Cinema and acting are a ‘means to an end’ for Gul
Being an actor has become a great enabler to do the other things that I do.
GUL PANAG ACTOR
Actor Gul Panag’s strong personality reflects a lot on screen with the kind of roles she is getting to play these days — whether it is an army officer in The Family Man or her next web actionpacked series Rangbaaz Season 2. The 40-year-old feels that with the advent of the web, there is a great shift happening in the storytelling format and casting. “With a rise of the digital space, two things are happening. One, the makers are telling out-of-the-box stories. Secondly, interesting casting of actors is happening on the basis of skills and who suits the part the best. Because of this, actors like us are getting interesting parts to play which are difficult to get in films,” says Gul, who stars in the recently released Bypass Road.
Elucidating on the shift in the dynamics of Indian showbiz in recent times, she says, “In films, the idea and the story are dictated by the economics of the project. But in the digital space, you can directly reach the target audience you are making this content for, without having to introduce an item song, which happens in movies. Or casting a big star or a popular face to pull the commercials, regardless of whether they suit the part or not.”
Whether it’s a film or web content, the actor feels, “Being an actor has become a great enabler to do the other things that I do. Given that for me, cinema and acting are a means to an end. It’s not an end in itself. I have no reason to complain. I’m just grateful for my acting journey,” shares Gul, who has been in politics, runs her own business, is a fitness enthusiast, a pilot, an avid traveller, and also a motivational speaker.