‘Showbiz is an insecure place, you’ve to learn to deal with it’
amount for a good performance is now put in the thali or given using an accordion extension arm,” says singer Debojit Saha, one of the jury members.
The innovations don’t end here. Neeraj Sharma, producer of the show, tells us, “We recently got family members of Covid-19 warriors and an ambulance driver on the show. For Independence Day, we’re bringing family members of the martyrs of Galwan Valley. Live video sessions with families of our contestants are also done. Ananya Sharma (a contestant) recently connected with her father, who’s in the army and is posted in Kashmir.”
Sharma is also a co-producer for Indian Idol, which is conducting online auditions this time. “For Indian Idol, we might have large screens on the sets, through which audiences will be able to enjoy the show and give live reactions via zoom calls,” he adds.
Writer-producer Haarsh Limbachiyaa, who’s hosting dance reality show India’s Best Dancer, talks about one of their recent live video calling sessions. “Our contestant Raj Sharma’s uncle flirts with Geeta Kapur (choreographerjudge) a lot, and when we connected with him through a video call, he did a live dance performance. Fun, emotional interactions with contestants’ family members are loved. All these innovations are adding a new dimension,” he says.
Like any other industry, one has to be prepared for ups and downs in a career in showbiz,” says Hiten Tejwani, who feels aspiring actors shouldn’t lose focus if they find themselves out of work.
“One could have investments or a business to fall back on. But those who don’t, have to be patient and manage their finances well, especially in times like these. Showbiz is an insecure place. You have to learn to deal with it. Today, you could star in the hottest project, and tomorrow you could be out of work,” says the actor, 46.
A popular name in the television industry, Tejwani feels that a career in acting is all about choices. “You get offers for varied roles, it is up to you to choose or reject. No one forces you to do a role. You even do roles that might be impactful, but have less footage. They could be for experience or just to make contact with a production house you wanted to work with,” he opines.
Tejwani, however, believes that having a solid support system always helps. “If one doesn’t have family around, insecurity and anxiety about work and life can make you miserable. As for me, I believe that if one thing drops, another project comes along,” he ends.