MUMBAI : Actress-producer Namita Lal, whose film Oxygen will soon be released on OTT, says streaming platforms have revolutionized the world of entertainment. She describes them as a boon for both actors and viewers.
"Streaming platforms have truly transformed the industry for actors like me. Without digital OTT platforms—if it were only theaters and big studios—I don’t think people like me, who are transitioning into such a challenging industry, would have had much of a chance. I've now done ten feature films and three web shows, and thanks to OTT, I've been able to showcase my work across different platforms. I have a film on Netflix, others on Amazon and Sony, a web series on SonyLiv, Lihaaf on Jio, and Football on Shemaroo. I also have a few big theatrical releases coming up," she says.
She adds, "OTT has opened up fantastic opportunities for independent filmmakers to create lower-budget films and tell authentic stories with local actors. It’s a huge paradigm shift in the industry, allowing many actors to return to the screen—some of whom had even left cinema. For actors like me, who left a banking career to pursue this as a serious passion, it provides a platform and visibility that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. My career is now fully focused on acting, and OTT has given me that chance. Releasing my film Oxygen on a platform like Zee5 is especially prestigious and a huge honor for me. I’m looking forward to the reviews, responses, and the excitement of digital marketing—from engaging with fans on social media to managing PR. OTT releases bring all of this together, and I’m so, so grateful."
Speaking about Oxygen, she mentions that the film has already received significant global recognition. "When I heard the audience's reaction in Boston, my friend was there to answer questions, while I was present in Barcelona, Spain, when it was showcased. The audience reaction was amazing. They were astonished that we portrayed a film exploring the moral ambiguity of corruption. We’re not saying it’s right or wrong, and we’re not giving any answers. There’s no black and white. It simply presents a fact to the world. People had so many questions about how we could depict this reality—how it exists in the burning of stubble, the processing of files, or traffic violations. It’s there right in front of us. We can label it ‘bad’ or ‘wrong,’ but the reality behind it needs to be highlighted, and that’s what the film does. This resonates with global audiences," she says.
The actress also recently won the Jury Award for Best Actress at the Caleidoscope Indian Film Festival in Boston, USA. "I won the Best Actress award for this role, though I didn’t even know I was in the running! I wasn’t in Boston at the time—the film had been sent by our marketing agency to various festivals, and Boston was one of the first to showcase it. The world premiere took place at the Boston Caleidoscope Indian Film Festival, an IMDb-rated event. They called me to let me know I was one of three finalists for Best Actress, alongside Tillotama and Rima Sen. I didn’t expect to win, so I wasn’t there to accept it; my friend received it on my behalf. This was only my second film, and my previous film, Lihaaf, had already been doing well. This success was one of the reasons I left banking to become a full-time actor, and I haven’t regretted it at all—it has been an incredible journey," she says.
Meanwhile, she hopes to explore other genres. "I've worked across a variety of genres, but I think the one I haven’t tried yet is horror. I would love to do horror or play a strongly negative role, perhaps a character with a darker side. I haven’t done that yet. I’d also love to take on intense roles like those in some international shows. I hope to have more of these opportunities come my way," she says.
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