MUMBAI: Actor, writer, and producer Palash Dutta, who has produced the award-winning short-film Thanks Mom, says this is his 30th year in the industry. He started as a model in 1994, and in 1996, he accidentally got into casting work, but he admits that it has been an interesting journey.

“For the past 26 years, I've been casting and coordinating talent for ad films, web series, and films. I've also been doing theatre for 24 years, performing English plays and traveling globally for these performances. From 1994 to 2024, it's been nearly three decades in the industry, and it's been quite a roller coaster ride,” he said.

He pointed out that the industry was quite different when he started out. He added, “We knew most of the industry people, and it was easier to approach directors and producers. You could go to an office, get an appointment, and meet them. Now, things have changed. It's much harder to meet directors personally. Even if you know them, there's a system to follow. You have to go through casting directors who will test and audition you.”

He further said, “Earlier, only hero and heroine roles had managers, but character actors got work through managers and agents too. However, it was still difficult to get work because there were fewer mediums—only television, feature films, TV commercials, and Doordarshan. There was no social media or Internet.”

Palash believes that the industry has changed significantly, both for better and for worse. “On the positive side, there are many new content platforms now, like social media and Instagram, providing more opportunities for actors to earn money. Unlike when I started, there are more mediums available now. Although the supply of actors has increased, so has the demand, leading to stiff competition,” he said.

“In the past, actors had a good shelf life, lasting 10–12 years. Nowadays, there’s a high turnover of actors, with hundreds coming to Bombay daily to pursue acting and modeling,” he added.

He mentioned that today everyone wants to be an actor because of the glitz and glamour of the Bollywood industry, however, not many are aware of the reality. “The reality is much darker. It's challenging for actors to survive and sustain themselves because their shelf life is very limited. An actor might have work today, but not tomorrow. Even if a show is a hit, it doesn’t guarantee more offers,” he said.

“I advice new actors to have a backup plan because it's difficult to sustain oneself solely through acting. There's no guarantee of an acting career. One day you could be at the top, and the next, you might fall. It also depends on what medium the actors are targeting—television, theater, or OTT platforms. Some actors have done theatre for years and now find good work in the OTT space, avoiding television because of its regressive nature. They prefer quality work in films, theatre, and OTT platforms, horning their skills and finding contentment in their craft,” he ended.