A recent update on the Ekta Kapoor produced serial Kundali Bhagya has just come in. According to the recent reports, its lead actor Dheeraj Dhoopar will be soon quitting the show. If these reports are to be believed, Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi fame Shakti Arora has been roped in as the leading man for Kundali Bhagya.
Back in 2021, Dheeraj had talked about his upcoming projects on OTT and the pandemic situation. In an interview with ETimes, Dheeraj Dhoopar said, “It’s a known fact that TV actors work extremely hard. We shoot almost every day. Even during the pandemic, when everyone had the liberty to resume work at their convenience, those associated with the TV industry got back to work.”
He further added that he is trying to get some work on OTT projects but he hasn’t received any calls. “I am trying my luck in films and OTT, but I haven’t got a single call from a good OTT platform. Why does a maker on an OTT platform only approach a film star? I agree that actors across other mediums are very talented and hard-working. But we, too, have proved our mettle time and again. Then why don’t we get equal opportunities and respect like our Bollywood counterparts?”.
Dheeraj also believes that due to over-exposure, TV actors are not given enough chances, he said, “I believe that every actor, irrespective of the medium, is very exposed today. Why is that a handicap? Exposure translates into more following, and that’s what I bring to the table. My fight today is to get the respect I deserve.”
Explaining further, he added, “I am a part of the entertainment industry and I shouldn’t be slotted as a TV artiste. If I become a part of OTT shows or films, I won’t be addressed by the medium I am acting on, right? I will still be called an actor, and that is what I am striving for. People say that the lines are blurring. But why was there a demarcation in the first place? Casting directors appreciate our talent, but the minute they get to know that we are from television, they change their minds. We shouldn’t be treated like a pariah. I want to explore every medium simultaneously. People assume that just because we are busy doing a daily soap, we won’t be able to take up another project. What if I can strike a balance between two projects?”
