Seniors in command

Seniors in command

Sunday, 26 April 2015 | Sangeeta Yadav



Even though one gets to see many newcomers on the small screen in lead roles, senior actors like Ram Kapoor, Sakshi Tanwar, Shweta Tiwari, Ronit Roy and Rajeev Khandelwal are still very much in demand, says SANGEETA YADAV


Despite the fact that daily soap have several new faces who are doing very well for themselves, actors like Rajeev Khandelwal, Gurdeep Kohli, Shweta Tiwari, Ram and Gautami Kapoor and Ronit Roy, were never forgotten even though they may not have been doing many shows or may have taken a break. “After Sakshi and Ram became a hit jodi with Bade Acche Lagte Hai, it has proved to be a boon for many actors who are in that age group. There are interesting storylines that have been made which demands actors like us to be in the frontline. It’s nice that these actors are making a comeback on the telly on audiences’ demand,” Gautami Kapoor, who made a comeback after six years with Khelti Hai Zindagi Aankh Micholi (2013) and Tere Sheher Mein (2015), says.
For Gautami, what matters is how strong the character is and the scope for experimentation with the role. “It was never on my agenda to make a comeback only in the lead role. As far as the character is meaty and has a lot of depth, it doesn’t matter if I’m playing a lead or a supporting role. Take for example in Tere Sheher Mein, I am playing an orthodox mother. The role gives me a lot of scope to experiment even though I am not the lead protagonist,” Gautami tells you.

Then there is TV’s heartthrob Rajeev Khandelwal. After playing Sujal Garewal in Kahiin To Hoga and Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat in Left Right Left, the actor had not been seen on the small screen for eight years as lead. But he is back with Reporters (on Sony). Khandelwal tells you that the only reason why he stayed away from TV was because of lack of good projects.



“It’s exciting to be back on TV. But time will tell how popular the show will get. In the daily soap genre, there was nothing interesting that was coming my way. When a script is being narrated to me, if I don’t find it exciting, I say no to it. I never do calculations about who is the director, which production house is making the show, who is the co-actor etc. Rather, I go with my conviction. Reporter is an unusual show that will showcase the journey of journalists and the process of news making with a love angle woven in,” Khandelwal says.

The producer of the show Shrishti Arya of Rose Audio Visuals Pvt Limited tells you that while they have always believed in casting fresh faces for all their shows but when it came to Reporters, they were looking for an actor who would be able to play the complex role of Kabir Sharma. “Rajeev fit the bill perfectly,” Arya says. So why is it that one doesn’t get to see some of the popular faces of the yesteryears? One take is that as an actor becomes senior in the industry, the options for good roles become limited. Also the actors themselves are looking for something that is bigger and better than their previous role.
“Senior actors become choosy and prefer to do big roles. They take up a role according to their age. For my show Begusarai (&TV), nobody could have done justice to Bindiya’s character other than Shweta Tiwari. There are certain roles which requires a seasoned actor and you can’t compromise on that,” director Ravindra Gautam, who made shows like Bade Acche Lagte Hain, Parichay, Kya Hua Tera Wada, Madhubala and Kum Kum Bhagya says.

Arya says that even though there are several new comers in the industry, it has not affected the popularity of the senior actors or the projects that are coming their way. “The senior actors aren’t threatened by newcomers. They too were newcomers at one point in time. Casting is done as per the characters and so both have their own spaces that neither can take over. There is more than enough work for all the actors,” Arya says.

The only reason why new faces are taken instead of seniors in lead roles is the affordability factor. “An experienced actor comes with a price tag. Sometimes, the channel’s budget is not big. A fresher will charge less money. Also, seniors have set rules and regulations for working,” Gautam says. Another reason why newcomers are preferred is because daily soap is a grind where people are made to shoot for 19 hours in order to deliver the episode daily. “Any senior actor, who has slogged for 15 years will not want to work such a long shift. To avoid any conflict of interest, new actors are roped in,” Gautam says.

Arya tells you that the reason why seasoned actors charge a higher price, which according to him is justifiable, is because they bring that extra quality to the show in terms of performance. “Newcomers bring with them charm and freshness. The basis for choosing which kind of actor to cast should solely be the requirement of the character and the show,” Arya says.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/show-time/seniors-in-command.html

happy to see Rajeev on tv again