Rajesh Kumar: Television requires constant content production, OTT needs precision

Each medium has its demands, says actor Rajesh Kumar, who was seen in the film Binny and Family. He says that both OTT and TV have their way of functioning, and require different content.

Rajesh Kumar on television requirements of content

Rajesh Kumar said, “Television, for instance, requires constant content production, so you have to stretch scenes for a week or more. That’s why it can be tougher creatively—you keep revisiting the main scenes for a longer period. However, on OTT, you don’t have to wait as long. The flow of a screenplay is much smoother when you’re working with episodes of 30 to 45 minutes and telling a story in just eight episodes. It requires more creative involvement and precision, whereas, in TV, the storylines are more drawn out and require more flexibility.”

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However, only good content rules each platform, he says, “Not every OTT project becomes a hit, and that’s normal. The growth of OTT platforms, though, is tremendous for acting, because there’s more freedom to experiment with actors and different types of characters.”

Rajesh Kumar on television and OTT

The actor says that storylines differ on the two platforms. Kumar said, “On television, you often get typecast—you’re either the hero or some relative. But on OTT, you can explore different stories from various walks of life, often based on real-life incidents, unlike TV where the content is more melodramatic and hypothetical. Television shows sell dreams, fancy homes, and good costumes, which is why there’s a lot of confusion and variety on different platforms.”

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Rajesh Kumar concluded, “Comedy has its market, as does every genre, and some shows become popular in one segment but not in another. So, we can’t rely on a single formula to say what’s successful or not. Bold content is often used to grab attention and draw viewers. And it has become normalized because that’s what people want to see. With platforms like Netflix in everyone’s hands, tastes and schedules vary. I think bold content should only be used when it’s necessary for the story. Simple storytelling can be just as effective. For instance, in “Kota Factory” or “Raat Akeli Hai,” bold content wasn’t the focus. But it was used only when the subject required it.”

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