Originally posted by: Walden
Interesting discussion...more interesting than the episode. I'll add my 2 cents. I think there are certainly brand actors and non-brand actors (acting abilities not being relevant to inclusion in either group) and Rati has definitely positioned herself to be a brand actor. That's hard to do let alone for a woman and let alone in the television world. Once you become a brand actor, you certainly guarantee yourself a minimum amount of viewership, no matter what the quality of the project is. But this leads me to question Saumya's proposition. If Rati fanatics will watch no matter what and that is what is contributing to a major portion of the TRP's, don't you think this would actually be liberating for Illa Bedi and the creatives to try something innovative rather than sticking to the same old ghisa pita tracks to attract viewers? This, as you mention later on, is a fault of the limited imagination of the writers and the production house. They can exploit the talent that they have hired and are using to get eyeballs (almost every actor in HD...not only the leads), but just don't know how to!
Personally speaking, I think once an actor becomes a brand actor, the characters they portray somewhere lose the authenticity, genuineness, and truthfulness that they may have otherwise had. That's not to say that it can't be done (I think people like Vidya Balan and Aamir Khan attempt to separate out the brand from the actor in their work) but it requires chosing the right kind of project and right kind of storyline. This is what I meant when I said that choices matter. What is it that I want my name to be associated with? But then, the fact is that one does not know how a show or a film will turn out ultimately. I think HD has definitely been successful in propagating RP as a brand, but I think it has failed miserably in creating an authentic character. Maybe this is what RP was looking for and in that case the show has worked for her. But if she was looking to actually create an authentic character, then the show has failed her big time. This, I think, is where the show really failed. And not just the leads...in my opinion, every character and actor has been shortchanged. A show needs its supporting cast just as much as the lead pair but not a single character has been developed to any extent. She also expects us to believe that mothers like Kutumb (her character does not have a single redeeming feature) exist. This is the one big flaw that cannot really be overlooked. That's why we laugh at the show instead of taking away something from it.
Regarding Sumit, he is definitely a non-brand actor and I hope he keeps it that way. I don't know why but I think its easier for me to relate to his character because I never think of SV, the actor, when I'm watching him onscreen. Actually, I would really like to watch him in something else. Now that his portrayal of Rishi is so stuck in my head, I really want to know and see whether he can create another character in the same manner...with the little nuances and his own personal touch where even if I know that he has played Rishi here, he convinces me that he is some other character. That would be awesome 😊 Personally, I don't watch a show or a movie for a particular actor (though their presence may intially draw me into the project) and I find it commendable when actors can make me forget the actor behind the character Same with me...I had not watched either Rati or Sumit before this, and so, I arrived with a blank mind. And anyway, the story holds me more than anything, but in that department, HD is sadness personified. (not sure if that makes any sense..so I'll stop rambling now).
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
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