Left with no offers

What's common between Firdaus Dadi, Pallavi Joshi, Anjan Shrivastav, Raghuveer Yadav, Sheetal Thakker, Poonam Nirula and Smita Bansal? Well, they all started their TV career with a bang but unfortunately, within a few years of glory, they are all left with no worthwhile roles. While some still settle for insignificant roles, others are trying out different things.

In an age where screen idols have no time for themselves, it's awful for those who have tasted the limelight and are now left with very little to do.

"Acting is like oxygen to me, I choose only the roles I like. I don't want to get into the rat race just for the heck of it," says Firdaus Dadi, who's worked in hit serials like Imtihan, Banegi Apni Baat, and Astitva. Her characters in Imtihaan and Banegi Apni Baat received wide acclaims. Now, the likes Tulsi, Prerna and Parvati have taken over, leaving Firdaus far behind.

Pallavi Joshi, the star who started her career at the age of four, says it was her pregnancy that kept her out of the industry for over three years. "I got pregnant twice in the span of just two-and-a-half years and that stalled my career for a while," she said. Acting in serials like Aarohan, Mrignayani (DD), Ek Kahani, Discovery of India, Zee's Antakshri, Alpaviram and the Balaji creation Kehna Hai Kuch Mujhko, she was one among the talented stars for 28 long years! Now, gone are the days when her phones never stopped ringing.

Anjan Shrivastav, who headed the Wagle family in the popular series Wagle Ki Duniya is struggling to get work in TV. Fed up, Anjan is now trying his luck in Bhojpuri films. If rumours are to be believed, Anjan's counterpart Raghuveer Yadav, who was last seen in Sahara One's Chacha Chaudhary, too is going through a similar phase.

Another actress, Neelima Azim, famous for her roles in Phir Wohi Talaash and Junoon, was recently spotted hosting a party for an upcoming director's movie launch. So she's into PR.

"Today's viewers seem to want shows having a saas, bahu and a vamp. The veteran actors of 80s and 90s do not fit this bill. For reality shows only an Amitabh or SRK seem to be wanted," says veteran actor Saurabh Shukla, who acted in the famous detective series Tehkikat on DD alongside the late director Vijay Anand. Saurabh is now doing other things including theatre, scriptwriting and direction.

The famous director and scriptwriter Lekh Tandon has expressed his displeasure on the creative heads of the different TV channels. He said they are too young for their jobs and, therefore, inexperienced. Tandon feels these channel heads are unaware of the potential of the veteran actors and hence the question of casting them doesn't arise at all. Such roles, therefore, fall in the hands of any new actor.

So does this mean it's the end of the road for these actors?