Apara Mehta questions makers seeking ‘fresh faces’, influencers on OTT: ‘What if they are bad actors?’

Fondly remembered as the ‘sassy saas’ from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Apara Mehta is now experimenting with comedy with Amazon MiniTV show, Staff Room. The series sheds light on the life of teachers and their interactions with each other in their designated space on the school premise. The senior actor shared that it was refreshing for her to do something ‘so breezy’. Given she plays the principal, Apara shared how it took her back to her school days, and gave her a chance to relive her childhood. “It’s probably for the first time that audiences will realise that staff rooms are also fun places, even when there are teachers around. There are nok jhoks, flirting, gossiping and so many fun moments,” she shared.

Apara Mehta further opened up about being amazed at casting directors on digital medium looking at ‘TV actors’ with a different gaze. In an exclusive chat with indianexpress.com, she shared that having done TV and theatre for years, and experimented with genres, she objects to such biases. “A popular TV actor will get you an audience for sure. How can people say they don’t want TV faces? We get eyeballs and we come with experience. I have heard this so many times, and it leaves me amazed all the time. I think anyone who can do TV and work in such tight shifts, we can do anything,” she shared.

 

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The Anupamaa actor also shared that a lot of times OTT makers look for ‘fresh faces’. Questioning the same, she shared, “What do you mean by fresh faces? What if they are not good actors? How are they okay casting anyone on the basis of that? Also, I have been told that today social media followers have also become a factor in casting. If it’s true, we are in for some big trouble. No offence, but people who are good with one-minute reel cannot carry a whole character and play it for long. Just dancing to someone else’s songs or lip-syncing on someone’s dialogue doesn’t make you an actor. It takes a lot more than that to be an actor. I am just appalled at what is going on.”

The actor said that she too has joined Instagram now but has already lost interest. When asked if the peer pressure and casting requirement made her sign up, Mehta laughed, “Not at all. Honestly, my daughter forbade me to join social media. She told me that you are a strong, opinionated person and I don’t want you to face any kind of trolling. She said Instagram is the easiest bet but she did warn me that I will get bored, and I have. I am not a person who can pout and click selfies. Today, I see young kinds moving around with a team, who are shooting them, while I forget about clicking, or posting on social media.”

 

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Sharing that she has been working on TV continuously from 1997-2020, she said, “I was on every channel, even the ones that have shut down. I get about seven offers of daily shows in two months, as work never stopped. Then all of a sudden, during lockdown, I was offered Decoupled. I didn’t even understand or realise what it was, until my daughter said that it is a big thing. The director Hardik Mehta also told me how he had to fight for me to get on board. And the excuse was the same — I was a TV actor. It was the first time that someone had to fight for me, when channels today call me directly. I have also done another show for Voot, which landed on my lap. I don’t have anything else, if someone does find me good enough, they will call me.”

The actor shared with joy how people still remember her for her character in Kyunki… She said how young actors meet her and tell her how they have watched the show. “It’s been 23 years, and I sometimes wonder how they even know about it. Their parents have sometimes told them about the show and some have watched it on social media. And while they all enjoy working with me, I am a thorough professional. I don’t want to be their mummy or teacher and educate them. I am a cool co-star and I think this is why they can approach me so easily.”

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Also starring Srishti Dixit, Shahnawaz Pradhan, Tushar Pandey and Simran Sharma among others, Staff Room is bankrolled by Dice Media.