BOLLYWOOD TOUGH FOR TV ACTORS? ’
Is it still difficult to make the transition?
Transition from TV to Bollywood is no mean feat as the TV actor tag is still considered a baggage. While many actors have expressed discontent against the biases they face during film auditions, some have even revealed their experiences of not being allowed to audition for big ticket productions.
“There is a barricade dividing TV actors from film actors. I’ve been told during film auditions that they don’t want TV actors, that TV actors only know a certain kind of acting, etc,” says Ridhiema Tiwari, known for her TV show Ghulaam. The actor, who made her Bollywood debut with Begum Jaan (2017), fails to understand this medium based bias. “Give me the opportunity before passing any judgement on my acting capabilities,” she adds.
Echoing similar views, Mohit Malhotra shares that even after giving a good audition, he didn’t bag the part when his TV background came to the fore. “I was told ‘oh you’ve done TV, you’re over exposed’ and another polite version was ‘you’re good but we’re looking for fresh faces’. I was like I’ve the experience and technical knowledge. Shouldn’t my experience and reach among
audience valued?” says Malhotra, who made film debut with Hacked. Malhotra points that actors such as Neena Gupta, Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vikrant Massey, among others, have worked in TV. “Look at their film career. What matters is talent and audience acceptance,” he adds. Devoleena Bhattacharjee, who’s currently shooting for TV show Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 2, recalls her brush with biases. “Mujhe mazak mein bola gaya tha humey TV acting nahi chahiye. What’s TV acting? I understand some shows are over dramatic but that’s the format. Bias is demotivating,” she says. All set to make his presence felt in Bollywood with Laila Manju, Shashank Vyas too agrees on the existing discrimination. “Most TV shows follow a pattern and at times story and acting may be mediocre. But that happens in films too,” says Vyas. However, Vyas, Malhotra and Hiten Tejwani feel a change in perspective seems to be happening – though a bit slowly. “A lot is yet to be done. It’s true that TV actors are over exposed. But given TV’s wider reach, it’s easier to form audience connect,” says Tejwani, who was last seen in Kalank (2019). “There are filmmakers who’re interested in your craft. Nothing can beat talent,” he concludes.