Is Old Gold Anymore?

Sometimes we wonder where have all our favorite actors gone.!! We wonder what is stopping them from taking up offers. Is it the true want for new faces in the television industry? Or is it the recession that drives people to go for new faces as obviously they can be paid less?

Wondering what's going on anyways....

Telly Buzz tries to figure it all out as it asks well known actors who no longer are active in the small screen industry. Their answers give us an insider's point of view leaving little to the imagination.

Parivaa Pranati who we all saw in Sony's Salaam Zindagi and Zee's Vivaah feels, "I don't find any negative thing in the present situation, but what bothers me is that nowadays even if you have done one show, you are considered old in this industry. It sounds funny but it's true. I think it is a temporary trend and eventually they will need good actors."

We may think it's the freshness of one's face that's a factor, but Aastha Chaudhury who was seen in Sony's Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Naa lets us think otherwise. She says, "Many times I was finalized for a role and then didn't get it because of the budget."

Then there is Sumeet Sachdev aka Gautam Virani of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi who is away from the scene by his own choice. He says, "I was approached for some roles after Kyunki… concluded; but I got busy with my short films, so was not able to take up any role."

However its Abhay Vakil who was last seen in Zee's Teen Bahuraniyan who dares to spit it all out. He says, "People say there is recession, hence channels have cut budgets, therefore production houses want actors for mere 3000/- to 6000/- to play the leads and established ones with less than 10,000/-. But I ask where is recession? They are merely using these excuses to cut down the budgets and make low cost programs and shows. Plus with reality TV setting in, it adds to their advantage as well."

Abhay further lets us on into what he thinks is the true reason for such a situation to creep in. He says, "The established stars were demanding way too high a price between 40,000/- to 75,000/- per day; they were out of the line, which they shouldn't have. That also played a role in giving rise to over rating and over pricing. Obviously, any production would then want to go for new faces rather than the old ones."

Gurdeep Kohli whose last stint on television was in Zee's Kasamh Se too, speaks like a bold critic. She says, "The production houses are basically looking for newcomers and not experienced faces, because they don't have money to pay. However, the audience is not able to relate to the new faces at all. Guess we are in the phase of recession wherein they don't really have money to shell out. I think they will again fall back on the experienced faces when their banks accounts are full after casting new faces (smiles). They have to realize that the old actors do hold substance. If you see, not any show that boasts of newcomers is doing well. It's only the reality shows which are left open to experienced actors like me. But I prefer to stay far away from realities, and I also don't think many of my contemporaries will want to succumb to reality shows."

Gurdeep also talks about the deterioration in the standard of small screen in general. She says, "What are they showing us today? Agreed, we had an overdose of saas bahu drama earlier, but they have now taken us to the villages. We talk of maintaining international standards everywhere, and here is TV showing us the slums of the country, snake charmers, villagers in pain etc. I think the only thing we have not seen on TV yet is Mohenjadaro and Harappa civilization."

However, Daljit Kaur's words reflect positivity all the way even though it may seem  bit unrealistic in this given scenario. She says, "I think the phase of hiring fresh faces is gone now because the production houses have finally realized that they are more comfortable and successful by starring people who have faced the camera before...for the simple fact that from the first day of the show, the actor holds the audience by his/her acting confidence."

Chaitanya Choudhury who was last seen in Star Plus' Sangam also remains hopeful of the good days ahead and quips with confidence, "I think this is a trend which is  currently going on. As time will pass, we experienced actors will be coming back with a bang. It's just a matter of fact according to me."

Well, Telly Buzz also hopes that many such experienced faces who are lost in the oblivion will return with a bang sooner or later!!!

Reporter: Ranjini Nair, Srividya Rajesh
Author: Susan Jose

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