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After wooing the audience with their acting chops every evening, 15 telly stars are now trying their hand at producing films and television shows
Usually people who work behind the camera crave to be in front of it, but by the looks of it, the tables have turned. A lot of television actors are now turning producers. After years of applying greasepaint and minting money as actors, TV stars are now trying newer tactics to add to their bank balance.
From producing regional films to Hindi TV shows, these actors are doing it all. While J D Majethia, Smriti Irani, Anuj Saxena and Shabbir Ahluwalia have already made their foray as producers, the new lot of stars turned producers include, Sai Deodhar and Shakti Anand (who've already produced Mujhse Kuchh Kehti...Yeh Khamoshiyaan), and are producing three Marathi films and a Hindi fiction show; Karanvir Bohra is producing a Punjabi film (Love You Soniye); Amar Upadhyay, who's already produced Bhojpuri films few years back is now producing a Marathi film, Amit Sarin and wife Vineesha Arora have floated their production company; Ali Asgar who produced Marathi film Man Pakharu Pakharu is planning a new project;Rashami Desai and Nandish Sandhu are producing a TV show Tu Na Jaane Aas Paas Hai Khuda, Dolly Sohi has a production company which she co-owns; Manav Gohil is producing a cookery show for a US TV channel; while Shweta Tiwari who's launched her production house is working on a project.
What really makes these actors try production? "You learn and develop other interests when you are an actor. Production is an extension of our profession. I understand and like the entire process that goes into production. I started producing films by chance — my make-up man of Dekh Bhai Dekh and I got together and started our new venture. Everything fell in place after that," says Amar Upadhyay.
Today, actors like to multitask and want to satisfy their creative hunger which isn't possible most of the times as an actor. Shakti Anand who's now seen in Bharat Ka Veer Putra — Maharana Pratap says, "As producers we can give creative inputs and be more involved in a show/film. Also the shelf life of an actor is limited and production is a way to diversify ourselves."
Telly stardom is shortlived and most actors are an insecure lot who want backup options. Karanvir Bohra who's shaking a leg in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa — Season 6 says, "One can't do the same stuff all the time. An actor always looks for options that he can do to earn his living and also expand his creativity. I am doing this film because my wife (Teejay Sidhu) wanted to act with me in a Punjabi film. I also hail from a family of producers, so this was a natural shift for me."
Most TV actors end up producing regional films, aren't they interested in making Hindi films? Ali Asgar who's playing the lead in Jeannie Aur Juju says, "Being a producer is a full time job. Actors tend to make regional films because it's a low risk proposition. Making a Bollywood film is a different ball game altogether, the budgets are bigger, the stakes are higher. So venturing into regional films is a safer bet. One can go easy on the budgets and learn the art of film making."
Agrees Shakti, "A Bollywood film's budget is between 7 crore and 10 crore. You can get lucky if your film becomes a hit like Bheja Fry or Vicky Donor. In the last six years Marathi cinema has seen a complete turnaround, so it's a good time to be associated with the Marathi film industry. Besides when there's limited budget, making regional films is the best option."
Whether behind the camera or in front, it seems our telly stars are set to make the most of their success and turn the tide in their favour.
Usually people who work behind the camera crave to be in front of it, but by the looks of it, the tables have turned. A lot of television actors are now turning producers. After years of applying greasepaint and minting money as actors, TV stars are now trying newer tactics to add to their bank balance.
From producing regional films to Hindi TV shows, these actors are doing it all. While J D Majethia, Smriti Irani, Anuj Saxena and Shabbir Ahluwalia have already made their foray as producers, the new lot of stars turned producers include, Sai Deodhar and Shakti Anand (who've already produced Mujhse Kuchh Kehti...Yeh Khamoshiyaan), and are producing three Marathi films and a Hindi fiction show; Karanvir Bohra is producing a Punjabi film (Love You Soniye); Amar Upadhyay, who's already produced Bhojpuri films few years back is now producing a Marathi film, Amit Sarin and wife Vineesha Arora have floated their production company; Ali Asgar who produced Marathi film Man Pakharu Pakharu is planning a new project;Rashami Desai and Nandish Sandhu are producing a TV show Tu Na Jaane Aas Paas Hai Khuda, Dolly Sohi has a production company which she co-owns; Manav Gohil is producing a cookery show for a US TV channel; while Shweta Tiwari who's launched her production house is working on a project.
What really makes these actors try production? "You learn and develop other interests when you are an actor. Production is an extension of our profession. I understand and like the entire process that goes into production. I started producing films by chance — my make-up man of Dekh Bhai Dekh and I got together and started our new venture. Everything fell in place after that," says Amar Upadhyay.
Today, actors like to multitask and want to satisfy their creative hunger which isn't possible most of the times as an actor. Shakti Anand who's now seen in Bharat Ka Veer Putra — Maharana Pratap says, "As producers we can give creative inputs and be more involved in a show/film. Also the shelf life of an actor is limited and production is a way to diversify ourselves."
Telly stardom is shortlived and most actors are an insecure lot who want backup options. Karanvir Bohra who's shaking a leg in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa — Season 6 says, "One can't do the same stuff all the time. An actor always looks for options that he can do to earn his living and also expand his creativity. I am doing this film because my wife (Teejay Sidhu) wanted to act with me in a Punjabi film. I also hail from a family of producers, so this was a natural shift for me."
Most TV actors end up producing regional films, aren't they interested in making Hindi films? Ali Asgar who's playing the lead in Jeannie Aur Juju says, "Being a producer is a full time job. Actors tend to make regional films because it's a low risk proposition. Making a Bollywood film is a different ball game altogether, the budgets are bigger, the stakes are higher. So venturing into regional films is a safer bet. One can go easy on the budgets and learn the art of film making."
Agrees Shakti, "A Bollywood film's budget is between 7 crore and 10 crore. You can get lucky if your film becomes a hit like Bheja Fry or Vicky Donor. In the last six years Marathi cinema has seen a complete turnaround, so it's a good time to be associated with the Marathi film industry. Besides when there's limited budget, making regional films is the best option."
Whether behind the camera or in front, it seems our telly stars are set to make the most of their success and turn the tide in their favour.
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