Radhike Apte on scrutiny of OTT platforms: It's terrifying and sad

have been a new source of employment for the entertainment industry says actor Radhika Apte who believes the digital space is a medium that can thrive under the freedom of expression Apte whose series Sacred Games Ghoul and films Lust Stories and Raat Akeli Hai have released on the streaming service Netflix said it is terrifying that the overthetop OTT platforms are facing government scrutinyI hope we understand that there has to be freedom of expression and people need to be far more tolerant about the fact that there will be disagreement in life that is the way of life I find it terrifying and sad that this is where we are headed Apte told PTI in an interview when asked to comment on the intervention of the authorities in the OTT spaceFollowing the controversy over Amazon Prime Videos web series Tandav the streaming platforms have come under the scannerLast month Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced that a code of ethics and threetier grievance redressal mechanism would be applicable for OTT platforms such as Netflix Amazon Prime Video and Disney Hotstar news publishers and digital mediaApte said apart from providing diverse content to the audience the OTT platforms serve as a bridge between artistes and makers both domestic and international The platform has given a lot of opportunities and employment The platform is too new What OTT has offered is the viewership and it is brilliant We will have to wait and see how things pan out in the next four to five years whether it makes actors internationally viable we mix up actors or projects or more collaborations Things dont happen overnight the 35yearold actor who divides her time between Mumbai and London addedApte is excited about her next digital platform release with producer Anand Gandhis upcoming scifi comedy series OK Computer which is currently streaming on Disney Hotstar VIP Created and directed by Pooja Shetty and Neil Pagedar the show imagines a near future where for the first time the HomoSapiens meet the RoboSapiensAs scifi continues to be a lesser tapped genre the actor said working on the series was a refreshing experience What I liked is that it was a mockumentary and that was the most exciting part about it There is a risk involved because it is a new experiment I surrendered to the vision of the directors she addedIn the past India has seen a few titles in the scifi genre like Satyajit Rays 1969 film Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne and Shekhar Kapurs Mr India the 1988 film starring Anil Kapoor Sridevi and Amrish Puri Arati Kadavs Cargo which released last year on Netflix is the most recent offering in this spaceStorytelling in all these films have been unique Cargo and OK Computer are the most technologically advanced projects in the genre Just because the genre is similar it doesnt mean they can be compared Apte said adding some of her favourite scifi films are 2001 A Space Odyssey The Fly 1982s Blade RunnerPeople are ready to see good work We underestimate our audiences constantly If the content is engaging they will watch it If its not they wont watch it irrespective of the genre she notedThe caricaturist absurd comedy in OK Computer is the brainchild of directors Shetty and Pagedar Apte said Playing the role of Laxmi Suri an artificial intelligence AI scientist in the series was a riskIt is not in my comfort zone at all so it was exciting to take that risk and see how it works I feel that this comedy is very original It is something new for audience and actors as well If it is successful the credit entirely goes to them but if it fails then we did not do our job very well she addedOK Computer also stars Vijay Varma Jackie Shroff Kani Kusruti and Rasika DugalThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever