Mere star power isn’t enough: Konkona Sensharma

OTT platforms in India were initially perceived as a fresh avenue for diverse storytelling, deviating from the traditional star-driven narratives. However, the recent surge of mainstream stars in OTT projects suggests a potential shift towards the established star system in the streaming world.

Acclaimed actor-director Konkona Sensharma, fresh off her successful stint with her segment ‘The Mirror’ in ‘Lust Stories 2’, shared the same concern during a recent interaction.

According to Konkona, OTT content creators are increasingly pursuing stars over pure talent. She explained, “Financiers want stars. They’re investing and want a surefire return. While many stars are undeniably talented, some might not be as competent. Yet, the OTT world is tilting towards them.”

Konkona made her directorial debut with the film ‘A Death in the Gunj’ in 2016.

This observation correlates with the industry’s traditional preference for star-led ventures. She acknowledged the mounting pressure on both actors and directors in the OTT space to work with renowned stars. However, Konkona also pointed out that mere star power isn’t enough. Talent remains a critical factor, although this blend is ‘best but rare’.

The audience has seen how many big names from the industry like Sushmita Sen, Shahid Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi, Madhuri Dixit and Bobby Deol have successfully transitioned and flourished in the digital realm.

Meanwhile, as for her future projects, Konkona Sen Sharma is set to appear in Anurag Basu’s much-awaited ‘Metro In Dino’, a sequel to ‘Life in a... Metro’. She’s also a part of Abhishek Chaubey’s series ‘Soup’ co-starring Manoj Bajpayee, her mother Aparna Sen’s critically acclaimed ‘The Rapist’ and the forthcoming season of ‘Mumbai Diaries’.