Sapna Pabbi is loving the ‘flip’ in Bollywood
With new names emerging, the star system in Bollywood has slowly taken the back seat. And this is something which actor Sapna Pabbi, who is known for her role in her debut film Khamoshiyan (2015), totally endorses.
“It (Bollywood) has done quite a flip in the last few years. No offence to the Khans. I’m a huge Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan fan, but it is so good to see Vicky Kaushal, Rajkummar Rao and Ayushmann Khurrana ruling the screens of late. Those faces that weren’t seen before are now top actors,” she says, adding, “It’s the same when it comes to female actors as well, with the likes of Richa Chadha and Radhika Apte making it big.”
But despite all this, asked if she thinks that the casting in Bollywood is still myopic, Sapna feels it’s all about talent. Citing the example of Alia Bhatt, she explains, “I’m an Alia Bhatt fan. And she can do just about any role. Everybody says that Alia gets all the roles. But that’s because she really deserves it and works really hard.”
On the saleability of films, Sapna does feel that it’s still a big factor while casting in Hindi films, and she’s fine with it. “It’s a business at the end of the day and as a businessman, you want to put your money where it is already making money. But that also is slowly changing, isn’t it? Web has really helped this change for sure,” says the actor.
With the advent of OTT platforms, the dynamics of the entertainment industry has changed quite a lot in the last few years, so much so that going to the movies has become a serious financial commitment. Having done eight web series herself, including The Trip, and Inside Edge 2, Sapna explains, “When I started doing web series, it wasn’t as mainstream as it has become now. But I never shied away from doing it, because all that I was seeking was great characters and good projects. If I am offered a digital film, I would do that as well.”