SUMEET VYAS: THE ORIGINAL OTT STAR
Having first embraced the web show format, actor Sumeet Vyas is now reaping its dividends
When Sumeet Vyas began his journey as a web series actor, he earned Rs 500 a day, just enough to cover the cost of petrol and cigarettes. Permanent Roommates (2014), one of India’s first streaming originals, though, became a hit and, with it, Vyas found a place on the country’s entertainment map. The actor followed up his debut with Y-Series’ Bang Baaja Baaraat (2015) and TVF’s Tripling (2016-), shows he also co-wrote. In 2020, when most actors laid low, Vyas shot two web shows, Wakaalat from Home and Dark 7 White. With his 1962: The War in the Hills all set to release on Disney+ Hotstar on February 26, it’s time to state the obvious—Vyas is one of OTT’s most reliable veterans. “I didn’t know much about the space or how it would do,” says Vyas. Streaming, though, couldn’t have come at a better time. After a couple of years in television, he had returned to directing and acting in plays. OTT platforms like theatre afforded the freedom he sought as a performer and creator. It also helped that appearances mattered less. “Many actors find solace in the ironman paradise, but I can’t make friends with dumbbells,” says Vyas. “I can’t be thinking about how I look all day. To dress up and go out is a chore for me.”
In his initial run asan actor, Vyas was the face of millennial comedies. But even as his popularity soared, Vyas could see he was being pigeonholed. “I thought there was more to me than just being the funny guy,” he says. In order to break the mould, he did films like the marital drama Ribbon (2017). He played Ram Jethmalani in the AltBalaji/ Zee5 show Verdict: State vs Nanavati (2019), and also bagged a supporting part as Kareena Kapoor Khan’s fiancé in Veere Di Wedding (2018). Vyas, though, isn’t too preoccupied with films. “I won’t do anything to be on the big screen. I may sound pompous but I don’t rate myself low.”
With multiple OTT platforms seeking new pitches, Vyas finds himself navigating a flourishing landscape today. “It’s a good time to be writing, directing and acting,” he says. “Most shows which have done well—Delhi Crime, Paatal Lok, Scam 1992—didn’t have a movie star. If it’s a good show, people find it.”
Vyas has now taken to writing again. “So far I have been writing scripts for others, but this year I want to write something I would like to direct.” ■