When they aren’t busy breaking stereotypes, actors are caught up in fighting the out-of-sight-out-of-mind norm. In an industry, in which actors are easily replaceable, it is imperative to be seen throughout, across mediums, for people to remember you. Anuj Sachdeva, who was last seen on television in Rajan Shahi’s Woh Toh Hai Albelaa and has been exploring other mediums, including OTT, says, “You have to keep on doing different things across platforms to prove your caliber. There are a lot of projects being made on various platforms, be it OTT, TV, or films. Music videos are also a good trend. It’s not only a good way to make money, but it also lends visibility. And the more visible you are, the more it translates into work.”
But, does good talent always get work on merit? The actor admits that talent often gets overshadowed by other factors, including social media following and visibility. “Networking is a major point today,” says Anuj, adding, “There was a time when an actor would get picked through an audition or his work in some series or film. But now it’s all about networking. If you haven’t established a good network, the makers are unlikely to pick you over someone known to them. Acting is definitely the last criteria on the list today. I thought that on OTT, people were getting picked because of their performances, but now even that medium features a repetitive set of people.”
Anuj is clearly not a fan of talent management companies. “I tried joining a talent management company. But instead of them getting work for me, I got offers from my own contacts. In fact, I would redirect work-related calls to them. The fact is that personal managers or talent management companies do not get you work; they only try to facilitate the work you have. Whatever work I have done in the last 15 years has been on my own steam and I think I’ve been doing fine so far,” he concludes.
