“OTT IS A SPACE THAT IS ALLOWING CREATIVE PEOPLE TO SHOW THEIR ART THROUGH STORYTELLING!”

—VIKRANT MASSEY

often an actor’s big dream and this year has deprived us of that experience, and advent of the OTT has furthered it.

“With such little time and so much to do, watching a movie on a small screen seems like an easier task. If I speak of Mirzapur, people have watched it while commuting to work, or my building watchman watches it at 11 pm after he shuts the society gates. While you may want to have that communityviewing, larger-than-life experience, and I am missing it but these are two different things,” he says and adds: “OTT is a space that is allowing creative people to show their art through storytelling.”

To this, pat comes Radhika’s retort, “It depends on who is watching what kind of content. There are people who feel if ‘I take a subscription equivalent to a movie ticket, my entire family can watch lounging in our hall for a month. Why then should I pay money to go to the theatre? So, it really depends. I feel a Rohit Shetty movie can truly be enjoyed in a theatre, but others might not feel the need. As Vikrant said, it’s an experience!”

TO CENSOR, OR NOT...

Circling back to the censorship issue, Radhika takes a five-second pause before answering, “It depends on the script, to be very honest! I liked the fact that there was no censorship on OTT platforms because you could show the reality through real emotions and real language, and you don’t

{ RADHIKA MADAN } ACTOR

“I liked that there was no censorship on OTT platforms because you could show the reality through real emotions and real language”

Vikrant: “The definition of heroes and of big films is changing.

Also, the concept of heroes in life itself is changing. Today, it’s not necessary that a big film is a good film. However short a movie or not, the important aspect is how gooditis.so,iwanttobeapartof good movies and speak my mind through my work. I was mostly the sidekick or did smaller parts. It’s now that I’m getting bigger, meatier roles as my producers, audiences and directors want to see me that way.”

Radhika: “Earlier, there used to be these conversations about actors making 100 crores, so they are the heroes. But with every 100 crore, heroes kept changing. Now that maximum viewership is on OTT, who is the hero? The gap has bridged and now, the script is the hero. Whether it is five-minute or a 15-minute role, or I’m in the entire movie, it should make me think when I’m sleeping, bathing etc. I’d want to be appreciated as an actor more, than as a heroine.”

sponsors willing to pay and eventually, it is business. So many people are still ready to buy the substandard content to escape from their mundane lives. As an actor, what I can do is not be a part of such movies or a performer of such content,” says Vikrant.

As we end our chat, I’m relieved to have not fuelled a heated argument between two amicable actors. My takeaway: it’s always multiple, contrasting voices that round off an intelligent argument. Wouldn’t you agree?

So, go enjoy a smart squabble, this Valentine’s Day!

shruti.nair@hindustantimes.com Follow @Missnairr on Twitter and Instagram