EXCLUSIVE! Shakti Anand: I’d Love To Make Content In The Superhero Space

From a pharmaceutical engineer to a medical examiner to an actor, Shakti Anand has had quite a change of plans. Last seen in his home production, a ZEE5 original short film D.A.T.E., the actor-producer exclusively spoke to us about creating content for the web, changes in the television industry and his interests as a filmmaker.

We asked Shakti to shed some light on the changes he has seen in the kind of content that is presented on TV vs how it was when he had started out. Replying to the same, he told us, “I think nothing has improved. The storytelling, the scripts are being circulated in the same genre. There is a lot of VFX, graphics, new cameras that way it has improved. But as far as storytelling is concerned, I don’t think we have improved.”

Elaborating on the pros of the digital space, he responded, “Web medium gives you much more time. In a film, you have to squeeze everything in 120 minutes, but as far as a web series is concerned it can go on for seasons. Basically, it’s a writer’s medium. A writer has to be more imaginative. Whatever he has in his mind about the characters, he doesn’t have to rush to the climax. He can get more artists, more characters till the time he has his story in hand. But in films, you have to squeeze everything in two hours. Web, basically, is how far a writer can stretch.”

The Gangaa show star also spilled the beans on how he plans to take his production house ahead. He even showcased interest in creating something similar to Hrithik Roshan’s superhero franchise Krrish. “We look forward to setting up a good production house and present some nice stories on the web or TV or film medium. As an actor and a producer, you really want to bring about a change, so we too want to get some really inspirational stories out there. We want to tell stories that our children can proudly look back at in future, some 20-25 years down the line. I am very proud of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Saara Akaash, Crime Patrol, I invested in them thinking my children can be proud of my projects when they see it. As a parent, you want to be your child’s hero, it is an imaginative world but they believe in it. People like Hrithik Roshan or Robert Downey Jr., they are the best in the superhero space. They are some of the best superheroes we have produced. I’d love to do something like that,” said Shakti.

What are your views about television and web content in India? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.

In the meantime, relive iconic Bollywood scenes through the eyes of India’s first stuntwoman Reshma Pathan in The Sholay Girl on ZEE5 now!