Sweta Keswani on rise of OTT: More work for actors is always a good thing

Sweta Keswani is an actor who made her debut on Indian TV with Abhimaan. She made her way to Hollywood and worked with James Spader in The Blacklist. Now, she will be seen in As They Made Us and was seen in a TV series with Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo, Merritt Wever, and others. 

When asked how was her experience while filming with Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo, Merritt Wever, and Alison Brie, she said,

 "I never got the opportunity to work with them. Their stories were different from ours. Every story is unique and has one central woman character. Our dates and locations never overlapped. Roar is an anthology of 8 short stories. The story I’m in has Meera Syal as the Woman Who Returned Her Husband, Rizwan Manji, and others."

She was further questioned about being a part of both the Hollywood and Indian entertainment industry and what does she feel is lacking here that can be added to make it on par with Hollywood.

She exclaimed, 

"There, the unions are very strict about shifts and overtime. I’m unsure how it’s here now. 15, 20 years ago when I worked here often we worked long hours and rarely got the additional remuneration. Apart from that, the work culture is very different! They want you to focus solely on your work.  Every department has clear protocols and it’s beautiful to see that kind of organization. That truly makes a huge difference. Also, there’s tremendous respect, no matter which part of the production you are a part of."

She further gave insights about her views on the rise of OTT platforms and content. She commented that ,

"More work for actors is always a good thing. When I started, we did many pilots and waited a long time for approval and if we got lucky, then it got into production. There were just a handful of channels/ networks. With more streaming services and more content being made, there’s a need for actors. So it’s a win-win for all."

Her series Roar was released on April 15th.