This year, the trend began with Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, which had Hina Khan and Karan Mehra as protagonists, then followed Na Aana Iss Des Laado with newcomers Natasha Sharma and Aditya Redij playing main leads. Bandini and Kitni Mohabbat Hai have Aasiya Kazi and Karan Kundra and Kritika Kamra respectively in the lead roles. Pavitra Rishta too has debutant Ankita Lokhande while in Love Ne Milla Di Jodi two new boys and girls have been introduced. Similarly, in Chittod Ki Rani Padmini, newcomer Tejaswini Lonari is playing the queen while film actor Pooja Kanwal has made her television debut in Palampur Express.
Talking about this trend of preferring newcomers over experienced actors, Ektaa Kapoor says, "In daily soaps, people want to see characters and not actors. Since they follow characters on a daily basis it really doesn't matter who plays the lead as long as the character is played convincingly." According to Ektaa, the advantage of working with newcomers is that they are fresh and are yet to create an image in the viewers' mind. "People find it easy to connect with them," she adds.
Shailja Bajpai, head of content at NDTV Imagine, is of the view that identification with characters is so strong that a well known actor who has played a popular character earlier is not easily accepted in a new role. "Viewers tend to remember actors by their character names and not real names. Thus for experienced actors their image becomes a disadvantage," she says.
Many also feel that the fresh appeal goes a long way in striking a chord with the audience. Sony's creative head (fiction) Sanjay Upadhyay, says, "Viewers tend to relate better with newcomers than well known faces. For instance, Tejaswini is more relatable as Rani Padmini because she is known only as the queen and not by any other character."
According to Upadhyay, the fringe benefits of working with newcomers are many. "They are committed and economical," he says.
According to Rajan Shahi, producer-director, it's easy to mould newcomers into characters."They don't come with the baggage of stardom. They are relatable and adaptable," he says. Apart from easy acceptability, another advantage of working with newcomers is that they are hugely committed. "They have a lot of energy and enthusiasm and are keen in create a niche for themselves. They don't have starry airs, they don't throw tantrums and are willing to work extra hours," points out Shahi.
Ishaani
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