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Who's that? Ram Kapoor, Prachi Desai, Juhi Parmar, Karan Mehra, Hussain, Ronit Roy? No.
Take a closer look. They are body doubles in act. You've heard of 'duplicates' ' actors who double up for bigger stars when tricky stunts are to be performed in films.
On television 'body doubles' do 'cheat shots' when an actor can't report on sets, due to other commitments. In fact the television industry has a slew of 'duplicates' who religiously stand in for busy television superstars.
Okay, so the actor gets some respite from his hectic schedule, but does it have other benefits? 'Television actors are very busy these days. They have very little time on hand and a lot of commitment is required from them. See, actors have a personal life too. That's when body doubles become useful,' says Ronit Roy. But are producers taking it in the right spirit? 'I am not too sure if body doubles help to save money but it saves time and the tapes reach the TV channel offices on time. I personally don't like using body doubles, but if they are used sensibly then I have no problems,' adds Ronit, who's had body doubles in most of his major shows ' Kyunki Saas bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kasauti Zindagi Kay.
From a producer's point of view, a body double can save money and reduce the trauma of having to wait for the star to arrive on the sets. Ajay Sinha, producer of Ghar Ek Sapna on Sahara One, says, 'Using body double in a show is a simple equation of demand and supply. Of course, we use body doubles very selectively. There are also times when actors leave the show halfway and then we have to use duplicates. We don't like to use body doubles and we aren't doing it to save our money at all.'
So is there any disadvantage of using a body double? 'Production houses get to save money and actors get time to do other work apart from just one show. It is bad for an actor but one can't complain about it at all. Body doubles are used as per mutual understanding between an actor and a production house. There are times when I have been called for a day, several of my close-up shots are taken, whereas my body double is called for two-three days and her master shots are taken, so that episodes can be completed in the time given,' replies Mreenal Deshraj whose body double was used in Doli Saja Ke Rakhna and in Sujata.
On the other hand, Anupama Mandloi, senior creative director of a leading channels says that it is not only the actor due to which a body double is used but because 'the mounting and canvas in TV shows is, very often, no less than films. As a result the stunts designed on shows are also very risky and require trained professionals. The other reason is fairly mundane ' artists work in several shows and do not enjoy the luxury of time as they are constantly churning out episodes.' She further feels, 'Body doubles are not the most ideal of alternatives to a missing artist. They are saviours in times of emergency or crisis but for the viewers they can be no substitute for the artists they tune in for.'
And isn't using body doubles cheating the audience? Producer-director, JD Majethia says, 'One is not cheating the audience if the body double is used in an emergency or in uncertain situations. But if it becomes a daily practice, then it is just not cheating the audience but also oneself. Duplicates were used in emergency situations earlier but today I have personally seen actors carrying their duplicates as their own staff members and it is not right ' one shouldn't take up lot of shows if he/she can't give full time to all, it damages the show and the actor's quality too.'
| Juhi Parmar have used body doubles More Pics |
Take a closer look. They are body doubles in act. You've heard of 'duplicates' ' actors who double up for bigger stars when tricky stunts are to be performed in films.
On television 'body doubles' do 'cheat shots' when an actor can't report on sets, due to other commitments. In fact the television industry has a slew of 'duplicates' who religiously stand in for busy television superstars.
Okay, so the actor gets some respite from his hectic schedule, but does it have other benefits? 'Television actors are very busy these days. They have very little time on hand and a lot of commitment is required from them. See, actors have a personal life too. That's when body doubles become useful,' says Ronit Roy. But are producers taking it in the right spirit? 'I am not too sure if body doubles help to save money but it saves time and the tapes reach the TV channel offices on time. I personally don't like using body doubles, but if they are used sensibly then I have no problems,' adds Ronit, who's had body doubles in most of his major shows ' Kyunki Saas bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kasauti Zindagi Kay.
From a producer's point of view, a body double can save money and reduce the trauma of having to wait for the star to arrive on the sets. Ajay Sinha, producer of Ghar Ek Sapna on Sahara One, says, 'Using body double in a show is a simple equation of demand and supply. Of course, we use body doubles very selectively. There are also times when actors leave the show halfway and then we have to use duplicates. We don't like to use body doubles and we aren't doing it to save our money at all.'
So is there any disadvantage of using a body double? 'Production houses get to save money and actors get time to do other work apart from just one show. It is bad for an actor but one can't complain about it at all. Body doubles are used as per mutual understanding between an actor and a production house. There are times when I have been called for a day, several of my close-up shots are taken, whereas my body double is called for two-three days and her master shots are taken, so that episodes can be completed in the time given,' replies Mreenal Deshraj whose body double was used in Doli Saja Ke Rakhna and in Sujata.
On the other hand, Anupama Mandloi, senior creative director of a leading channels says that it is not only the actor due to which a body double is used but because 'the mounting and canvas in TV shows is, very often, no less than films. As a result the stunts designed on shows are also very risky and require trained professionals. The other reason is fairly mundane ' artists work in several shows and do not enjoy the luxury of time as they are constantly churning out episodes.' She further feels, 'Body doubles are not the most ideal of alternatives to a missing artist. They are saviours in times of emergency or crisis but for the viewers they can be no substitute for the artists they tune in for.'
And isn't using body doubles cheating the audience? Producer-director, JD Majethia says, 'One is not cheating the audience if the body double is used in an emergency or in uncertain situations. But if it becomes a daily practice, then it is just not cheating the audience but also oneself. Duplicates were used in emergency situations earlier but today I have personally seen actors carrying their duplicates as their own staff members and it is not right ' one shouldn't take up lot of shows if he/she can't give full time to all, it damages the show and the actor's quality too.'
Shiv Shakti
