OTT needs actors, not stars: Kay Kay Menon

The actor, who was recently seen essaying interesting roles in web shows like

Citadel

, Murshid and Shekhar Home, in a conversation with us talks about how he has stayed true to his craft while adapting to a new medium.
‘People like Manoj Bajpai and me are quite ziddi as actors’
The actor, who has consistently played strong and interesting roles in his career, never felt that there was dearth of good roles for him. He said, “People like Manoj (Bajpayee) and I are quite ziddi as actors. We consistently kept doing our work, and now people are seeing the results. Hum tikke rahe. I come across many people who ask me if I got my due as an actor, and I always respond with…toh de de na due. I have stayed true to my craft. I don’t want to debate on whether I helped a film or a web show sell. As a batsman, a cricketer can only play a game, he cannot build a stadium.”

(Kay Kay Menon and Divyenndu in The Railway Men)

‘With due respect to stars in films, actors in the web space have done equally well’
The

Haider

actor said, “After 30 years in the industry, I don’t think that not being a part of a blockbuster film or masala entertainer makes me less of an actor. In the first five years, this thought could have crossed my mind, but now I am there for people to cast me. Also, I never had good marketing skills. The appreciation that I got from OTT is equally big. With due respect to stars in films, actors on the web have done equally well”.

‘I don’t use the mobile phone as a third eye and keep recording everything’

On a lighter note, Kay Kay revealed how he has nothing against reels or the paparazzi, but he’s not the kind to click and post pictures with people to show and tell. He said, “I would love to attend a party if it is about my upcoming project. But I will not go to the party and use my mobile phone as the third eye and tell the world about it. Social media has its pros and cons.” He added, “As long as you enjoy your work, everything falls in place. The day I stop enjoying it, I will quit acting.”