Vaishnavi Yadav
| 6 hours ago
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The entertainment landscape has undergone a significant transformation with the rise of OTT, changing audience preferences and the growing demand for authentic storytelling. For actors, this evolution has opened up opportunities to explore more layered characters, diverse formats and unconventional narratives.
In conversation with Adgully, actorTanuj Virwanireflects on his journey across films, television and OTT, the changing nature of acting, the impact of streaming platforms, choosing meaningful roles, and the importance of staying authentic while navigating an increasingly dynamic entertainment industry.
You have worked across films, television and OTT. How has your approach to acting evolved as the entertainment landscape has changed?
When I stepped into this industry, I was extremely underprepared and not ready for the amount of blood, sweat, tears and rejection that come with it. From the outside, the industry looks glamorous. In my early 20s, I thought, “I’m an actor’s son, how difficult could it possibly be?” I assumed the audience would give me a chance and accept me, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Our careers, lives and livelihoods hinge on Friday-to-Friday and release-to-release outcomes. One of the biggest things I have learned is that to act is also not to act. It is more about reacting. You start acting when you stop acting. That is the philosophy I follow now. It should never come across as if you are acting.
If you look at the evolution of the industry over the past few years, particularly with the rise of OTT platforms and the different kinds of films and content being created, the approach has become far more understated and realistic compared to the 2000s, ’90s or ’80s.
You have to move with the times. It is perform or perish. When you work with great actors and technicians, you also learn a lot more on the job than you would sitting in a classroom. All these experiences have helped shape me through my first 10-12 years as an active actor.
OTT has created opportunities for actors to explore more layered and unconventional characters. How has the rise of streaming platforms influenced the kind of roles you choose?
The emergence of so many OTT platforms has positively impacted not just me, but several actors, my peers and technicians. Different formats work for different kinds of content. I don’t think shows such as ‘Paatal Lok’, ‘Inside Edge’ or ‘Sacred Games’ would have been as effective if they had been made as two-hour films.
There has been a tremendous evolution. Each season can have eight to ten episodes, which gives you almost eight or nine hours of content. Many shows also return for multiple seasons, giving actors considerably more screen time to develop their characters and showcase their journeys.
In films, the focus is often on the protagonist, antagonist or heroine. In a web series, the entire ensemble becomes important. Even if you are in only a handful of scenes, it is not just about the amount of screen time you get, but what you do with it. Your character’s motivations, words and actions can influence the direction of the larger story.
It has been fantastic. I truly believe this is the age of the actor. OTT, in particular, has become an amazing melting pot of film actors, theatre actors, OTT-created stars and even influencers who are good at what they do. These are exciting times.
Your performance in ‘Inside Edge’ was among the roles that brought you wider recognition. Looking back, what did that experience teach you about working on a long-form streaming series?
Sometimes, they say you have to run before you can walk, and that is precisely what happened with ‘Inside Edge’. A lot of people think it was a calculated decision, but nothing could be further from the truth.
I had done a couple of films as the lead, and they had not worked critically or commercially. I had my back against the wall and was auditioning like any young, upcoming actor. The makers liked me for ‘Inside Edge’, which was ironically titled ‘Power Play’ at the time, and that is how I got the role.
The fact that Excel Entertainment was involved and that so many amazing actors were part of the ensemble prompted me to say yes. It was probably one of the most important decisions, and definitely the most important career call, I have taken so far. It really saved me from the brink of obscurity.
I am extremely thankful. Whatever I am today and whatever opportunities I am getting, I am standing on the foundation of ‘Inside Edge’ and Vayu Raghavan. I will always have the best memories of that show.
Audiences today are consuming content across languages, platforms and formats. How do you see viewer expectations changing, and what does that mean for actors?
It is extremely exciting. The industry has never been more dynamic. If you look at the OTT space, there was a time when it was still in its infancy and it took a few years for things to gain momentum. During the pandemic, things went into overdrive. Most theatres were shut, so content was being produced at a rapid pace.
After a point, the industry realised that quality had to take priority over quantity. Several mergers and acquisitions followed, which also stemmed the flow of content. I have a couple of projects that have been stuck in that pipeline traffic jam for some time.
I am someone who does not just watch English and Hindi content. I enjoy regional OTT shows, regional cinema and international films from across the world. Southeast Asia, in particular, produces some fantastic films with out-of-the-box concepts and beautiful execution.
As an actor, you need to look at yourself as a blank canvas and be ready to express yourself. There will be times when you falter, fail or stumble, but I would rather spectacularly fail than modestly succeed in any creative decision I take.
I never want the audience to feel that I am simply rehashing something they have already seen from me. That is extremely important to me.
As an actor, how do you balance the pressure to constantly remain visible with the need to take time to find the right characters and stories?
As clichéd as it may sound, script is king. The script has to be the number one priority. After that come the technicians, the star cast and, of course, your role. It is important to consider not just how many scenes you have, but how important your character is to the larger story.
If you are doing an OTT show, you also want it to be on a strong platform. When you work with platforms such as Amazon, Netflix, SonyLIV or JioHotstar, you know they have an established audience base. After all, we are not making home videos; we are creating content for the widest possible audience.
Most of my project decisions are instinctive. Sometimes you listen to a script and feel a certain way, and you know that this is precisely the kind of film or show you want to invest the next few months or even a year of your life in.
It is a long-term commitment, almost like getting into a relationship. You do not want to have regrets once you are already in it.
The entertainment industry is seeing a growing emphasis on authentic storytelling and relatable characters. What kinds of stories do you personally feel have the power to connect with audiences today?
Pressure is always going to be there. It does not matter whether you are a newcomer or an established star. At different stages of your life and career, the expectations can be immense.
One mistake that many youngsters and newcomers make, and I was guilty of it myself, is focusing too much on the results instead of the process. I have reversed that approach now. I try to focus as much as possible on the process.
If you give your best, अगर आप शिद्दत से काम करोगे, put your head down and commit to whatever you need to do, the results will follow.
You cannot reverse-engineer a performance and think, “In this situation, if I give this reaction, deliver this dialogue in a certain way or look a certain way, the audience will love it.” You simply never know.
If you do it instinctively, because it is a creative profession, I believe it has a better chance of resonating with the audience. It is easier said than done, but do not take the pressure. Invest that same energy in the work you put out.
At the end of the day, we will be gone one day, but the work is what will persevere and stand the test of time.
How has your experience of working with different directors, co-stars and production teams shaped your understanding of the craft and the business of acting?
There is no hard and fast rule about which genres or shows will work. Trends come and go. For a while, horror comedies became popular, and then highly violent films became prominent.
I believe that if you tell a good story with conviction and get all the right elements in place, including strong technical execution and music, it has a chance of working. Cinema has to be timeless. It has to stand the test of time.
Be a trendsetter rather than someone who simply follows a trend. If you think, “’Animal’ worked, ‘Dhurandhar’ worked, so let us make something similar,” you will always be second best. Instead, seek to be different and do something हट के. Think out of the box.
The same old wine in a new bottle has been done to death. We have seen it countless times, regardless of how it is packaged.
You need to understand the pulse of real India, not just Juhu to Bandra, Bandra to Worli or Worli to SoBo. I am talking about the real India that resides in the B and C centres. Venture into the hinterland and understand what young people are talking about and what audiences are thinking.
That is the kind of storytelling you should look at. If you do it with conviction, you have a much better chance of connecting with audiences.
Social media has also changed the relationship between actors and audiences. How do you approach this direct connection with viewers while maintaining a distinction between your on-screen and personal identity?
Social media is an important, powerful tool as long as it is used positively. Unfortunately, over the past two or three years, I feel there has been a lot of negativity and negative impact associated with it.
I believe people should be cast because they are good at what they do, not because of their social media numbers. Many times, those numbers are not even genuine. Everybody knows it, but nobody wants to talk about it.
You need to know how to act, and the shoe needs to fit. You need to be right for the particular part. Of course, being well known and well regarded is important, but that relationship with the audience develops over a long period of time.
I prefer to keep certain aspects of my life private, but I also do not want to isolate myself from the audience. I do not have a social media team, so whatever content I put out on Instagram is extremely authentic and current. It is curated around my real-time, real-life experiences.
At the same time, I believe there is a certain part of our lives, the people we are close to and our identity that we should keep private. We have every right to keep those aspects private. Everything is not for everyone’s consumption.
Looking ahead, what kind of characters, genres or storytelling formats are you keen to explore, and what can audiences expect from the next phase of your career?
I am hungry. I don’t think I have been hungrier than I am today.
I want to explore historicals and horror, which is a genre that excites me but I have not had the chance to do yet. I would love to do a sports drama or a revenge thriller like ‘Baazigar’. There are so many different genres I want to explore.
I am putting it out to the universe and to all the makers, directors and casting directors that Tanuj is here. I am hungry, and I will give it my absolute best every single time I am on your set.
I also want to thank my audience for tolerating me over the last 10-12 years, for watching my shows and supporting my work. As a result, I have received so many wonderful opportunities throughout my career.
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exclusives19-Sep-2026Tanuj Virwani
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