Filmy groups come to the rescue of struggling actors

Every year, hundreds of people come to Mumbai with the dream of making it big in the film industry. Talented or not, most of them fizzle out, mostly because they don't have the right contacts to make the big wigs sit up and notice.

But now, aspiring actors have a helping hand. Filmwallahs, started by RJ Anirudh Chawla is a group that helps newbies get in touch with the right people and get the right opportunities. With a subscription fee of Rs 1,500 for a lifetime membership, Chawla says that Filmwallah group is like a shopping mall for the media industry. Similarly, Savdhan Actors, started by film, TV and stage actor Babul Bhavsar, is a WhatsApp group through which those waiting for their big break can keep track of all the auditions and acting offers in the city.

Filmwallahs began with 20 members in 2009, and has around 2,000 members across the country today. "We used to meet at coffee shops every week but with the increasing numbers we meet once in a month," said Chawla who began the group to provide information about projects in the industry with credible contact details and reference points. "One gets treated with more respect if they go through a reference," he added. Chawla said that a lot of highly confidential and exclusive contact details are shared within the group, which operates mostly through Facebook. The subscription amount is charged so that unwanted elements who may abuse contacts are kept out of the group. The Filmwallahs are also coming out with their own movie 'Sabki Bajegi Band' where most of the funding and the talent has been sourced from the group.

Bhavsar began the 1st group of 'Saavdhan Actor' in June last year with 50 people. Today it has expanded to 3,800 members who are part of 80 groups, to which he claims he adds more than 10 people a day. "Apart from collecting information and posting about 30 to 35 auditions in a day, I alert people of scammers, people who don't pay on time, who dupe people in the name of registration fee and also who ask actors to compromise," said Bhavsar, who has bagged a small role alongside Salman Khan and Kareena kapoor in the upcoming movie Bajrangi Bhaijaan. They also put up invites for movie screenings, premiers, plays and other events to network better.

Bhavsar also recently a formed women-only group called 'Saavdhan Actress' as women were getting unwelcome attention from some members.

Vasai resident Anuj Dubey came down from Varanasi 15 years ago to become an actor and joined the Filmwallahs group around 3 years ago. "I haven't received much help till now but the way the group functions is good. I am currently shooting for a promotional video for a Marathi movie and work as a manager at a jewellery store too. My parents are dependent on me and I was facing a financial crunch, but one has to move on," said Dubey, who is still hoping he will find good work through the group.