Stars of OTT: OTT has opened up lot of avenues for actors - Jitin Gulati

The surge of content on various OTT platforms is good news not just for viewers, but the creative people as well. OTT shows are giving a new lease of life to actors looking to further enhance their careers as they fight the new crop of faces thronging the film and television spaces every day.

Jitin Gulati is not new to the entertainment world. Having got his big break in 2013 in Eros International and Anubhav Sinha’s ‘Warning 3D’, which was directed by Gurmmeet Singh. Since then, Gulati has appeared in Neeraj Pandey’s ‘MS Dhoni - The Untold Story’ and ‘24 (India) Season 2’.

Gulati was very active on stage and in extra-curricular activities all through school and college. He went on to do his Bachelors in Commerce from Hansraj College, Delhi University and had also worked with the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) for over 8 years, first in Delhi and then in Mumbai.

Wanting to pursue his long standing ambition of being an actor, he started training in acting and dance while still working with HSBC. He trained with the likes of Barry John, Feizal Alkazi and Amal Allana (NSD) in New Delhi. He is also a trained Jazz dancer, having trained with Ashley Lobo’s dance institute, ‘Danceworx’.

After moving to Mumbai in 2008, Gulati got his first portfolio done by well-known photographer Vishesh Verma, who referred him to a few casting agencies. In 2009, he quit his banking job and started modelling full time. He has appeared in over 100 ad campaigns for major brands like Raymond, Lifestyle, Smirnoff, L’Oréal Matrix, Anita Dongre (AND) and many others.

Tell us about your journey as an actor.
I am a trained actor and have trained with Mr Barry John and Mr Feizal Alkazi. I started my journey with TV commercials and did my first film, ‘Warning 3D, which was produced by Anubhav Sinha and Eros. I have been a part of projects like Neeraj Pandey’s ‘MS Dhoni’ biopic, YRF’s ‘Qaidi Band’, and TV shows like ‘24 Season 2’, Sony TV’s ‘Prithvi Vallabh’, and OTT shows like Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Inside Edge’ and ALTBalaji’s ‘Broken but Beautiful’.

Of all the roles you have essayed till now, which one is your favourite role?
Picking one role is tough, I guess – on some, I have learnt a lot, I have met amazing talent all these years, so there something favourite in all the projects.

How are OTT platforms changing an actor’s journey?
Thanks to the powers that be for the advent of these platforms. It is a boon for actors like me, who were not doing mainstream television and were finding it difficult to break into films with meatier parts. Since the commercial viability of an actor does not play that big a part on OTT platforms, it is easier for newer actors to be considered for more fleshed out parts to play.

Where do you see yourself in the next two years?
In the next two years I will definitely see more layered and better written parts coming my way; probably a series which has strong Indian ethos, and being appreciated on a global level.

What are you working on in the OTT space currently?
Currently, I am working on the following projects across OTT platforms. The good thing is that OTT has opened up lot of avenues for actors.

‘Inside Edge’ Season 2/3 (Amazon Prime Video)
‘Salt City’ for Applause Entertainment (platform not decided)
‘Chhatrasal’ – a biopic where I am playing the title part (platform not decided)
‘Thinkistaan’ (MX Player)
‘Broken but Beautiful’ Season 2 (ALTBalaji)