These B-town actors, producers, and directors will make their foray in web series next year
Over the last few years, Bollywood actors have briefly flirted with the web space by being a part of short films or making an appearance in viral spoofs. However, now it looks like B-Towners are ready to make a bigger commitment. Having realised the scope that streaming channels like Netflix and Amazon offer, actors are willing to move from the bigger screen to find a foothold here. While some actors and production houses have already made the shift, there are others who will venture into the world of streaming channels in the coming months. Here are the actors you should be watching out for.
ANIL KAPOOR
The actor-producer will portray Vikram Danesh, the head of a distant planet called Oasis, in The Book of Strange New Things. Produced by Amazon Prime Video, the show is based on Dutch writer Michael Faber’s cult novel of the same name.
SAIF ALI KHAN
Saif will be seen in the Netflix original, Sacred Games, based on author Vikram Chandra’s bestseller by the same name. He plays Sartaj Singh, a turbanator cop in the series. Set in Mumbai, it depicts the underbelly of the metropolis and has been shot at real-life locations. At the launch of the show, Saif had said, “The fact that there is a lack of censorship and we will be able to tell our stories in truth is very exciting.”
NAWAZUDDIN SIDDIQUI
Nawaz will play the antagonist in Sacred Games. He will be seen as gangster, Ganesh Gaitonde. It will be interesting to watch how the talented actor, who is known for getting into the skin of the character, surprises viewers yet again with his portrayal as Saif’s nemesis.
RADHIKA APTE
Joining Saif and Nawaz in their debut series will be Radhika. The actress, whose performance in short films such as Ahalya and That Day After Everyday has been appreciated, will essay the role of a RAW analyst.
RANA DAGGUBATI
Rana Daggubati will be seen in the social media thriller Social by Viu. The story revolves around a missing girl and the four people who set out to find her. The 13-episodic show also features Naveen Kasturia, Priya Banerjee, Abdul Razzaq, and Moin Khan.
R MADHAVAN
R Madhavan has proved his mettle as an actor in various film industries in India. He began his career with TV. Obviously, it’s the content that matters to him and not the medium. It’s no wonder that the actor will now star in his first digital series titled Breathe.
AMIT SADH
Amit will star alongside R Madhavan in the same series. The show will be available in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi to Amazon Prime Video subscribers. Breathe is about a series of murders of organ donors who are connected to Danny Mascarenhas (Madhavan).
BEHIND THE SCENES
Not just actors, but even filmmakers have realised that being in the digital space is the best way to grab maximum eyeballs. Excel and Balaji have already made their foray and are making web series. Here are the other big players who will now strive to carve a niche for themselves.
SHAH RUKH KHAN
Netflix recently announced a multilingual original series, based on the book, Bard of Blood by Bilal Siddiqi, in partnership with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment. The novel will be adapted into an eight-episode high-octane political espionage thriller series.
ROHIT SHETTY
After having a successful run in films as well as television, the filmmaker is now keen to explore the digital space. However, he hasn’t divulged details about the web series that he is planning to helm. We can’t wait to see if it will be a comedy, an action thriller (Rohit is known for his love for both these genres) or something new that he hasn’t attempted before.
KABIR KHAN
Kabir is the latest to jump on to the digital bandwagon. He will direct a web series titled The Forgotten Army that will be based on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army. The filmmaker will seek inspiration from his documentary, which had the same title, and plans to rope in an international cast for the show.
VIKRAM BHATT
Vikram is all set to launch his own ‘VB-Theatre on the web’ app this January. The app will begin with the launch of an original series Untouchables, which will star Vikram himself.
ZOYA AKHTAR
While brother Farhan Akhtar is already in the web world producing shows, Zoya has opted to direct the 10-episodic series Mirzapur.
DISNEY
Disney pushed the brand Bindass as it merged with Bindass Play and entered the OTT space. The company aims to bring different stories to the audience on diverse platforms.
EROS
Eros International is looking to make their presence felt in the digital world by March 2018. The company is focussing on launching one-two web series every month. Their aim is to garner 6-8 million paid subscribers by March.
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