Social media earlier was a tool for actors to reveal their real personality and stay connected with fans. But now, in many ways, the fan following dictates if an actor will land interesting projects. While this trend began for web shows, lately, it seems to have percolated into the world of television, too.

‘The perception that a huge fan following can get ratings for a TV show is bizarre’
A few months ago Mouli Ganguly shared how she had lost out on a show because of less followers on social media. Balika Vadhu actress Aasiya Kazi also vented how it was frustrating to lose a project when the makers liked her audition, but she was not selected finally, due to lack of followers on social media. Like these two, many have voiced their unhappiness over this emerging trend. Nia Sharma may not have experienced this herself, but she spoke out against this saying, “It is disrespectful and hurtful for a senior actor like Mouli to lose out on a show because she doesn’t have followers. When I did Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna, there was no social media, but the show did well. The perception that a huge fan following can get ratings for a TV show is bizarre.”

Senior producers say such a thing doesn’t exist
Many senior producers do not agree that such a trend has begun in the TV industry. Producer of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai!, Binaifer Kohli says, “Even if Katrina Kaif auditions for the role of Bhabhiji, but doesn’t suit the part, I will not be able to cast her in my show. Every day, there are so many actors who come to us saying we have millions of followers, but TV audiences are not your social media followers. While you might be well-known on social media, people might not connect with you in a TV show if you don’t act well or don’t suit the role.” She gives the example of TV show Saath Nibhaana Saathiya. “How do you explain the popularity of actresses who played the lead in Saath Nibhaana Saathiya? When Gia Manek quit the show, Devoleena Bhattacharjee took over. Both the actresses then were not popular on social media, but they got popular because of the character and the script.” Many established

producers share a similar thought as Binaifer.

Casting directors are divided on this issue

While some casting directors agree that such a trend is slowly setting in, others feel it’s a wrong perception that actors have. Casting director Amano Dhyan, who has cast actors for many TV and web shows, says, “I admit this is a trend currently, but not as rampant as TV actors feel. There are new producers in the market, who are not confident about their product and want to cast actors with a big fan following. They don’t want to take a risk, so they check actors’ reels and Insta stories. But experienced senior producers cast actors on the basis of auditions and talent.”

However, casting director Abhishek Singh, who has cast actors in shows like Anupamaa, Pratigyaa, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlataa Hai and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, does not agree with this and says, “I don’t feel any TV actor is cast in a show for his fan following. Just because you have not agreed on certain terms with the makers and are not doing a show, does not give you the excuse to blame it on social media. I don’t see any lead actor on TV right now, who is there because he has a million followers and no experience of working in a TV show.”

Is social media fan following real?

Achint Kaur feels times are changing and one has to accept it. She says, “The fact is that social media is here to stay. If some makers want traction online for their TV shows, why not? If they want a popular face who has a good fan following, it is a reality and we all have to accept it.”

However, the general feeling among actors who do not have a huge following on social media is that it’s unfair. Mayank Gandhi, who has worked in TV shows like Kaala Teeka, says, “I have actually been auditioned for projects and selected for a role, but at the last minute, someone else got selected for it. I was told that his social media fan following was better, but everyone knows that followers can be bought. Does it mean you have to pay money to be cast in a show? Also, social media fan following is a big hoax because you could be a star on social media and yet people would not recognise you in real life. Sometimes, I feel that it is not about social media, but an excuse to cast actors who are new and will work in lower budgets for them.”

 

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