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As TV serials turn to fast-forward mode, it's a race against time for young actors who complain about having to play oldies at the risk of being stereotyped.
If impressions are lasting, then the behenji brigade and their beaus on small screen are rightfully miffed. With serials taking a generation leap, the much loved young and suave characters have no option but play old and feeble dada-dadis and nana-nanis.
A tad insecure with age finally catching up with them onscreen, young actors playing elderly roles are concerned about the direction their career is taking.
As Jaya Bhattacharya who plays Payal, the vitriolic vamp on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (KSBKBT), feels, "Career ki vaat hi lag jaati hai (your career is ruined)!
Especially so if your character has already aged once before in the serial. Now I am saddled with offers to play similar roles - it's frustrating. I knew I was taking a risk as a young actor playing an older person, and I even chose to look the age, but I did it anyways in SBKBT and Woh Rehne Wali Mehlon Ki."
True, says Grusha Kapoor, who played a 50-something mom-in-law in Kehta Hai Dil (KHD), and has been typecast since, "As a 28-year-old, when I get offers now to play characters of middle-aged women, it bothers me. As an older lady in Tara, I was noticed immediately, hence I landed KHD. But then directors began to feel I play oldies best. To break that image I took a break from work and did theatre to make a comeback in a younger role."
Determined to now play her age, she will appear again as a judge in a kids' singing contest on TV.
However, Hiten Tejwani, better known as Karan Virani prefers to take such leaps in his stride, "Playing an old or young character is hardly the issue as long as the screen presence is phenomenal. As actors we should be versatile enough to be convincing both as 20 and 50-year-olds. I play a father in SBKBT and a young lover in Kaisa Yeh Pyar Hai - both roles come naturally to me, as more than the age I focus on the role."
Though his serial Astitva has gone off-air after a time leap, Varun Badola, who chose to wear a wig and sport a beard to look elderly is just as optimistic, "Post the time leap in Astitva, we were supposed to look over 55 years of age, but initially, my co-star Nikki Aneja chose to look as young as ever. However, I felt it would not seem convincing. It is a challenge to go de-glam and if you do it well, it is always remembered. And with my repertoire of work being typecast was never a problem with me."
But while established actors are coming of age on TV, literally, the debutantes aren't faring particularly well either on landing roles to suit their age.
Rues 17-year-old Prachi Desai, who plays the role of a character some nine to 10 years her senior on Kasam Se, "It does bother me sometimes that as Bani, I have to dress and look much older than my actual age but sab chalta hai. I have given myself five years to make it big in this profession." Till then, age's no bar for good offers!
If impressions are lasting, then the behenji brigade and their beaus on small screen are rightfully miffed. With serials taking a generation leap, the much loved young and suave characters have no option but play old and feeble dada-dadis and nana-nanis.
A tad insecure with age finally catching up with them onscreen, young actors playing elderly roles are concerned about the direction their career is taking.
As Jaya Bhattacharya who plays Payal, the vitriolic vamp on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (KSBKBT), feels, "Career ki vaat hi lag jaati hai (your career is ruined)!
Especially so if your character has already aged once before in the serial. Now I am saddled with offers to play similar roles - it's frustrating. I knew I was taking a risk as a young actor playing an older person, and I even chose to look the age, but I did it anyways in SBKBT and Woh Rehne Wali Mehlon Ki."
True, says Grusha Kapoor, who played a 50-something mom-in-law in Kehta Hai Dil (KHD), and has been typecast since, "As a 28-year-old, when I get offers now to play characters of middle-aged women, it bothers me. As an older lady in Tara, I was noticed immediately, hence I landed KHD. But then directors began to feel I play oldies best. To break that image I took a break from work and did theatre to make a comeback in a younger role."
Determined to now play her age, she will appear again as a judge in a kids' singing contest on TV.
However, Hiten Tejwani, better known as Karan Virani prefers to take such leaps in his stride, "Playing an old or young character is hardly the issue as long as the screen presence is phenomenal. As actors we should be versatile enough to be convincing both as 20 and 50-year-olds. I play a father in SBKBT and a young lover in Kaisa Yeh Pyar Hai - both roles come naturally to me, as more than the age I focus on the role."
Though his serial Astitva has gone off-air after a time leap, Varun Badola, who chose to wear a wig and sport a beard to look elderly is just as optimistic, "Post the time leap in Astitva, we were supposed to look over 55 years of age, but initially, my co-star Nikki Aneja chose to look as young as ever. However, I felt it would not seem convincing. It is a challenge to go de-glam and if you do it well, it is always remembered. And with my repertoire of work being typecast was never a problem with me."
But while established actors are coming of age on TV, literally, the debutantes aren't faring particularly well either on landing roles to suit their age.
Rues 17-year-old Prachi Desai, who plays the role of a character some nine to 10 years her senior on Kasam Se, "It does bother me sometimes that as Bani, I have to dress and look much older than my actual age but sab chalta hai. I have given myself five years to make it big in this profession." Till then, age's no bar for good offers!
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