Kunal Jai  Singh aka Omkara  of  Star Plus  show Ishqbaaz and its new spin off Dil Bole Oberoi  feels Bollywood biggies are overrated compared to TV stars & that  the small screen is bigger than films. “Times have  changed, desi content has gone global with people in  South  Africa, Europe and all over the world wanting to connect  with our  TV stars. They  might not know who Akshay Kumar is but yes they are aware of  say a Ram Kapoor and a Ronit Roy.  Also India’s biggest stars like Sachin Tendulkar,  Mahendra  Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli, are popular through TV. You don’t need to do fiction / nonfiction to be called a tv  star. As long as you are seen on the tube, you are a celeb, so how can the medium be inferior ? Even Bollywood biggies like Amitabh Bachchan & Anil Kapoor are seen on TV as as they realize its reach and power.”

But when pointed out that most TV actors will still give an arm or a leg to be seen on the big screen, he quips, “They all come back, right.  As to why they go in the first  place, it is good na,  competition gets lesser. But  I am not adamant  that  I will only do movies,  if a good  film offer comes  my way fine”. 

Anil Merani