HT NxT live updates: Rasika Dugal, Kirti Kulhari, Jaideep Ahlawat and Sayani Gupta talk about the OTT space

HT NxT: In the inaugural virtual edition of HT NxT, Bollywood stars Shatrughan Sinha, Sonakshi Sinha, Prajakta Koli, Rasika Dugal, Kirti Kulhari, Jaideep Ahlawat and Sayani Gupta talk about pertinent issues and offer innovative solutions in the field of entertainment.

Rasika Dugal, Kirti Kulhari, Jaideep Ahlawat and Sayani Gupta on growth of digital platforms. 

In the Hindustan Times' virtual edition of HT NxT, Bollywood stars Shatrughan Sinha, Sonakshi Sinha, Prajakta Koli, Rasika Dugal, Kirti Kulhari, Jaideep Ahlawat and Sayani Gupta speak about ‘Leading the Change.’...Read More

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• 23 Sept 2021, 07:38:32 PM IST

  Kirti Kulhari says she's getting paid more than her male counterparts: 

  Kirti Kulhari has said that she gets paid more than her male counter-parts in projects she's working on. While she doesn't know details about the pay, she feels that the projects she's leading, she is getting paid more.

  Read more here: HT NxT: Kirti Kulhari says she's 'paid more' than her male counterparts in projects that she leads

• 23 Sept 2021, 07:26:55 PM IST

  Sayani Gupta on pay disparity: 

  While Sayani said that she is heard of the difference in pay scales between male and female actors, she revealed that she doesn't discuss the pay with fellow actors. “I have been told that the male counterparts get more in the same shows that I am being part of. I do not know, and of course, none of us really go and discuss how much we are getting paid,” she said, adding that she thinks its ‘would be extremely unprofessional to discuss.’ 

  Read more here: HT NxT: Sayani Gupta says 'casting director said it is a norm to pay men more than women'

• 23 Sept 2021, 07:08:02 PM IST

  Jaideep Ahlawat opens up about his popularity after Paatal Lok: 

  “We've only had four months in which shoots have taken place, and a lot of what was offered to me in that time was not something that I liked. That used to be the case before, as well. But I'm more conscious of the decisions I am making now. I'm more responsible now. Until now, nobody used to wait for my next projects, but now they will wait to see if Paatal Lok was a fluke,” he said, speaking about Paatal Lok. 

  Read more here: HT NxT: Jaideep Ahlawat says 'before Paatal Lok, nobody used to wait for my projects, now they do' 

• 23 Sept 2021, 06:44:47 PM IST

  Rasika Dugal and Sayani Gupta on working for OTT projects:

  Rasika Dugal, Kirti Kulhari, Jaideep Ahlawat and Sayani Gupta opened up about working in digital spaces in a panel discussion with HT NxT. During the chat, Sayani Gupta said, “You no longer need to be of a certain name, or a certain stature, or a star with following. You just need to be a good enough actor who fits the bill for the part,” adding that OTT platforms have broken hierarchy.  
  
  Rasika also added, “It’s no more about judging a film by the number of tickets sold, number of people watching it etc…so the numbers are no longer important.” 

• 23 Sept 2021, 06:29:24 PM IST

  Prajakta Koli on facing a creative block during the lockdown:

  “I had hit a major content block during lockdown, when my father once entered my room and I was on the floor, crying with my camera like ‘I can’t do this, I can't shoot this,'" Prajakta Koli said. She added that her father helped her overcome it. 

   

   

• 23 Sept 2021, 06:17:42 PM IST

  Prajakta Koli on chasing numbers online: 

  

  Prajakta Koli on creating content. 

  “Till about three years ago, I was obsessed with (the numbers), but now in my head I have reached a point where there is no big or small,” she confessed before adding, “I don’t create content under the pressure of numbers. I like to create content under the pressure of creating content for my audience.” 

  Prajakta also said, "If you're just starting off, don't start with "no-drive" for numbers. As long as you set those limits for yourself and not anybody else, I think you're good."

• 23 Sept 2021, 06:09:36 PM IST

  Prajakta Koli on dos and don'ts while making content: 

  Prajakta stressed upon the importance of understanding that content is king. “Nothing else is ever going to work,” she said, adding creators should be consistent, never take your audience for granted, have patience and be yourself. 

• 23 Sept 2021, 06:05:46 PM IST

  Prajakta Koli on creating content for digital platforms. 

  Having been creating content for six years, Prajakta Koli opened up about how it all began and spoke about making content for digital spaces. She said that all one needs is an idea and everything falls in place. 

  “In the digital space, the only thing you need is an idea. You don't need expensive cameras, equipments, or a massive team when you're starting out, you can do it all by yourself,” she said. 

• 23 Sept 2021, 05:56:16 PM IST

  Shatrughan Sinha still regrets not working on Sholay: 

  “I am still happy that Amitabh Bachchan got such a big platform via Sholay,” he said. 

• 23 Sept 2021, 05:54:48 PM IST

  Shatrughan feels Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor are great artists but wonders if they have same ‘impact’ as Dilip, Dharmendra

  “Today’s stars, like I named Sonakshi (Sinha) for Lootera, Huma Qureshi for Maharani, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor… They are all great artists. But it remains to be seen if they have the same impact as Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan and (laughs) I don’t want to take my own name,” Shatrughan said. 

• 23 Sept 2021, 05:48:51 PM IST

  Shatrughan Sinha on working on four shifts:

  Speaking about working on four shifts at a time, Shatrughan that doing four shifts earlier wasn't a good thing, wasn't a great thing; most of the times, it was about the necessity the producers and filmmakers. Now, the industry has become more streamlined. Due to corporate culture, the financial system in the industry has improved, which has helped filming scheduling, giving time to focus on a character. 

  Back in the day, Shatrughan noted, Shashi Kapoor broke the record of multiple shifts. Raj Kapoor even gave him the nickname taxi. 

• 23 Sept 2021, 05:38:20 PM IST

  Shatrughan Sinha and Sonakshi Sinha on difference between working then and now:

  

  Shatrughan Sinha and Sonakshi Sinha.

  Speaking about the differences between making films then and now, Shatrughan said that earlier, movies were shouldered by heroes and directors, now it is about team work. 

  “[Cinema has] changed for the better… Today, it’s all about teamwork… Newcomers and younger stars are doing well today… And that too, as a team," he said. 

• 23 Sept 2021, 05:33:57 PM IST

  Shatrughan Sinha admits he wan't punctual on the sets

  

  Shatrughan Sinha with Poonam Sinha. 

  “I used to reach the sets late too. But I was also known for finishing all my work, sometimes even before time, even if I came for the shoot late. I never troubled anyone or threw starry tantrums and said, ‘I am not in the mood to shoot today’, or did not show up for an outdoor shoot or any such things. In fact, even if I was down with fever, I went on the sets,” Shatrughan Sinha revealed during a conversation with Sonal Kalra, Managing Editor (Entertainment) of Hindustan Times. 

• 23 Sept 2021, 04:59:16 PM IST

  Watch the session here