Why Acting Still Matters More Than Followers, Says Pratik Chaudhary
Mumbai, October 28: Actor Pratik Chaudhary, a familiar face in Indian television, has weighed in on the growing importance of social media followers in the entertainment world. While he acknowledges that producers pay attention to them, he insists that acting skill is what truly sustains a career.
In today's scenario, Chaudhary explained, makers often check an actor's social media followers when selecting talent for a show. The thinking is that a large following brings a readymade audience, which can help a show reach more viewers. This is why an actor's social media reach is seen as an investment by the production side.
He pointed out that the greater the number of followers, the higher the expectation that a show will get more viewers. However, the actor says he does not measure success or opportunity only through these figures.
Chaudhary said he believes in time and in the quality of work. “I don't believe in all of this. I believe in time. What I am trying to say is that if your work is good, even if today your time is not great or you are not getting work, one day your time will come and you will get work. Then it won't matter how many followers you have.”
When the question was raised about whether a popular social media personality with average acting ability could get more offers, he was direct. “I believe everyone needs to know acting to stay in this industry. If you are not good at it, you won't be part of the long race. Acting is undoubtedly the first priority. Other things, like your looks, fitness or health, come after that.”
He also addressed the issue of typecasting in television. Actors often leave such a deep impression on audiences that viewers connect them with one particular role. Chaudhary feels this has its positives. “You have given such a strong performance that people cannot picture you in another role. This happens not just on television but in films as well.”
Chaudhary also noted that when actors play negative characters, those roles are the first to come to mind. He named Amrish Puri, Prem Chopra and Shakti Kapoor as examples, saying that their iconic roles define their images for audiences. He believes such recognition depends on the character and the performance.
Reflecting on his own journey, he said his role as Sanjeev has left a lasting mark. “I have felt this with Sanjeev. Even today my fans call me Sanjeev or Ashwin and talk about those characters. Every actor should see this as a compliment.”