‘Actors Are Cast Based on Social Media Followers, It’s Silly’: Kunal Kapoor

'Jewel Thief' is streaming on Netflix.

Nikita Dutta, Jaideep Ahlawat, Kunal Kapoor talk to The Quint about Jewel Heist. 

(Photo Courtesy: The Quint)

Jewel Thief actors Jaideep Ahlawat, Kunal Kapoor, and Nikita Dutta joined The Quint to talk about their film, co-starring Saif Ali Khan.

They talked about the challenges they face as actors, the industry refraining from taking risks, actors being cast according to their social media following, and more.

When asked about the challenges they face as actors today in the industry, Ahlawat said, "The industry is scared to experiment; whether it is at a script level or with actors. I also feel they want to stick to writing that can be a 'hit masala' film. We need to experiment."

Kapoor added that the 'biggest risk is not taking a risk', "The industry needs to be more audacious. When you look at films that are working and that aren't, it is obvious that old formulas are not working anymore."

Nikita Dutta spoke about the casting process in the industry and said, "Social media following has become a criteria for casting. There is also a lot of blind faith put in actors who are not preforming and are given multiple chances till the audience watches them again and again and they become better."

The actors also spoke about actors being 'constantly put in our faces through social media and paparazzi', "We don't have a choice but to watch them because films are being made with them without a choice. I feel that's another reason films aren't working."

Considering the way the social media landscape relies on followers, we asked the actors if they think a large number of followers translates to work for actors, "I have heard that people do cast according to the number of followers and I think it's really silly. Your followers don't necessarily come to the theatres to watch you," Kapoor opined.

Dutta added that 'one might get brand deals and make money but may not translate into work', "There's no guarantee if you can get good films and the films will work because of the followers."

Jewel Thief is directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal, and is produced by Marflix Pictures. The film released on Netflix on 25 April.