Though his 2018 film Tumbbad did well, actor-producer Sohum Shah says his struggle to make good content continues even on OTT. While the perception is that web platforms give makers of unconventional projects an opportunity to showcase their work, Shah says “aisa kuchh nahin ho raha hai”.

He adds, “Abhi bhi it’s very tough. I have made a new film and it’s in the edit stage. Bahut chakkar kaate logon ke office ke maine [to get the backing for the project]. There’s just one [key] character in the film and I am playing that part. OTT pe bhi wohi hai — star kaun hai? If you want to make something different, the struggle is there.”

When he produced Tumbbad, he had to face a similar situation. The 36-year-old recalls, “They (co-producers) would say, ‘Tumbbad kaisa naam hai?’, among other things. But Tumbbad ke baad thoda faayda toh hua mujhe. I [manage to] get writers on board. But even now, the studios say they want a formula. They are still star driven.”

The actor, who was also seen in web projects such as Maharani (2021) and Dahaad, likes to star in the shows he makes. He explains, “The kind of things that I come up with are not made here usually. My first love is acting and it’s difficult to get the kind of work your heart is in.”