Manas Shah, who has been a part of shows like Humari Devrani, Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanuman, and Yeh Hai Chahatein, and will soon be seen in the show Tulsi – Hamari Badi Sayani, has witnessed the industry evolve. However, he shared that auditions and look tests often take a toll on actors.
He said, “As an actor, one receives a lot of appreciation for their acting, but when you spend 3-4 months trying out for auditions, look tests, or mock shoots, sometimes things don’t work out. Many times, the feedback is that you don’t match the look they are searching for. It feels like, no matter how good an actor you are, the decision often depends on matching the preferences of the casting director or makers. I’m not saying they should completely change their requirements—for example, if they want a 5-foot-tall person, they obviously won’t cast someone 6 feet tall. But these look-related decisions create challenges for actors like me.”
He added, “Another thing I’ve noticed is how TV has changed over the years. In the 90s, TV shows were weekly. Then they became Monday-to-Thursday, then Monday-to-Friday. Now, most shows air almost every day, with very few getting a break on Sundays. I feel this daily telecast system has affected creativity.”
Manas has also worked in Gujarati films and confessed that only a few projects stand out as the best and most memorable for him.
He said, “One of them was the mythological show Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanuman, where I played the role of Indra Dev. This role brought me a lot of appreciation as an actor and is still close to my heart. Another milestone in my journey was Yeh Hai Chahatein, which was my last show. I had the opportunity to play a double role in this series, and the strong positive response I received for portraying a negative character was overwhelming.”
“During my performances, I even received claps and standing ovations from the audience. This show gave me the perfect platform to grow as an actor and showcase my talent to the fullest. Three of my Gujarati films have already been released, and two are currently in post-production. One of my notable films was Hey Kem Cho London, in which I played the character of Jay. This film had multiple premieres worldwide. It was a special project, as it was the first Gujarati film to be shot abroad on such a grand scale and was very interesting and well-received,” Manas concluded.
