‘I WAS ASKED TO NOT DO WEB SHOWS’

Says Shweta Tripathi Sharma, who had been discouraged to venture into the web; adds she’s happy that OTT has allowed stories to win

Shweta Tripathi Sharma, who has been part of popular web shows such as Mirzapur and Laakhon Mein Ek, says that she had often been discouraged from taking up meaty parts on web platforms and shows. But she believes that actors working on the OTT platforms get to display their talent better as they invest a long time in a character. The actor, who will soon return with Mirzapur 2, reveals that she has been exposed to these clichés surrounding the web space and is glad that the tides are now changing.

She elaborates, “I’m often told that I should weigh in my options to ensure that I focus on doing movies more because they are the only avenue for an actor to earn their market status in the industry. I’m really happy because I’ve seen what the release of Mirzapur has done for all of us. The show is a sensation and by virtue of it, the actors are treated as huge stars.”

For the Masaan (2015) actor, the opportunities offered by the web space creatively satisfy artistes. “Shows such as The Family Man is simply out of the box. Manoj Bajpayee has delivered such a brilliant performance in it. It has been fruitful and satisfying exploring this platform as it gave me projects such as Mirzapur and Lakhon Mein Ek,” says the 34-year-old.

Talking about the star system that dominated the Indian entertainment industry for decades, she explains, “I’m only chasing good stories that shift the primitive ideas of what works and what sells. It’s important to reinvent and now that the content industry is booming, people need to stand up and realise that the entire star structure is crumbling. Stories are winning and those of us with foresight will back good stories above all.”