Want a ational ward. I am orking owards it’
Varun Sharma, a self-proclaimed fan of digital content, is glad to have made his debut on OTT. The actor starred in a web series, Chutzpah, which talked about how the internet is deeply embedded in our world. “It is World Wide Web for everyone, but for some people it is weird wide web,” says
Sharma, adding, “I have always played characters that are relatable. Be it Chucha or Sexa, they work for me. The digital space is such an interesting medium as people of all ages watch content online and there is something for everyone.”
Shooting for the series was a “difficult and different” experience for him as there were no co-stars on set, and he had to talk to a monitor. Moreover, it was shot after the first lockdown, so a skeletal crew added to the experience. He says, “Imagine talking and reacting virtually! It was interesting and it took a day to figure out how to shoot and get the hang of it.” Sharma says he is glad that the reception for the show has been good. “I have been hearing that people are loving the treatment of the series and feel the content is new,” he further adds.
Nowadays, we live a major part of our lives online. Ask him how active he is on the internet and he explains, “I won’t lie, I am a regular user. But I have improved. I have a few mantras like to not check my phone right after waking up, in fact not for an hour, and not checking it again an hour before sleeping. On holidays, I carry a regular phone, not a smartphone so that I don’t browse the net,” the Fukrey (2013) actor reveals.
Has he seen the dark side of the digital age? The actor says he hasn’t experienced it personally but has seen people fall prey to it. “I have seen people being affected by social media. That’s sad as social media can get toxic. People today don’t confide in friends or family. Reading or hearing something or receiving a random comment can affect people in a huge way. Such things can affect their mental health and thought process. Validation is important for everyone, but seeking validation on social media is not cool. I keep telling my friends that social media is only one part of our lives, not our whole lives,” he explains.
The actor recently shot for filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus and is looking forward to its release. “We are waiting for the cinemas to open fully. The magic of cinema is awaited, as nothing can match up to that feeling of community viewing. We are desperate for things to get back to normal. We should be able to watch movies like we used to — by clapping, laughing and shouting together.”
Malli Raava