The information revolution unleashed by the Internet has opened up several opportunities worldwide ... and B-town actors are jumping onto the bandwagon. Several known names from the Hindi film industry are now featuring in an exciting new medium – web series, many of which are being made by established future-minded production houses who hope to grab the first-mover advantage in the fledgling internet market.
For artistes, featuring in web series affords gives them the chance to experiment with creative ideas outside the purview of films, as well as create a broader reach among audiences. We explore this latest trend among Bollywood actors.
Vivek Oberoi
Vivek Oberoi still has films like the Yash Raj production Bank Chor and the Ram Gopal Verma directed Rai in hand, but he has decided to broaden his horizons and try his luck with an upcoming web series, Khel. It obviously helps that it is a prestigious venture produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment and directed by Karan Anshuman.
In Khel, Vivek Oberoi plays the lead role of an aspiring cricketer from a not- so-well-to-do background who struggles to find his place. Will it result in a House Of Cards scaled hit and a career transformation for Vivek?
Kalki Koechlin
Always open to experimentation, Kalki has taken to web series like the proverbial fish to water. In Man’s World, a web series produced by Y-Films (a branch of YRF), she had a special appearance as a corporate head. Kalki has also starred in the short Home At Last which was part of the horror web series Shockers directed by Faruk Kabir (who had earlier directed the film Allah Ke Banday. And that’s not all, the petite actress recently told us, “I am also going to be doing a web series called Smoke in which I play a DJ in Goa.”
Parineeti Chopra
Yash Raj discovery Parineeti Chopra had a brief cameo as a gynaecologist in Man’s World, a web series produced by Y-Films (a branch of YRF), that humorously tackled the prejudice and discrimination against women.
Richa Chadda
After making a splash with Excel Entertainment’s film Fukrey (2013), Richa Chadda is also part of the impressive cast of their web series Khel alongside Vivek Oberoi, Gulshan Devaiah and Angad Bedi. Earlier, she had joined Yash Raj discoveries Parineeti Chopra, Rhea Chakraborty and Bhumi Pednekar for a one scene role in Man’s World, a web series produced by Y-Films that spoke out against gender discrimination. Richa played a police inspector.
Sachin Pilgaonkar
Almost 40 years after Sachin Pilgaonkar worked in Yash Chopra’s Trishul, he teams up with Y Films for their web series Sex Chat With Pappu and Papa, which tackles themes related sexuality. The veteran actor is featuring in a series that strives to provide education
Dia Mirza
Though she may not have featured in a horror film so far, Dia Mirza has added that genre to her career with The Good Wife which is part of Shockers a horror web series directed b y Faruk Kabir.
Kunal Roy Kapoor
The Delhi Belly actor says he is doing a web series called Behind The News .“I have a small role but I am enjoying it because the content is funny. Life is too short to claim that I have to be the biggest; one has to be a part of things that are fun,” the star says.
Prateik Babbar
The actor chose to make his comeback three years after Issaq (2013) with the horror web series Shockers. Prateik’s 14-minute long web episode is titled A Lover’s Call.
Ali Fazal
After playing the male lead in Bobby Jasoos and Khamoshiyan, actor Ali Fazal chose to do Y-Films, Bang Baaja Baaraat a rom-com on urban relationships.
Zeenat Aman
Zeenat Aman makes her digital debut in the romantic web series Love, Live and Screw-Ups in which she will be seen in a super glamorous avatar.
Nimrat Kaur
Nimrat Kaur will be featured in the Y-Films’ web series Love Shots recently for an episode titled Road Trip. Nimrat was chosen on board while she was promoting Airlift.”