Paanch on a web platform, also believes that the OTT has been a boon for actors, directors and writers alike, as he feels that it is a great combination of theatre and film. He adds, “To get the response from the audience, we had to wait and release all the episodes and later, we would get to know that people are appreciating our work. It feels good that your work in general is appreciated.”
Having also made his mark in the Marathi film industry, does he see a difference, when compared to Bollywood? “The only difference I have observed in both the industries is that of budget. Other than that, the kind of passion the filmmakers put in their work in both industries is very much the same,” he says, adding that he feels every filmmaker tries to utilise the resources they have, and that doesn’t change with the industry.
Talpade, who has also been a theatre actor, believes in the necessity of the medium. He says, “When the pandemic hit, we thought why not take theatre online, as all the other things are going virtual and as the industry had severely taken a blow during the lockdown. We started a platform called Nine Rassa, dedicated to the performing arts. We believe that there is also a need for theatre to reach out to maximum people.”
Talking about what kind of roles he looks forward to playing, he says, “I’d love to do a negative part, a character that looks believable, trustworthy, but whom you cannot trust even for a second.”