There was a lot of initial excitement when it was announced that former film actors Bhagya-shree and Sonali Bendre would be acting in television shows.
Unfortunately, apart from her syrupy sweet, goody-two-shoes role that can get a bit annoying, Bhagyashree’s acting talent in Laut Aao Trisha has been nothing to write home about. The actress, who wowed audiences opposite Salman Khan in her debut film, Maine Pyar Kiya, comes across as wooden on TV.
Sonali Bendre may not have been a leading heroine in films, but she was always a glamorous treat on the big screen. However, in the show Ajeeb Dastaan Hain Yeh, she is just okay. It’s her co-stars Apoorva Agnihotri and Harsh Chhaya who are far superior in the acting department. Whether it’s Amitabh Bachchan, Karishma Kapoor or even Sridevi, no big star has been able to deliver a hit soap. The same applies to TV stars who want to make it big in films. Aashish Sharma was a national heartthrob in Rangrasiya, but he couldn’t impress in films. Similarly Barun Sobti, one of the hottest TV stars, doesn’t seem to have the same screen presence in the trailers of his upcoming film.
Are actors like Shah Rukh Khan, and now Sushant Singh Rajput, rare exceptions to the rule? What is so different in big and small screens that it is nearly impossible to be successful in both mediums?
Mrunal Jain, the lead star in Uttaran, disagrees that TV actors can’t make it big in movies and vice-versa. He argues, “An actor is an actor be it in TV or films. It’s a content-driven market. Luck also plays an important part in making a film or a TV show a hit. It’s wrong to say film actors are not successful on TV. A TV actor can make it in films too; Sushant Singh Rajput is a current example and of course, there is Shah Rukh Khan.”
Actor Sumit Kaul, a familiar face on TV who acted in the film Haider, feels it is unfair to label actors as TV and film actors. “A good actor will be good in any medium. Irfan Khan was brilliant when he did theatre or TV and is just as good or even better when he is doing films. There are several other examples.”
Since he has acted in both mediums, Sumit feels movie stars may find it a bit difficult on TV as this medium does not give them the luxury of time or rehearsals. “Actors who can’t adjust to TV’s hectic schedules are the ones who get criticised.”
Director Ravindra Gautam, who has been associated with hit shows like Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Kasuatii Zindagi Kay and Kumkum Bhagya too says TV’s crazy schedules can exhaust actors who are used to the big screen. Sachin Mohite, who has been a creative director for many hit shows like Kasamh Se and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, also shares the above views. He says TV’s mad timings can tire actors out and this sometimes shows in their performance as many scenes are required to be shot and everyone is rushed.
Gautam adds, “Generally, the work volume is very high in television. The actors have to work continuously. They may be talented but at times they get tired. Also, the television medium is the least paid. We do not get enough money, therefore, we are unable to engage the services of famous talent as their demands cannot be met by producers.” Whether the show is a hit or not, the fact remains that a film actor who debuts on TV always makes news and garners excitement, but poor TV actors have no such luck with their movie debuts.
They may not get the attention initially, but they are welcomed, says Gautam citing a few examples. “Take the example of Sushanth Singh Rajput. He has been successful on both TV and films. Pulkit Samrat is also doing very well on both TV and films. Most of directors from the TV world, like Anurag Basu, have gone on to make successful films and I too recently directed the film Ekees Topon Ki Salami.”
TV stars have no choice but to wait and make their work speak for them, because according to Tina Dutta, the lead actress in Uttaran, “Movie stars have an aura.” She explains, “TV is like daily dal chawal. Films are like going out to a restaurant. The novelty factor sets them apart.”
