From TV to films, & back home
While there are actors who have left the comfort zone of the small screen for cinema, there some who have come back licking their wounds. SHUBARNA MUKERJI SHU plays the devil’s advocate with television’s best to see how many are contented and how many di
Being an actor on television is a ticket not only into people’s homes, but also their hearts. You might be best remembered by the name of the character you play, but your fame knows no bounds, yet films are film a medium that’s larger than life and far more glamorous. So we have a Pulkit Samrat who is diligently playing along with Fukrey and a Karan Tacker who is all set to make his big screen debut with Dharma Productions, because though they got a lot out of television, cinema has been the ultimate goal, also….
We can do it too
Anyone who is prospering on television has at least once thought to himself or herself, that if Sushant Singh Rajput, Vidya Balan and of course, Shah Rukh Khan can do it, then why can’t they. After all, television, too, has the whole song and dance and romance to cut right into the Bollywood fabric. Karan Kundrra made a Bollywood debut with Vikram Bhatt’s 1921 says, “I would never leave television to be a Bollywood actor. Let’s not forget that even the biggest actors in Bollywood see merit in doing television so why would I let go of it. I know that the reason I am getting Bollywood offers is because of my work on television!” Amna Shariff, who made a debacle with her switch to film after being super successful on television, says, “The decision to shift to film is never easy. You really have to think things through and thorough. I did, so I have no regrets.” She never could successfully, come back to television either so her ‘no regrets’ is an astounding fete. But the list of hopefuls doesn’t cease…. Echoing Kundrra’s thoughts, Himmanshoo Malhotraa stated, “Only one film doesn’t make you a star. A lot of people venture out of television to get into movies but one has to be very lucky to keep getting offers. I think Sushant Singh Rajput has been the only actor off late who has consistently got work and is doing so good for himself. I think there should be a balanced maintained between television and films like Ram Kapoor and Ronit Roy have maintained, they keep doing television and also films. I want to do the same keep doing television, I did film Wajah Tum Ho with T-series and now I am doing a television show as well if another film is offered so I’ll do that film and will be back to television. It is the balance that should be maintained and it will be more fruitful in the coming future.”
Why films?
Yes, we understand the glamour, the reach and the magnitude in which cinema delves, but why would someone leave everything they have made for themselves and head for uncharted waters? “Films are larger than life!” the petite Tinaa Dattaa summed her answer up in that one short line.
While TV certainly provides an actor the foothold they want into the industry, the ultimate goal is of course the movies. “Working in television obviously helps a lot, because these are gruelling work-sessions and intense experience which helps if you are thinking about movies in the long run,” like Mithun Purandare decided it is best to practical and know where you have set your goals.
But then there are the likes of Ronit Roy, currently televisions highest paid actor, who has juggled endless between the two mediums, “My journey has been all about ups and downs. I don’t think about why I am doing films or why I am doing television, amongst the offers I get, I do what I like. A lot of film work coming my way is that of negative characters, whereas television is all positive, I just take it in my stride!”
Ronit Roy has managed what actors like Rajeev Khandelwal, Barun Sobti didn’t, despite their several critically acclaimed films, they have not managed to cash in on their television popularity in films. Perhaps that’s where the fear sets in, losing the bird in hand…
Comfort zone
It is good to be cautious but there are the likes of Karan Wahi who insists that venturing too far from the comfort zone isn’t necessary to find fulfilment as an actor. “What’s the harm in being a television actor?” he asks, and frankly, there is none. Ask Prachi Desai who might have been a part of many hit films like Rock On!!, Once Upon A Time In Mumbai
and even Azhar, but her career seems to never moved past the threshold of Bollywood. Prachi was once competing with Sakshi Tanwar on television grounds but has now been pushed behind in the race. Sakshi with her film Dangal and good will from Bade
Achhe Lagte Hai, is still one of the top runners on television earning a lakh per episode which puts her at par with some of the popular names in Bollywood when it comes to taxations.
Like Vivian Dsena put it, “For me, TV is my bread, butter and dessert. An actor is an actor, the medium can vary, I am open to the idea of doing films as and when they happen but I would never leave television to pursue more.” But the comfort zone is death by saturation, and Shashank Vyas doesn’t believe in stagnating himself, “It is everyone’s individual journey, it might be perceived as a risk to venture into films when your television career is doing great but who can grow without taking any risks?”
Television, the last resort
Zayed Khan who made a big splashy entry into television is one example of how when nothing works in films, television will be a good place to go to. The actor who has signed up an infinite series on television is reeling from his long work hours, but is kicked about following his father’s footsteps, “Tipu Sultan is what my father is best known for, that’s what television can do for you. He, for one, is very happy with the way Haasil is turning out. “I don’t think many actors in films would get to the play the kind of character, each and everyone has in that series. At the end of the way, it is quality that matters!” Given the number of people who have failed to make a mark Bollywood, despite their humungous success on television is too long as compared to those who have made a successful transition, it is rather surprising when the list of hopefuls keeps increasing.
When all fails, come back!
Sonarika Bhadoria, who shot to fame in the mythological series Devon Ka
Dev Mahadev, is once again back in a historical love-story with Prithvi Vallabh. Clearly the bikini pictures she put online didn’t land her anything substantial on 70mm. “I didn’t put the bikini photos online in the hope of landing a role in a film,” she exclaimed. Good, at least that disappointment was saved for the young girl, who clearly was clearly desperate to get into the B-wood world, why else would anyone sign a horror film opposite the likes of Rajneish Duggal?
Sometimes you cannot...
The likes of Aman Varma who just couldn’t manage to return to television with the same gusto. His only popular gig, post his spin around Bollywood was his Bigg Boss stint, which didn’t get him places either. “What it had to do, it did. I wasn’t expecting a turn around either ways,” he insisted. While his claim makes his Bigg Boss jaunt completely redundant, he doesn’t seem to realise what he says. Either ways, the man is now married and waiting for some miracle.
Same goes with the hunky Sidharth Shukla, though his contemporary Sharad Kelkar seems to be going mighty strong with his Marathi film and Bollywood career, going steady if not blossoming. However, neither Sidharth nor Sharad have much to boast about by the way of their tellyturnouts. The more Khamoshiyan around Gurmeet Choudhary’s insistence on a Bollywood-jaunt, the better! After all, the couple (Debina Bonnerjee) and Gurmeet, are both still keeping their fingers crossed. For his fans though, the switch to films was not his most prudent move!
Ladies shine brighter!
Despite Debina not managing to get her big break, there is Mouni Roy who is doing television and cinema is a grand way. The doe-eyed beauty will be working with the likes of Akshay Kumar and Ranbir Kapoor shortly, so clearly, she is on her way forward. Despite Prachi Desai’s less than happening career, there are the likes of Sakshi Tanwar who oscillate almost as well as character actors like Mandira Bedi and Shruti Seth. Completely in comfortable in the driver’s seat – no matter if it is films or television! Perhaps, there won’t be any harm in learning a thing or two from them.