Silence 2 actor Manoj Bajpayee: Nobody is a superstar on OTT; I’m happy to be relevant and working

Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who was last seen in Silence 2, on his experience working in OTT.

Actor Manoj Bajpayee is one of the few popular actors who has struck a balance between his OTT endeavors and theater films. Even on streaming, he has experimented with long-form episodes like The Family Man and Killer Soup, as well as web-only films like Dial 100, Gulmohar, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kafi Hai, Mrs Serial Killer, and Silence. Can you hear it?

Also Read: Manoj Bajpayee: Cinema can be a reflection of our times, but it cannot initiate movements.

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Overwhelmed by the plethora of options, the actor explains, “This is the USP of OTT platforms, where you can explore with so many genres. Then you can add so many details to make each one more authentic and credible. That is the freedom this medium allows you.”

Bajpayee, who stars in the recently released Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout, says, “I personally believe that investigative thrillers and murder mysteries work in every medium because they have inherent drama that keeps you engaged throughout. They’ve always worked in theatres, and we’re seeing greater interest in OTT.”

However, as an artist, Bajpayee denies that the method differs while shooting for an OTT or theatrical release. “The approach remains unchanged since you are working for the camera. However, while working on a large format series, you have far more time and freedom to focus on many other aspects of the character and the tale, as well as the nuances. Whereas in a film, you only have a certain amount of time to accomplish everything, so that’s the main difference I notice,” he says, adding, “Even for the directors and editors, the editing pattern and the process of taking a shot will alter.”

Bajpayee addresses the long-running issue over star culture in the streaming space. The actor states, “Nobody is a superstar on OTT. Every person who understands his profession is a superstar for a specific period of time when the audience is watching their stuff. So for me, it’s an excellent time to be working on OTT. I’m still working and relevant, which I thank God for.

The 55-year-old, who received widespread critical acclaim for Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (2023), the only film to be released on OTT before being released in theaters, believes that the best aspect of the medium is that there is no pressure to meet box office numbers, which has democratized the entire industry.

“During the epidemic, there was no other medium that kept the world entertained except OTT. The public was being exposed to a multitude of content, particularly the Indian audience, which had previously been hammered with only one type of mainstream movie all the time. They didn’t have any other option,” he continues, “so OTT platforms began to produce regional, international, and other types of content. Many audiences in the Hindi belt began to consume Malayalam content, and vice versa. Look at the ground now; it’s entirely transformed. Tamil actors work in Hindi shows, whereas Hindi-speaking actors appear in Telugu and Tamil films. The exchange rate has only climbed.”