The Laapataa Ladies star says streaming platforms rescued his career, hopes his flop VIBE will find a second wind, and promises family‑friendly laughs in Dupahiya Season 2.
OTT as a Lifeline
Sparsh Shrivastava, the actor who shot to fame as Deepak Kumar in Laapataa Ladies and later stole the show as Sunny Mondal in Jamtara, stopped by a FICCI Frames session after the special screening of Dupahiya Season 2’s first episode. When pressed about his journey, he didn’t mince words: the streaming boom is the very reason he’s still in the business. \"If Jamtara hadn’t happened, I might have gone back to my village,\" he said, adding that OTT gave him the break, confidence and a huge boost after the series.
From Small Screen to Big Screen Woes
His latest theatrical outing, VIBE, opened to decent reviews but fell flat at the box office. Shrivastava refuses to count it out, insisting the film is still playing in theatres and deserves patience. \"Until it leaves the cinema, it’s unfair to judge it,\" he argued, echoing the sentiment that many indie projects need time to find their audience.
He drew a parallel with the 2023 hit Hanuman Ansh, which took four weeks to gather momentum before numbers started ticking. \"I hope VIBE follows a similar path and climbs back up,\" he said, crediting writer‑director‑actor Kunal Kemmu’s vision of a theatrical experience.
What Dupahiya 2 Aims to Deliver
When asked about the upcoming season, Shrivastava painted a picture of stress‑relief for the everyday viewer. \"Everyone’s life is stressful, and we need something we can sit down with the whole family and enjoy at home,\" he explained. He believes Dupahiya will once again make audiences laugh, offering a breezy, home‑viewing package that fits the current mood.
A Reality Check on Looks and Roles
The actor also addressed the elephant in the room – his lack of conventional hero looks. He shrugged it off, saying his career’s longevity is thanks to the platform, not the mirror. \"That’s why we’re talking today,\" he quipped, hinting that without OTT he might have disappeared from the screen altogether.
Looking Ahead
With Dupahiya Season 2 set to roll out on streaming services soon, Shrivastava’s gamble on the digital format appears to be paying off. While VIBE struggles to recover its theatrical footing, the actor’s optimism suggests he’ll keep riding the OTT wave, hoping the next release will bring both critical and commercial redemption.
The buzz around his candid interview has already sparked conversations on social media, with fans lauding his honesty and industry insiders noting the growing importance of streaming for mid‑tier talent. As the OTT landscape continues to expand, Shrivastava’s story may become a case study in how digital platforms can resurrect, or even create, careers that might otherwise have faded.
Stay tuned for the official release date of Dupahiya Season 2 and any updates on VIBE’s box‑office revival.
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