‘ON DIGITAL, YOU CAN EXPERIMENT’
Says actor Vijay Varma about looking forward to opportunities from every medium. Adds good content is key, irrespective of the platform
Other than being part of Mira Nair’s ensemble film, A Suitable Boy, Vijay Varma has been locked in for another project titled Ghost Stories for an OTT platform. The short film is being directed by Zoya Akhtar, who he had previously worked with in Gully Boy. Apparently, it was his latest OTT commercial that helped him bag these new offers. “His association with the platform started with a commercial wherein he played a character called Pappu Paketmar, a local pickpocket, whose petty crimes come to an end after he discovers the platform’s line up of upcoming originals. He shot for a second sketch after his fans on social media were intrigued and he even got positive feedback for it. This ad, too, like the first, uses Bambaiya slang which reminds people of Moeen from Gully Boy,” says a source.
Talking about it, Vijay says, “It was incredible to see Pappu get that kind of attention. I didn’t expect it at all. And yes, we can say that Pappu and Moeen are cut from the same cloth, so it came fairly easily to me. It has been a fun association with this (OTT) platform so far and I am glad they want me to be a part of lot of stuff they do. We all responded to public demand and brought back Pappu Pakitmaar to make this cheeky announcement.”
About the surge of offers from the web, the actor adds, “The digital medium is really showcasing how characters are becoming immensely popular. In recent years, there have been several iconic shows which have soared the popularity of many actors apart from showcasing their talent. Like in a series, you aren’t restricted to your characters for 120-180 minutes, it’s more than that. So, you can experiment a lot more.” Vijay further adds that it’s an exciting medium. “I’m looking forward to getting equally exciting offers from the digital space as well as films. Good content today is key irrespective of the platform, and that to me is the biggest merit.”