In the film industry, is talent enough? While it is a crucial component in ensuring longevity, it is not all that gets an artiste visibility. A lot goes into the making of a star and actor Shriya Pilgaonkar knows that today. Having made her Bollywood debut with Shah Rukh Khan starrer Fan in 2016, the actor says she has realised the importance of creating the right noise for one’s work so that it reaches a wider audience and to unabashedly embrace the philosophy, jab PR kiya toh darna kya.
Shriya broke out in the scene with Prime Video’s popular series Mirzapur, which she calls her “commercial cinema” outing. It was, however, in 2022 when she earned wider acclaim for her part in the legal-drama Guilty Minds, which she headlined and also starred in The Broken News with Sonali Bendre and Jaideep Ahlawat, which earlier this year dropped its season two.
“It is not just about being good in a particular part,” Shriya tells Indianexpress.com as she sits down to chat at her Lokhandwala office cum residence. “The objective of perception building should be that the people who haven’t watched your work also need to hear about it.”
Edited excerpts:
Shriya Pilgaonkar. (Photo: Instagram)
I remember reading that when Fan had released, you were disappointed when some of the reviews didn’t mention your name… From there till now, it’s been a journey.
Yes (laughs). With Fan, I knew what I was getting into. I was aware that it wasn’t going to be a typical YRF film, even for Shah Rukh sir, for that matter, it was an experiment for him as well. I knew I didn’t have a lot of screen time, but I was Gaurav’s love interest and my character did have that weight. I did no PR when the film released and it all happened organically when the movie was out. A part of the reason was that I wasn’t with any agency, and I didn’t understand how to hype myself. Today, a lot of actors are created and mounted to be stars before their work is released. A lot of work goes into that as well.
In my case, I thought let Fan come out, I didn’t want people to get any wrong idea of my part in the film. It worked in my favour, because many people were interested in knowing about me. Some reviews mentioned me, some didn’t. My parents had also mentally prepared me that I shouldn’t try and attach my entire journey on the outcome of the film.
Is there an observation you still remember of Shah Rukh Khan, which has stayed with you as an actor till today?
There is always a lot of noise around you, and when you have so many voices, you have to hold on to the one most authentic to you. This is something I noticed while working with SRK, that there is a certain focus, clarity and strong intention of what he wanted to do at that point of time. And the hunger, to do more. You might think what more could he want, but it is such a personal thing, to want, because you know what you are capable of so you show up for yourself, you fight for it. I love that, it is almost like this mentality of a student, a learner. That is something that I apply constantly and always go back to.
You mentioned you had no team when you began. Today a lot of star kids begin their grooming process even before they debut on screen…
For me grooming is not just your appearance or the PR around you but honing your skills as an actor. I did a lot of theatre, workshops, I was training. But yes, there are a few things in hindsight that I could’ve perhaps done differently. But I wouldn’t look at them as regrets. Sitting here today, looking back, maybe I could’ve thought more about perception. Just saying that I’m going to work on my talent, work hard and hoping that leads to something is one aspect but in showbiz there’s so much more. I feel like I focused a lot on substance, but I didn’t give too much thought to the mounting, to what my brand is. I didn’t give too much thought back then in understanding how the perception is, how the market is seeing me.
A lot of times your teams do that. It’s just that over the years I’ve come to understand these things. Today, you’ve a sense of how PR works, you want to mount things differently. I won’t say it’s too naive, but it’s idealistic a thought to say that it’s only hard work (that gets you ahead). It’s also opportunities, luck and perception. There are many people who may not have the talent but are really good at marketing themselves really well. So it has to be everything.
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A post shared by Shriya Pilgaonkar (@shriya.pilgaonkar)
What does it mean to mount a perception?
It is about, ‘Can we see Shriya differently? In a period drama? On the big screen?’ It is not just about being good in that particular part. The people who haven’t watched your work also need to hear about it. When it happens organically, it is beautiful, but you need to create a vibe in the market. The other day someone told me in an interview that I am a ‘serious actor’, now what does that mean? That I haven’t smiled ever on-screen?! But because I have done some dramatic parts, that’s the perception. So the balance happens where I, on my Instagram, show my other real side.
Does the battle of perception vs substance weigh on you?
Both are work. When I started out as an actor, I chose to focus more on the substance because I knew my skill and my craft will give me that 60-year career. I look at it as a long-term game, I’m not here for ten years so I don’t want to make any decision out of fear. What’ll keep me going is my skill. People won’t remember my reels; they’re going to remember my roles. So, I’ve always given substance priority. But along with that, I do think it’s important to do PR around your projects because how else will you show other aspect? How else will people understand who I am, not just as an actor.
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