The actor Sharad Kelkar claims that despite his experience in television, movies, and over-the-top content, his path has not been easy.

“My journey has not been a bed of roses. It has come with its own set of challenges. Having worked for nearly two decades now, I have managed to carve a niche for myself,” he says, reflecting on the highs and lows that shaped him.

The 48-year-old returned to television with a fresh outlook after being away from it for almost eight years.

However, he attributes the redefining of his career to OTT, saying, “I’ve been lucky with the roles I’ve received on OTT. While people have their way of looking at the growth of OTT, for me it’s been a gradual rise. I know what I am comfortable doing. If something doesn’t align with who I am, I won’t do it, no matter how big the platform.” Coming from a small town like Burhanpur, Sharad acknowledges the freedom OTT has given him to experiment and reinvent.

From a small town like Burhanpur, Kelkar has discovered that OTT is freeing, allowing him to try new things and take chances.

Having worked on films like Shrikanth, Doctors, and The Family Man, he feels that the medium has given rise to narratives that might not have been able to be told on a large screen.

We've been able to examine characters that might not have been suited for the big screen thanks to it.

“It’s given us the chance to explore characters that may not have been written for the big screen. The beauty of OTT is that it allows you to take risks, and audiences are more open to layered, unconventional storytelling,” says Sharad, adding, “OTT is not without its own pressures. There’s a lot of competition, and content is constantly being churned out. To stand out, you have to make sure every role you pick is meaningful, because the audience today is very sharp they won’t accept mediocrity.”