Showing posts with label Abhishek Singh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abhishek Singh. Show all posts
Are television actors losing out on plum roles due to their social media following?
8:21 AM
While actors are upset and feel this emerging trend is unfair, senior producers and casting directors have a different take on this issue
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; October 6, 2021)
Social media earlier was a tool for actors to reveal their real personality and stay connected with fans. But now, in many ways, the fan following dictates if an actor will land interesting projects. While this trend began for web shows, lately, it seems to have percolated into the world of television, too.
‘THE PERCEPTION THAT A HUGE FAN FOLLOWING CAN GET RATINGS FOR A TV SHOW IS BIZARRE’
A few months ago Mouli Ganguly shared how she had lost out on a show because of less followers on social media. Balika Vadhu actress Aasiya Kazi also vented how it was frustrating to lose a project when the makers liked her audition, but she was not selected finally, due to lack of followers on social media. Like these two, many have voiced their unhappiness over this emerging trend. Nia Sharma may not have experienced this herself, but she spoke out against this saying, “It is disrespectful and hurtful for a senior actor like Mouli to lose out on a show because she doesn’t have followers. When I did Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna, there was no social media, but the show did well. The perception that a huge fan following can get ratings for a TV show is bizarre.”
SENIOR PRODUCERS SAY SUCH A THING DOESN’T EXIST
Many senior producers do not agree that such a trend has begun in the TV industry. Producer of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, Benaifer Kohli says, “Even if Katrina Kaif auditions for the role of Bhabi Ji, but doesn’t suit the part, I will not be able to cast her in my show. Every day, there are so many actors who come to us saying we have millions of followers, but TV audiences are not your social media followers. While you might be well-known on social media, people might not connect with you in a TV show if you don’t act well or don’t suit the role.”
She gives the example of TV show Saath Nibhaana Saathiya. “How do you explain the popularity of actresses who played the lead in Saath Nibhaana Saathiya? When Giaa Manek quit the show, Devoleena Bhattacharjee took over. Both the actresses then were not popular on social media, but they got popular because of the character and the script.” Many established producers share a similar thought as Binaifer.
CASTING DIRECTORS ARE DIVIDED ON THIS ISSUE
While some casting directors agree that such a trend is slowly setting in, others feel it’s a wrong perception that actors have. Casting director Amano Dhyan, who has cast actors for many TV and web shows, says, “I admit this is a trend currently, but not as rampant as TV actors feel. There are new producers in the market, who are not confident about their product and want to cast actors with a big fan following. They don’t want to take a risk, so they check actors’ reels and Insta stories. But experienced senior producers cast actors on the basis of auditions and talent.”
However, casting director Abhishek Singh, who has cast actors in shows like Anupamaa, Pratigyaa, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlataa Hai and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, does not agree with this and says, “I don’t feel any TV actor is cast in a show for his fan following. Just because you have not agreed on certain terms with the makers and are not doing a show, does not give you the excuse to blame it on social media. I don’t see any lead actor on TV right now, who is there because he has a million followers and no experience of working in a TV show.”
IS SOCIAL MEDIA FAN FOLLOWING REAL?
Achint Kaur feels times are changing and one has to accept it. She says, “The fact is that social media is here to stay. If some makers want traction online for their TV shows, why not? If they want a popular face who has a good fan following, it is a reality and we all have to accept it.”
However, the general feeling among actors who do not have a huge following on social media is that it’s unfair. Mayank Gandhi, who has worked in TV shows like Kaala Teeka, says, “I have actually been auditioned for projects and selected for a role, but at the last minute, someone else got selected for it. I was told that his social media fan following was better, but everyone knows that followers can be bought. Does it mean you have to pay money to be cast in a show? Also, social media fan following is a big hoax because you could be a star on social media and yet people would not recognise you in real life. Sometimes, I feel that it is not about social media, but an excuse to cast actors who are new and will work in lower budgets for them.”
Delhi Crime shoot to be continued in Mumbai due to the pandemic?
8:06 AM
After Delhi Crime shoot was stalled in the capital in March, makers to wrap up remaining portions in city studio by month-end
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; September 15, 2020)
After a thunderous response to Shefali Shah-fronted Delhi Crime that revolved around the 2012 Nirbhaya case, the makers had swiftly begun work on its second edition.
The unit was conducting the final schedule in the capital when the nationwide Coronavirus lockdown in March compelled them to call it off and trudge back home. Six months since, as the wheels of the entertainment industry begin to turn again, it is heard that directors Rajesh Mapuskar and Tanuj Chopra have sent word to the team that the remaining portions of the police procedural will be shot in a Mumbai studio.
A source close to the project reveals, "The makers have begun working on the logistics, including getting dates from Shefali and the rest of the cast. They are eyeing to go on floors by the month-end." Real-life IAS officer Abhishek Singh has joined the cast of the Richie Mehta series.
Shah, who is joined by Rasika Dugal, Adil Hussain and Rajesh Tailang in the second instalment, confirmed the development, stating, "I have only two to three days' shoot pending. My portion will be filmed in Mumbai later this month."
Kapil Sharma's team disassociates itself from arrested writer
7:40 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (August 9, 2016)
Kapil Sharma's show been in
the news has over the arrest of scriptwriter Abhishek Singh on August 5. Along with his uncle, Abhishek was booked for a murder in 2009. He
continued to be on the loose by adopting fake identities. However, the
Special Task Force nabbed him recently after seven years.
While reports suggested that Abhishek is a writer on Kapil's show, it's creative director Preeti Simoes rubbishes it, saying, “We have a fixed team of writers and Abhishek isn't part of it. He was just a freelancer like many others who submit their scripts. We have hardly used his work. He isn't associated with the production house.“
While reports suggested that Abhishek is a writer on Kapil's show, it's creative director Preeti Simoes rubbishes it, saying, “We have a fixed team of writers and Abhishek isn't part of it. He was just a freelancer like many others who submit their scripts. We have hardly used his work. He isn't associated with the production house.“
Kapil Sharma's writer Abhishek Singh arrested for murder
8:00 AM
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 6, 2016)
Abhishek Singh, scriptwriter of The Kapil Sharma Show, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police from Mumbai on August 5.
He was reportedly booked in 2009 along with his uncle, Manoj, for the murder of a villager after which the duo was absconding. The police had put a bounty of Rs 50,000 on Manoj and Rs 30,000 on Singh.
Manoj was nabbed from Gorakhpur in 2011. Singh continued to evade the law by adopting fake identities, including Kera Singh, Rohit Singh, Baljinder Singh, before the Special Task Force was tipped off that Ram Abhishek Singh, working in comedian Kapil Sharma's show, is the Kera Singh they have been on the lookout for since the last seven years. The STF discovered an election card, issued in the name of Kera Singh, upon searching Singh's Andheri residence.
Singh was reportedly working on contract with K-9 Productions. He has also dabbled in acting, appearing in The Great Indian Family Drama and Code Red. The channel, when contacted, refused to comment on the subject, stating that shooting for the show is on with Kapil and team wrapping up an episode with Rustom lead actors, Akshay Kumar and Ileana D'Cruz, on Friday.
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