Content must come first

With the release of Halo behind her, Shabana Azmi on how Indian OTT platforms are choosing stars over stories

It’s a wonderful time to be an actor amid the OTT boom. Ask Shabana Azmi who got a taste of Indian digital entertainment with The Empire (2020), following it up with the recent international offering, Halo. Thrilled about the opportunities coming her way, the actor credits the OTT revolution for enabling her to experiment with varied roles. “Since OTT doesn’t depend on immediate box-office gains, unlike films that heavily bank on them, the content can be varied,” she says.

But where there is an upside, there is a flipside, too. The actor is worried that Indian streaming platforms are roping in stars to appeal to the masses instead of focussing on content. She says, “I think OTT platforms are losing the opportunity of creating their own stars. Why are they running after the big stars and big banners? That was [never the] mandate. Instead of focussing on content and giving opportunities to independent directors to make documentaries that have archival value, they are falling into the trap of whodunits, abusive language, sex, and violence. Don’t miss the woods for the trees.”

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