Sacred games star Nawazuddin Siddiqui quits OTT, calls it 'dumping ground'

When it comes to OTT platforms, we're seeing a lot of new series sprout up all the time. You could say that this has provided the audience with more diversity than we've ever seen previously, but on the other hand, there appears to be an abundance of it all. Nawazuddin Siddique, an actor, appears to share similar feelings about it.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, an award-winning actor noted for his subtle acting, has vowed that he will not appear in any OTT series. The actor, who has received praise for his roles in films and web series such as Gangs of Wasseypur, Manto, Sacred Games, Raat Akeli Hai, and others, believes that the OTT realm has now become a "dhanda" where "star culture" has evolved.

"The platform has become a dumping ground for redundant shows. We either have shows that don't deserve to be seen in the first place. Or sequels to shows that have nothing more to say," said Nawazuddin to Bollywood Hungama in an interview.

The actor discussed how the OTT industry has changed dramatically since he worked there."When I did Sacred Games for Netflix, there was an excitement and challenge around the digital medium. New talent was being given a chance Now that freshness is gone. It's become dhanda (racket) for big production houses and actors who are now so-called stars on the OTT platform. Major film producers in Bollywood have cut lucrative deals with all the big players in the OTT field. Producers get whopping amounts to create unlimited content. Quantity has killed quality," said Nawazuddin.

The actor by discussing how star culture has creeped into the OTT sphere concludes, "Yeh star system bade parde ko kha gaya (this star system killed the big screen). Now we have so-called stars on OTT claiming big money and throwing tantrums like Bollywood A-listers. They forget. Content is king. Woh zamana chala gala. When stars ruled. Before this lockdown and the digital domination, A-listers would release their films in 3,000 theatre across the country. People had no choice but to see them. Now they have unlimited choices".