Why can't actors work both in television and films ?

In the Indian entertainment industry there's a clear line in being a 'television' actor and a 'film' actor. For example South Korea, which is famous for its television series, has actors who star in both films and television series. This applies to many other countries too.

Because television is looked down on not just Bollywood it's same in Hollywood!

Because first, Desis take the saying ghar ki murgi daal barabar literally. Nobody cares about paying to see the TV stars they already see on TV for free. Second, it is doable not impossible, what with Irrfan Khan, KK Menon, Manoj Bhajpai, Vidya Balan, Rajeev Khandelwal etc. making the transition. However, once they make that transition, they don't go back. Whereas in American/British entertainment industry, it is quite common for people to go back and forth with TV and films. I think it has to do with quality. Almost all the Indian shows are of soap opera format that go on for ages and you don't really need actors to do these shows. Just rope in any aira gaira and they'll do, that is the attitude anyway. The chalta hain attitude has made Indian TV very stagnant. Until that is changed, it will be very rare for these actors to go from TV to films or films to TV.

Because since the 2000s, the Hindi television industry consists of dailies which without a finite time period in mind.

Originally posted by: Sophz

Because television is looked down on not just Bollywood it's same in Hollywood!

Plus these big stars don't have time to do 25 episodes series.

Because BW actors are too spoiled.

Originally posted by: likarsh

Because since the 2000s, the Hindi television industry consists of dailies which without a finite time period in mind.

The recurring actors, side characters, supporting characters--some of them are able to do films or multiple projects; but the leads and main characters do not have such luxury.

The shooting schedule and hours are horrible. Korean dramas are known to have horrible hours and many have complained about it. But even for them, prime time dramas will go about 30 episodes at most (mostly around 20s), and evening and daytime serials too usually end within a year.

Hindi television actors do not have that luxury. They neither have seasons nor a finite run. They are a bit like American daytime Soap Operas, but even daytime soap actors have more opportunities to venture out because they focus on a bunch of families and characters with many storylines. (And of course they run for lifetimes because the stories, characters and romantic couples are not limited, unlike Hindi serials. So recasts, new actors/characters, etc work better for daytime soaps.)

Originally posted by: Dexterkilaila

I wouldn't say that. Sure, soap operas or actors in them don't really matter here either but regular TV shows in series format are just as reputed as films. There's no such obvious hierarchy as is present in India. Good TV shows are always appreciated and actors from there do glide in back and forth between TV and films. For example, Charlie Hunnam, a series regular on a network show, Sons of Anarchy does both films and tv, Cumberbatch from Sherlock does both films and tv as well. And I'm sure there are many other such examples.

Originally posted by: likarsh

Because since the 2000s, the Hindi television industry consists of dailies which without a finite time period in mind.

The recurring actors, side characters, supporting characters--some of them are able to do films or multiple projects; but the leads and main characters do not have such luxury.

The shooting schedule and hours are horrible. Korean dramas are known to have horrible hours and many have complained about it. But even for them, prime time dramas will go about 30 episodes at most (mostly around 20s), and evening and daytime serials too usually end within a year.

Hindi television actors do not have that luxury. They neither have seasons nor a finite run. They are a bit like American daytime Soap Operas, but even daytime soap actors have more opportunities to venture out because they focus on a bunch of families and characters with many storylines. (And of course they run for lifetimes because the stories, characters and romantic couples are not limited, unlike Hindi serials. So recasts, new actors/characters, etc work better for daytime soaps.)

Originally posted by: Dexterkilaila

Because first, Desis take the saying ghar ki murgi daal barabar literally. Nobody cares about paying to see the TV stars they already see on TV for free. Second, it is doable not impossible, what with Irrfan Khan, KK Menon, Manoj Bhajpai, Vidya Balan, Rajeev Khandelwal etc. making the transition. However, once they make that transition, they don't go back. Whereas in American/British entertainment industry, it is quite common for people to go back and forth with TV and films. I think it has to do with quality. Almost all the Indian shows are of soap opera format that go on for ages and you don't really need actors to do these shows. Just rope in any aira gaira and they'll do, that is the attitude anyway. The chalta hain attitude has made Indian TV very stagnant. Until that is changed, it will be very rare for these actors to go from TV to films or films to TV.