‘Stars are struggling as OTT has introduced great talents’
Akash Dahiya has a stellar line-up of web shows to his credit, which includes Dhanbaad, Chote Yadav and Rafu Chakkar. Simultaneously, he is busy with multiple upcoming projects. However, the Delhi Crime actor asserts that there are only a few characters that manage to satisfy him creatively. “All roles are good, but how much screen time you get decides how much opportunity you have to show your potential. It brings out the actor in you,” he says.
Ask him if A-listers venturing into the streaming space is taking away good roles, Dahiya argues that OTT has instead introduced the audience to a plethora of good actors, making it difficult for stars to compete. “Stars are struggling because OTT has introduced some great talents to the audience. The audience knows whom to admire. They don’t hesitate to give stars a reality check when their work isn’t up to par,” he elaborates.
Dahiya goes on to draw a rather interest analogy. The 36year-old says, “I think of it (OTT space) as a jungle. Yahan har tarah ke jaanwar ka aana jaana laga rahega. The fight for survival in this jungle depends on the individual. But both stars and artistes like us have their hurdles. While we’re struggling to create a presence like theirs, they’re competing with the brilliant performances of OTT actors.”
However, he feels stars are crucial for any space, be it films or OTT. “That’s because realism might bore people after some time. That’s when people seek entertainment,” he says.
Thanks to OTT, audiences know whom to admire; give stars a reality check when work isn’t up to par. AKASH DAHIYA,