Social media was initially a tool for everyone including the actors to share their real personalities. The medium which was used by the actors to stay connected with their fans now apparently is a deciding factor if an actor will bag big projects or not.
Mouli Ganguly in an interview shared how she had lost out on a show because of having few followers on social media. Balika Vadhu fame Aasiya Kazi also shared his frustration on losing projects even after the makers liked her audition because of a lack of followers on social media. Nia Sharma also spoke out against this saying, “It is disrespectful and hurtful for a senior actor like Mouli to lose out on a show because she doesn’t have followers. When I did Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna, there were no social media, but the show did well. The perception that a huge fan following can get ratings for a TV show is bizarre.”
But Producers don’t relate to it and even say that such a thing doesn’t exist. Producer of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai, Binaifer Kohli says, “Even if Katrina Kaif auditions for the role of Bhabhiji, but doesn’t suit the part, I will not be able to cast her in my show. Every day, there are so many actors who come to us saying we have millions of followers, but TV audiences are not your social media followers. While you might be well-known on social media, people might not connect with you in a TV show if you don’t act well or don’t suit the role.” She further adds, “How do you explain the popularity of actresses who played the lead in Saath Nibhaana Saathiya? When Gia Manek quit the show, Devoleena Bhattacharjee took over. Both the actresses then were not popular on social media, but they got popular because of the character and the script.”
While many producers have the same point of view casting directors are divided on this issue. While some agree, others feel it’s a wrong perception that actors have. Casting director Amano Dhyan says, “I admit this is a trend currently, but not as rampant as TV actors feel. There are new producers in the market, who are not confident about their product and want to cast actors with a big fan following. They don’t want to take a risk, so they check actors’ reels and Insta stories. But experienced senior producers cast actors on the basis of auditions and talent.”
On the other hand casting director Abhishek Singh, who has worked with shows like Anupamaa, Pratigyaa, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlataa Hai and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, does not agree with this and shares, “I don’t feel any TV actor is cast in a show for his fan following. Just because you have not agreed on certain terms with the makers and are not doing a show, does not give you the excuse to blame it on social media. I don’t see any lead actor on TV right now, who is there because he has a million followers and no experience of working in a TV show.”
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