STAR SYSTEM EXISTS ON OTT TOO: VARUN MITRA

The actor feels grateful for being patient when choosing roles and that audiences want to see new people and real characters

Actor Varun Mitra is happy that his patience has finally paid off. Instead of settling for small roles in big films, he chose to wait till he bagged the lead role in the web show Guilty Minds. Since its release, praise has been especially directed towards how the makers got the technicalities correct.

“OTT has changed the game for many people, especially those who are, so to say, outsiders, as they are given more opportunities now. There are so many great actors who have come into the game because of this medium. Good content and work is happening and it’s a great time for any actor to be a part of this industry. I am grateful,” says the 31-yearold, who played the role of Deepak Rana, a lawyer, in the show.

There’s been talk about how the star system, which existed in films, has also now seeped into the web. Ask Mitra, and he agrees. “Well, it does exist for sure, in general. Maybe it’s slightly lesser in the OTT space. That is because audiences want to see new people and real characters. I think now it is becoming more about the script and character than the star.”

He further adds, “Some subjects are larger than life such as RRR, which need stars. It depends from project to project,” explains the actor, previously seen as the lead in the film Jalebi (2018) with actor Rhea Chakraborty.

But waiting for a good project to happen wasn’t

OTT has changed the game for many people, especially who are, so to say, outsiders.

Actor MITRA, VARUN

difficult for Mitra at all. In fact, he says, “I don’t know how, but hats off to me. I just became patient about the whole situation and started enjoying it. I used the time in between to do other things, like do a travel show, to keep myself busy. They became a part of my acting growth.”