Actress Sonali Bendre has said that OTT has opened up new avenues for actors to explore different facets of their craft, something that is not always possible in mainstream cinema.
Bendre recently played a grieving mother in Prime Video series Raakh, a story that was inspired by the Ranga Billa case in the 1970s.
She has returned to the small screen as the host of reality show Pati Patni Aur Panga, currently airing on Colors TV channel and JioHotstar.
“Everything has its own time. Due to OTT and multiplexes, the scope of narrating different kinds of stories has increased. At that time (90s), in mainstream cinema, you had to show a kind of film in which some things are necessary because you needed to cater to every strata of society...Business compulsions are different,” Bendre told PTI in an interview.
“From the time multiplexes came in, these compulsions changed. Like, niche audience can be entertained and you can tell different kinds of stories. When different types of stories can be told, then as an actor, you get a chance to play different type of roles. So, it's a great opportunity that we have now,” she said.
Bendre worked on hits such as Diljale, Zakhm, Duplicate, Hum Saath Saath Hain, and Sarfarosh.
She made her OTT debut with The Broken News (2022), in which she played the role of Amina Qureshi, a strong, principled woman.
Bendre also said that she is open to returning to the big screen, which she believes offers a distinct experience. Her last theatrical film was the Akshay Kumar-starrer, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara! in 2013.
“Big screen is big screen and it has its own charm. Some stories are such, which are fun to watch on the big screen. If I get a role, then I will do it,” she added.
The 51-year-old actress, however, said she has become more conscious of the time and effort she invests in a project.
“There is an age where you are not that selective. Now, I feel that I have only this much time, so I’ve to do a lot of different things in that. So, I think whether is it worth it for me to give that time?” she said.
“When I shot for Raakh, for those three-four months there was a certain kind of heaviness to it. After Raakh got over, the first offer I received was for Pati Patni Aur Panga. So, after this dark show, I said, ‘I need to laugh’. So, for me, this opportunity, I thought, was god sent because it comes after a dark subject like Raakh. This show was like, ‘Laugh, enjoy’, it is all about having fun,” Bendre said.