MUMBAI: Actor Pawan Chopra, who has been seen in OTT projects such as Taj and Asur 2, says that there is an intense competition that exists on this platform as well. He says that one needs to be careful about the kind of projects that are coming up.

“Having been involved with OTT platforms for a considerable period, I have noticed a change in the landscape. There seems to be intense competition among platforms, which sometimes leads to compromises in content and quality. However, I believe that the film industry, rather than OTT, has surprised me with the range of roles offered. In the realm of daily soaps, for example, I was once typecast as a wealthy businessman father. It was only in shows like Crime Patrol that I had the opportunity to portray a diverse array of characters, which garnered significant success. As an actor, if one is skilled in their craft, they can excel in any role. It's amusing to joke about how even in Taj, there was a reference to playing a father figure, but this highlights the industry's tendency to typecast,” he says.

Talking about Asur 2 and Taj, he says, “During the making of Asur 2, we had unwavering confidence that it would be well-received by the audience, primarily due to the exceptional direction of Oni Sen. Despite facing challenges such as long breaks caused by date issues and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Oni Sen skillfully managed every artist involved in the production. Although the show's release was delayed by three years after completing shooting in January 2022, it has garnered a dedicated fan base. Personally, portraying a character who is both a boss and a father figure was a challenging task, requiring a delicate balance of naturalness without going over the top. The incredible love and support "Asur 2" has received has been truly amazing.”

He adds, “Taj, I must say, is Producer Abhimanyu's labour of love. He left no chance to make a great show. Zee 5 also hasn't done such a big show before and I am so happy people have liked it so much. I can already feel Taj 3 will be fantastic.”

Talking about the role in both, he says, “In the role of Ghiyas Beg, Noor Jahan's father, I had the opportunity to reprise this character from 10 years ago when I portrayed him in the series Siyaasat on Epic Channel. The character's essence revolves around unwavering devotion to King Akbar and his deep love for his favourite, Noor Jahan. I particularly enjoyed the character's development in the final four episodes, as it took an unexpected turn, revealing a much larger role in Taj 3. Asur 2 presented a challenge of surpassing the portrayal of the same character from Asur 1. In this season, I aimed for a restrained and mature performance, displaying great care and concern for my team members who had experienced personal losses. As their boss, it was crucial for me to handle them delicately, with a fragile ‘handle with care’ approach.

Preparing for both roles was challenging but an incredible journey, he says, adding, “Taj was an immensely challenging costume drama, requiring intricate attention to details such as beards, costumes, headgear, and adhering to Mughalia etiquettes and language. It's not easy to create a costume drama of that scale, and I believe only Contilloe in India has the capability to pull it off, thanks to their expansive studio facilities in Umbergaon. Prior to filming, I had already done extensive historical reading and was well aware of the role, so I went through the script numerous times to familiarise myself with the character. Asur 2 had a different working style. On set, our director Oni would provide us with a comprehensive explanation of the scenes from start to finish, and then we would act accordingly. He would continuously fine-tune our performances until he achieved the desired result. My only regret is that I felt I wasn't 100% fit for the role, as I had to carry on from where we left off in Asur 1. During the filming of Asur 2, we fervently prayed that the COVID-19 pandemic wouldn't disrupt the project any further. Unfortunately, I myself fell ill with COVID-19 and had to focus on my health while continuing to shoot. Working with Arshad was enjoyable as he kept us all engaged with his stories. The environment on set was intense, resembling that of a hospital—engaging, tense, and focused on serious work, reflecting the nature of the show.”

Ask him what he likes to watch on OTT, and he says, “Personally, I like thrillers, a lot of drama I had done the role of Badass Lawyer Shekawat in Sanak Ek Junoon Mx Player; that's the kind of role I want to play on the big screen.”