Apara Mehta On Challenges Faced By TV Stars: 'Acting Is Not As Easy As People Think'

Apara Mehta, who is a veteran TV star, is currently seen on the Gujarati drama United State of Gujarat. The actress has been in the industry for decades and is best known for her role in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Prior to the new show, the actress worked on the film Gujarati Bachubhai in 2023. In her latest interview, the veteran shared about her opinion on acting as well as her experience in the Gujarati industry so far.

With the increasing emphasis on social media fan following, Apara Mehta told ETimes how it is not feasible to cast people based on their social media standing. She stated, “It is wrong to cast actors based on their Instagram following. There are times when people cast based on their social media popularity fall flat on their faces while essaying a role. Acting is not as easy as people think.” The experienced actress noted that there is a big difference between making a 20-second reels and playing a character on a show at a stretch.

Moreover, Apara Mehta also spoke candidly about the issues most TV actors face, especially while pursuing OTT projects. She told the portal, “Unfortunately, makers of OTT shows don’t want to cast TV actors. There is this perception that TV actors are overexposed and also loud actors. It is not true.” She added, TV performers are well-known for their punctuality and professionalism; when they embark on an OTT project, they can immediately capture viewers’ attention and deliver an excellent performance.

Apara Mehta has been quite excited about her new show, United State of Gujarat. Sharing the reason behind taking up the show, she said “I can’t say no to a good project in my mother tongue. Also, sharing screen space with Ragini Shah again feels great. She is a senior actor and like an elder sister to me.” She mentioned that post her work on Bachubhai, she did not get another Gujarati film. But she would like to make more Gujarati films if she gets decent roles. Apara is also delighted to see that the Gujarati entertainment industry is in better shape now, and urged that creators should continue to explore modern topics.

United State of Gujarat premiered on Colors Gujarati on July 15. It also stars Raj Anadkat, Sana Sheikh, Ami Trivedi and others.