Actor and director Kunal Roy Kapur believes the streaming landscape in India has matured into a sanctuary for quiet, intimate drama. According to him, audiences are no longer reliant on loud, hyper-stylized narratives to stay engaged. Instead, he argues that viewers are increasingly connecting with simple, truthful stories that reflect their own realities.
The Rise of Real-Life Mirrors on OTT
In a recent discussion, Kapur described Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms as a unique medium that allows creators to capture the micro-realities of modern existence. He emphasized that these platforms excel at mirroring authentic human behavior. For Kapur, compelling stories do not always require extreme elements like blood, gore, or drug cartels. A show's power, he suggests, can lie in its ability to make you pause and reflect on everyday life.
His own recent web series, 'Thode Door Thode Paas', co-starring Mona Singh and Pankaj Kapur, actively leans into this gentler narrative space. The series explores themes of digital detox and the immense pressures of a perpetually online lifestyle, offering a relatable commentary for contemporary viewers.
Selectivity vs. Continuity in a Booming Market
Despite having a long and varied filmography, Kapur admits he does not yet feel he has the absolute power to be highly selective with his projects. He acknowledges the undeniable boom in the OTT sector but is cautious about declaring it has reached saturation, at least from his personal perspective.
"Sometimes you have the luxury of choice, sometimes you don't. I don't always have the liberty to say no to everything," Kapur stated frankly. He believes that if he waited exclusively for projects with the biggest names or top-tier directors, he would simply end up working much less. "If I set very high standards, like only working with top directors or top producers, I wouldn't get enough work. I have to pick from what's around me," he explained.
For him, the primary goal is professional continuity, not just visibility. "It is not about being seen. It is about working. If this is your primary job, you need to keep working," he added.
Instagram: The New Casting Playground
Kapur also highlighted a significant shift in how actors are discovered, pointing to the profound impact of social media. He reminisced about an earlier era when casting directors would scout for fresh talent in physical spaces like Mumbai's Prithvi and NCPA theatres, watching young performers on stage.
That traditional pipeline, he notes, has now been largely overtaken by Instagram. The platform has become the new playground where everyone seeks visibility. "Casting directors see your profile or a reel and decide if you fit the mold, then they might send a DM. It's accessible, but it's a completely different skill set," Kapur observed.
He pointed out a growing gap between digital popularity and the actual craft of acting, underscoring the contrast between curated online content and the patient, often grueling reality of a film set—"waiting on set for four hours for ten minutes of work." This shift, while democratizing access, also reframes the pathways to an acting career in the digital age.
