He has been acting for almost two decades, and perhaps is now reaping the benefits of his hard work. After being a part of films like Kai Po Che (2013) and Tumhari Sulu (2017), actor Manav Kaul got a standing in the industry and with web projects like Ajeeb Daastaans (2021) and The Fame Game (TFG), he has surely upped his game.

“Now, I am getting a lot of romantic roles,” he quips, adding, “It is a good thing, as I haven’t explored a full-fledged romantic film, yet. Having done Ajeeb Daastaans and TFG, I think people now know that I can do more than the usual stuff. I am happy that my future projects will surprise everyone.”

While web projects are keeping him busy and excited, Kaul is keen on doing films, too. He explains, “Apart from acting, I do so much more, including travelling and writing. Since I need time for that. I choose projects carefully. I also take a break between projects. Currently, I am working on two films and a web series. In fact, I plan to do more web or theatrical films going forward [to save time], as one ends up working for six months on one series.”

When OTT boomed, everyone jumped on the digital bandwagon. Initially, it was new and exciting, but soon, people realised the kind of time and commitment a web show demands, especially a project that has multiple seasons. Kaul feels it’s only now that we are realising the potential of seasons and how long a season should be.

“I would say we are still learning and trying to understand how to work the digital platform. We have had some great shows, including The Family Man, Delhi Crime and Panchayat. The audience got hooked and wanted more seasons. Earlier, people were apprehensive about doing an OTT show, but the kind of viewership a web project gets is humongous. You get money, good roles, audiences and it is a democratic platform as the content doesn’t work due to PR, but word of mouth. Panchayat worked because people liked it, not due to a promotional campaign,” he signs off.