Ramakanta Biswas

Bhubaneswar: Times have changed with cinema and with it the narrative which used to happen in film halls has also become different due to digital invasion but this digitalisation is a win-win situation for all as it has kept everyone happy apart from ushering in realism in the cinema, illustrious Bollywood actor Ali Fazal said on Saturday.

Addressing a gathering on the topic of ‘Digital Era and changing face of Bollywood cinema’, during OTV’s 10th annual convention- Foresight 2020, Fazal shared his thoughts on the benefits of digitalisation of cinema and said “It has become a money making machine. Today we are doing campaigns online like on Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms and it is generating income. I think it is benefitting everybody.”

Narrating about an upside of the scenario, the Fukrey actor said, “More gates have opened up. It is not for people like me, but just that the canvases have gotten bigger for everybody and all are happy. Now we have a chance to showcase an entire spectrum of work not just a particular theme of movies. But of course, it comes with a few rules and regulations.”

Fazal went on to explain how his Mirzapur series in which he appeared as a gun-toting gangster became a hit thanks to digital revolution in cinema industry.

"Digital is the new TV and that is what some people did not understand during our shooting for Mirzapur but now everyone can see that it is the new theatre that sits in your pocket,” the actor noted.

Speaking about his journey into the film industry, the ‘Khamoshiyan’ star went on to shed light on his personal life and said, “Sometimes the most beautiful thing in your life happen by chance. I was involved in various sports while studying in Doon School, Dehradun and fractured my hands once. My friends had suggested me to take part in the Shakespeare play that was happening. As I was very depressed, so I said yes. So the acting career came as an accident.”

Noted Ollywood actor Sabyasachi Mishra who also shared the dais with Fazal during the discussion said how social media and digitalisation is helping cinemas gather promotion overnight unlike earlier when producers had to wait for longer period to reap the benefits of their hard work. It has also increased the engagement between the producers and consumers of cinema.

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