India Today Conclave 2021: Richa Chadha, Sanya Malhotra say want to watch more content on women

On Day 2 of India Today Conclave 2021, actors Pankaj Tripathi, Sanya Malhotra, Richa Chadha, and Aparna Purohit, Head of India Originals, Amazon Prime Video, spoke about how OTT has been a game-changer for artists and creators.

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India Today Conclave 2021: Richa Chadha, Sanya Malhotra say want to watch more content on women
Richa Chadha (L) and Sanya Malhotra talked about the opportunities given by OTT platforms on Day 2 of India Today Conclave 2021 (Photo: Chandradeep Kumar).

In the last couple of years, with the advent of OTT platforms in India, we have seen the rise of many underrated actors. We have also seen the audience choose performance and script over star power. Pankaj Tripathi, Richa Chadha and Sanya Malhotra are among the actors who have brought about this change and hijacked the minds of the audience with their terrific performances.

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In a session titled, Serial Thrillers: The stars who have hijacked our minds, moderated by Shiv Aroor, on Day 2 of India Today Conclave 2021, actors Pankaj Tripathi, Richa Chadha, Sanya Malhotra and Aparna Purohit (Head of India Originals, Amazon Prime Video), talked about how OTT has been a game-changer for artists and creators.

Excerpts from the conversation:

Is there a secret formula for a phenomenal show? How does your mind work when you are deciding on a show?

Aparna: India is a land of storytellers and there are stories in every nook and corner. There are so many stories that are waiting to be told. When someone comes to us with a story pitch, I'm really looking for the most compelling factor in that story. What is so different about the story, and why must the story be told? And why must we tell the story now? The second thing we look at is the creator and how passionate he is. Is the story keeping him up at night? How invested is he in the story? At Amazon, every decision is customer-oriented. There are a number of stories waiting to be told, but what are the need-gaps that exist, what are the genres that are unaddressed and what are the stories that are waiting to be told that the customer really wants to watch. The stories, the storytellers and the audience are the three things that we're looking at.

You ventured into web series when not much was known about this medium. Looking back at it now, how do you feel?

Richa: When I was offered Inside Edge, another platform was producing it. Later, it finally came to Amazon Prime Video. When I said yes to the show, there were things on Indian television that I couldn't relate to. There was good TV that my parents grew up watching. But there was nothing for me. I couldn't relate to saas-bahu shows or Naagin. And I could not see anybody in my generation or in my group watching these shows either. I understood that there was a need for intelligent Indian content in Indian languages. How long were we going to watch Narcos and other shows from the West? So when Inside Edge came to me, I was thrilled. But people within the industry said that it's a demotion. They asked, how can you do films and then appear on the small screen? And all of those people are doing web shows today. I don't think it was an act of courage. I think it was simply the presence of mind. And I'm saying it now because there are still some people who believe that this (OTT shows) a demotion. But then look at the numbers, the reach, the potential to tell stories and the faces that such shows have given us, like Jaideep Ahlawat and Pratik Gandhi.

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Has the demotion wala thing evaporated?

Richa: I can't go up to them and tell them I told you so. But when I see them on a set doing a web series, I have my answer.

Sanya, you began your career with a mainstream hit. And now you have had three straight big releases on OTT. Were there people who told you the same? Were you apprehensive?

Sanya: Not at all. For me, the game changed in 2020 during the pandemic. When we were all at home, it was gratifying that Shakuntala Devi was released on Amazon Prime Video, while Ludo and Pagglait were released on Netflix. And we got a tremendous response. As an actor, the fact that I got to entertain people even as they were stuck at home was amazing.

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Pankaj, is it true that people refer to you as Kaleen Bhaiya now?

Pankaj: Yes, it happens. And I'm waiting for them to issue a boarding pass to me in Kaleen Bhaiya's name (laughs). People come to my building and ask for Kaleen Bhaiya. Then the watchman of our building has to tell them that there's no one by that name here.

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How did you get into the role of Kaleen Bhaiya? Did you imagine that eventually, this role will become your identity?

Pankaj: No, when we prepare and perform a role, we don't think like this. We don't know how the audience will react. When I heard the script, I liked it. I liked the writing. But I didn't know that the series will do so well.

Aparna, give us a sense of the kind of scripts you reject.

Aparna: Authenticity is very important. To give an example, when Mirzapur was pitched to us, Puneet Krishna and Karan Anshuman knew the immersive world that they were creating - the characters and each of their character graphs. Anything that a character would say in Episode 3 of Season 1 will have a bearing in Episode 7 of Season 3. So, that's the kind of investment they made into the story. We are looking at authenticity and sensitivity.

When you reject a show, is it a ruthless process?

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Aparna: There are many factors due to which we don't take a show forward. One is if we have a slate that already has a similar show. The best answer is a fast no. Our intent is to quickly tell the creators that this story may not work.

Richa, in the film industry, film stars don't take a stand and speak on current issues. Are you hoping that OTT platforms will reflect more of the current mood?

Richa: I have always been this way. Right now, I perhaps stand out because the others are quiet. I tend to get highlighted because of that. To come to your question, I think that there are shows that already reflect the current issues. Paatal Lok is a great example. Then there are shows where reality is fictionalised, like in Inside Edge. Art inspires life. So, our inspiration is going to come from the things that are happening around us. It is the curse of the artist to feel more viscerally than perhaps a banker or an accountant. When a writer or producer or actor looks at what's happening around us, they are bound to be impacted by it. You can either deal with it allegorically or through humour, or in the non-fiction format or in a subversive way. But it will find its way into the things that we are doing.

Pankaj, do you think that there should be more shows that depict the dirt in politics, like Mirzapur?

Pankaj: I don't know. I'm an actor. Hona hi chahiye (there should be).

Sanya, do you think OTT provides greater opportunities to poke at issues that are controversial?

Sanya: Definitely, OTT has given creators and artists a big platform to experiment with. As Richa said, art imitates life and vice-versa. It's difficult to keep your own politics away from the work that you are doing. As Pankaj ji said, we are actors. As actors, it's crucial to have empathy for characters that are completely different from who we are. There will be times when you'll not relate to the character you are essaying, but you'll have to have empathy. In some cases, it is very difficult to keep aside your personal politics.

Richa, do you find there is a lot of pressure on actors to take a stand? And are they stereotyped for their political stance?

Richa: I think typecasting and stereotyping are things that perhaps casting directors or producers do. But when it comes to the pressures on actors, I wouldn't know. Nehru started this movement called the Non-Aligned Movement. And I think that's where I stand because I have to focus on myself and my career. The fact is that, in this country, it is difficult to identify with one kind of politics because politicians keep jumping ships before and after elections. So, I don't know who to support. How can we pin our faith on one person?

There's pressure from both sides. Woke warriors on Twitter ask me, 'What about this? Why haven't you tweeted about this'? The crimes that happen in our country have been happening since before the advent of social media. We cannot write on our foreheads that 'we hate murderers' or that 'we're against rape'. It's impossible to comment and live-tweet our thoughts and beliefs on a daily basis. You have to live in the real world. I'm vocal because I pay taxes here and vote here. If I can do those things, I can exercise my freedom of expression.

What would you like to see next on OTT?

Richa: I want to see more shows on women, not just about sports stars, actors and politicians. I want to see female-led narratives that create an impact on our lives. I want to see a show on Savitribai Phule and other change-makers. I want to see more shows with empowering narratives rooted in India.

Sanya: I want to be a part of more women-driven content too. I would like to play Amrita Pritam.

Pankaj: I would like to see more content on Indian folklore.

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