By Anil Merani: 2024 seems to be a good year for the talented and good-looking actor, Sai Ketan Rao. After impressing one and all in Bigg Boss OTT, he is now part of a new short film, ‘Mumbai Guy & U.P. Girl Are Colleagues’, with his close friend, Shivangi Khedkar.
As per all early reports, this comic Tube series is getting a good reception. Both Sai and Shivangi fans have gone wild.
Apart from the snarky one-liners, the chemistry between the couple is very well-noticed. Other makers might be tempted to try them as an on-screen couple in a long-format OTT series/ feature.
Sai’s earlier OTT and Telegu film avtaars were nothing to write home about.
This 10-minute web film also marks the break out of Shivang from the tv space. Both found name and fame from the 2021 Star Plus series Mehendi Hai Rachne Wali.
However, there could be one dampener, for the makers have yet to go all out on publicity. Today, you need carpet bombing to create awareness about your product. Maybe budget constraints are preventing the same
Even a short can become a revenue guzzler for the maker and showreel for the cast
Had the word been spread more aggressively, non-Sai and Shivangi fans might be tempted to check it out
The fact that Sai finished in the top 5 of Bigg Boss OTT should have encouraged the makers to promote the film more aggressively. His popularity from the show could significantly boost the film’s viewership.
Further, Sai should have asked his BB OTT 3 housemates (Ranvir Shorey and Armaan Malik to help him make noise.
The best part of the web is that, unlike films and T.V., word of mouth can also help over time.
The ultimate fate of this series rests on one factor-audience reception. We remain hopeful and supportive, eager to see how the content is received.
But we remain hopeful, for both Sai and Shivangi possess immense talent and are deserving of a larger platform.
If Sai accepted his relationship with Shivangi? Would that help to net new numbers? He did volte-face about being together with Shivangi.
I keep harping on numbers, but the entire game concerns the number of views you garner. Any kind of buzz is welcome.
Will Sai continue to do T.V. or take a break trying out the web. His last tube outing was a double role in Star Plus show Imlie. In actual number terms, even Mehendi was not a rating guzzler. His other show, Chasni, was a non-starter.
